As we inch closer to the most hectic shopping day of the year, retailers are gearing up for what is expected to be a record-breaking Black Friday.
For hourly employers, this can be both an exciting and challenging time. On one hand, you can rake in big profits by staffing appropriately and enticing customers with great deals.
But on the other hand, keeping your team focused and motivated can be challenging when they’re also trying to enjoy time with their families during Thanksgiving week.
To make the most of this busy season, taking a few steps beforehand is essential to set your team up for success. Here are a few tips:
Prepare your team early
Thanksgiving is a special time of year for family, friends, and food. For many people, it’s also a time to start their holiday shopping. That means that retailers need to be prepared for an influx of customers. If you’re an hourly employer, there are a few things you can do to make sure your team is ready for the Thanksgiving rush.
First, start by assessing your staffing needs. Do you have enough people to cover all of your shifts? If not, start planning now to bring on additional staff. You’ll also want to think about people’s availability. Some may already have plans to travel or be out of town for the holiday, and others may want to take advantage of the extra day off and sleep or spend time with family. Make sure you know who is available and when so you can schedule accordingly.
Next, start preparing your team early. Give them a heads-up that you’ll be busy and may need them to work extra hours. Review any procedures or protocols they’ll need to follow and ensure they’re comfortable with them. Thanksgiving is also an excellent time to remind employees about the importance of customer service and how they can go above and beyond to make shoppers feel welcome and appreciated.
Encourage them to take time off
Thanksgiving and Black Friday are two of retail businesses’ busiest times of the year. To ensure that your staff is happy and well-rested, it is important to encourage them to take some time off afterward or beforehand. One way to do this is to offer an incentive, such as extra pay or time off, for employees who work on Thanksgiving or Black Friday. Another way to encourage employees to take time off is to offer flexible scheduling. For example, you could allow employees to take Thanksgiving Day off and make up the hours by working a few extra hours the week before or after. By taking these measures, you can help ensure that your employees are well-rested and ready to give their best during one of the busiest times of the year.
Set expectations for the day
1. Make sure everyone is aware of their schedule for the day. Thanksgiving is a holiday, so many employees may have plans with their family or friends. It’s important to let them know in advance what your expectations are for the day. Black Friday is usually a busy shopping day, so employees should know if they are expected to work extra hours.
2. Communicate your expectations for customer service. On a day like Black Friday, it’s imperative to provide excellent customer service. Let your employees know your standards and how you expect them to interact with customers.
3. Be clear about your policies on discounts and sales. Many retailers offer special deals and discounts on Black Friday, so it’s important to let your employees know if they are allowed to participate.
4. Finally, ensure that all employees understand the safety procedures that should be followed on a busy day like Black Friday. The store will have more people, creating a potential safety hazard. Review your store’s evacuation procedures with all employees before the big day.
Staff adequately
As we mentioned before, it’s essential to make sure you have enough staff on hand to cover all of your shifts. Black Friday is one of the busiest shopping days of the year, so you’ll need to be prepared for an influx of customers.
In addition to adequate staffing, it’s also important to provide training for your employees. Review procedures and protocols with them ahead of time, so they know what to expect. It’s also a good idea to remind them about the importance of customer service and how they can go above and beyond to make shoppers feel welcome and appreciated.
Have a ‘Plan B’ ready to go
No matter how well you plan, there’s always a chance that something can go wrong on Black Friday. That’s why it’s important to have a backup plan in place.
For example, if you’re expecting many customers and your staff is overwhelmed, you may need to call in reinforcements. Have a list of people you can contact if you need additional help. You may also want to consider extending your hours or offering special deals to ease the pressure on your staff.
Having a backup plan can prepare you for anything coming your way on Black Friday.
It’s important to encourage your employees to take breaks throughout the day, especially on a busy day like Black Friday. Working long hours can be mentally & physically taxing. Keep in mind that employees may become overwhelmed or stressed, leading to mistakes or accidents.
Make sure employees are aware of the importance of taking breaks and offer them opportunities to do so. For example, you could set up a break room with snacks and drinks or allow employees to take short walks around the block. Encouraging employees to take breaks will help them stay refreshed and focused throughout the day.
Celebrate your successes together
After a long day of working, it’s essential to take a moment to celebrate your successes together as a team. Black Friday can be stressful and chaotic, so it’s important to take a step back and appreciate all you’ve accomplished.
Thank your employees for their hard work and offer them words of encouragement. Consider treating them to a special lunch or dinner after the rush ends.
By taking the time to celebrate your successes, you can build morale and foster a positive work environment.
If you’re looking for help staffing your business for the busy holiday season, Chattr is here to help. We have a team of experienced recruiters who can find the perfect employees for your company. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you prepare for Black Friday and beyond.
