Preparing for Holidays in the restaurant industry

When you're in the hospitality industry, you always - yes always- need to be thinking and preparing for the next big holiday. The holidays are fun get togethers for all your guests and customers. It's our job as restaurant owners and managers to be ready for the holidays and to offer a comfortable and affordable place
for customers to meet and share happy memories. We'll share our tips for preparing for holidays so that you have what you need and increase your customer base.

No matter what month it is currently, you need to be checking your calendar to find out the next holiday. If you wait too long or start preparing at the last minute, you're sure to miss out on customers that have already made their own plans at least a month ahead of time.

 These are seven things to consider that will make the holidays easy and profitable for your business:

     1. Consider your space. What type of parties can you host in the space that you have? Can you offer cozy dinner for two, dinner for business groups, large groups and even really big corporate events? Once you realize how your space will work for the holidays focus on that particular customer.

     2. Consider what you competition offers for the holidays. You don't want to do the same thing they do, you want to focus on what you do best, what special things customers come to your restaurant for. No sense in trying to replicate what the competition does - especially if they're already well known for hosting X or whatever it is they're known for. Be unique - it goes a long way in having a successful restaurant.

     3. Prepare a menu. If your space is the best for cozy dinner for two couples, make sure your menu will benefit them. Consider surf and turf specials, buy one get one dinner deals or other menu items that work for couples to share. For larger groups, the menu may need to be buffet style or offers a limited menu of a few (we recommend no more than three) choices for guests to choose from. We'll write soon on preparing a limited menu to help you. When considering your menu, think of the season and what items will be readily available for you and also gives guests some unique items to choose.

     4. Start promoting your holiday as soon as you know what you can and will be offering.
          *Post professional looking, computer printed flyers on the front door or entry way of your restaurant.
          * Add a header to your customer receipt. Most POS systems allow you to type in whatever you want on the customer receipt. Figure out how your system works and place an ad for your own business right there on the receipt.
          * Make smaller table tent style flyers and add them to all the tables in your dining room or bar. We love these restaurant table tents - for only a small fee and make your ad fit into the space and reuse them over and over again to inform your customers what's happening in your business.

     5. Prepare your staff for upcoming holidays. You'll want all the help you can get and your staff can play an integral part in your success. Share what you'll be doing and offering for the next holiday and ask them to start talking to guests about it.
          * Why not host a contest for the staff - give a nice gift to the staff member that gets the most preregistered customers for your holiday. Use your reservation book and get booked up early with everyone talking about it. We like the 365 day Restaurant Reservation Book and you need one too.
          * Make business cards for all your staff members so they can give out their card to everyone they meet when they're out in the community. It's great for them to establish their own customer base and increases your overall customer base too when people come and ask for a particular server or bartender to wait on them. Your staff will stay with you longer too when they have repeat customers coming for them.

     6. Have enough supplies and decorations for all the holidays.
          * You'll need pretty plates and silverware, nice glassware, tabletop decorations, chafing dishes and serving ware, linen napkins for a start.
          * Keep a supply closet so that all your items can be stored away neatly for reuse over and over again each year.

     7. Advertise your holiday in as many places as you can:
          * Facebook page
          * Twitter account
          * Foursquare
          * Your own website
          * Yelp
          * Newspaper ad
          * Radio ad
There are lots of things to do as you prepare for holidays in the restaurant industry and the sooner you start, the more successful your business will do. Stay with it and get going now on the next holiday.
Read more tips on holidays in the restaurant business here.
Best wishes on your success, Cheers!