News

100 days until Christmas; get ready to wrap up your year

Sep 12, 2023 | Business

With just over 100 days between now and Christmas, today is a great day to start preparing for your end-of-year wrap-up. As a business owner, your holiday closure requires careful planning and communication to minimise disruptions and ensure a smooth reopening in January. Here are ten steps to help you get ready:
 
1. Determine the Dates
Decide on the specific dates your business will be closed for Christmas. Christmas and Boxing Days fall on Monday and Tuesday respectively this year, so a neat end to the year on Friday, 22 December could be an option.
 
2. Plan your Staff Party
If getting your team and/or suppliers together is a part of your end-of-year tradition, now is the time to get in early and lock in a venue. A ‘save the date’ sent out in October is always a good idea.
 
3. Inform Employees Early
It’s good practice to notify your employees or contractors about your closure dates well in advance. This allows them to plan their time off or make necessary arrangements for family functions, child care, etc. 
 
4. Advertise Your Office Closure Dates
Update your website, social media profiles, and physical store signage to reflect your pending holiday closure dates and adjusted hours. Ensure your clients are aware of your schedule to avoid any inconvenience. 
 
5. Set Up your Social Posts
If regular posting on your social media channels is essential to your visibility, start planning ahead. Schedule a series of posts for the period in which you won’t want to be scrolling your business profiles.
 
6. Client Communications
Send out emails or notifications to your client well in advance of your closure. Let them know when you will be shutting up shop, how they can reach you in emergencies, and any special offers or promotions for the end-of-year or new year season. And remember that a not-so-gentle prompt about the looming holiday period can instigate some decision-making momentum, so be prepared.
 
7. Financial Planning
Manage your cash flow to cover expenses like employee salaries and office overhead bills during your closure. If you haven’t been doing so already, start setting aside funds to cover your income-lean period.
 
8. Supplier Communication
Notify your suppliers about your closure dates and make any necessary arrangements for deliveries or pickups before you close the doors.
 
9. Evaluate and Reflect
Take time to evaluate your year’s performance. Analyse sales data, seek and review client feedback, and assess any challenges you encountered to make improvements for the following year.
 
10. Reopening Plan
Develop a plan for reopening after your Christmas break. Consider your evaluation and reflections above, and make sure you allow some goal-setting time so you can kick off the new year with a mission.
 
By carefully planning and communicating your Christmas closure, you can help ensure a smooth transition into and out of the holiday season while maintaining a positive client experience and minimising disruptions to your business operations.
 
What have we missed? Do you have some must-do end-of-year tasks that you would add to the above? We’d love to hear your thoughts below.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

Australia’s most beautiful bathrooms in 2023

Australia’s most beautiful bathrooms in 2023

The lineup of bathrooms in the KBDi Designer Awards program was next level this year, with an impressive selection of stunning spaces vying for industry accolades. Only five can win the top awards, though, and we're sharing Australia's best bathrooms here. Long-time...

Staron Design Awards – CLOSING SOON!

Staron Design Awards – CLOSING SOON!

A message from our Corporate Plus Partner, Austaron Surfaces. Have you used Staron Solid Surfaces in spectacular fashion? Here's your chance to share your work with the world.   The annual Staron Design Awards program offers a fantastic opportunity for designers...

Introducing the Zip HydroTap Celsius Plus All-In-One Pull-Out

Introducing the Zip HydroTap Celsius Plus All-In-One Pull-Out

A message from our Corporate Plus Partner, Zip Water. Zip Water is excited to announce the launch of its most innovative product yet, the Zip HydroTap Celsius Plus All-In-One Pull-Out, the world’s first All-in-One tap with the convenience of five water types, and a...

Starting with a Spark | Inspirational Interiors

Starting with a Spark | Inspirational Interiors

Here at KBDi, we're always inspired by the stunning work we see from our members in our annual KBDi Designer Awards program. And after more than a decade of diving into your entries, we've deduced that a solid source of inspiration at the beginning of a project often...