Consumer trends are shifting as millennials grow in their influence. Millennials and Gen Zers are restructuring the holiday dining norms. A significant portion of these generations opt-out of the typical in-home holiday meal arrangements for dining-out options. With the growing demand for dining options, many restaurateurs are shifting their availability options to meet this opportunity.
In order to meet this demand, restaurateurs face a few obstacles. Focus on the following important areas over the next few weeks to ensure that your restaurant meets the holiday season well-equipped and finishes the season strong.
Use the Proper Tools
There are two major areas to focus on to meet the demands of the season: POS data and staffing. It is imperative to analyze your POS data for the last two to three years for holiday season trends, in addition to keeping a vigilant eye on the trends of the current season. This will allow you to predict the hours which will require extra or minimal staffing.
Staffing during the holidays is a major hurdle. On the one hand, people need extra money during the holidays. On the other hand, people tend to want more time with their families during the holidays.
One way to handle staffing dilemmas is to automate scheduling by using a restaurant scheduling software. This will allow for clarity between management and staff, and will also grant staff power to effectively communicate their desired working schedule. A key feature to use is the time-off deadline feature. This will allow you to setup a firm cutoff date for time-off requests without necessitating interpersonal, heavy-handed involvement between management and staff.
Also, consider listing open shifts with slightly higher pay on heavy traffic days, rather than assigning them to certain employees. Flexibility in certain regards will ensure that your staff feels supported during this joyful but also stressful period.
Listen
Despite your best efforts, there may still be areas in your holiday planning that need improvement. You must be deliberate in your strategy to encourage open communication during the holidays. Inspire your staff to offer their feedback on everything from areas of improvement to successful initiatives. Challenging periods are not a good time to draw divisive lines between management and staff. Everyone is on the same team.
Conclusion
Diplomacy and strategy are key ingredients for producing a peaceful and profitable holiday season. There is a huge opportunity for monetary growth, as well as team growth, for your restaurant this season. Play smart and don’t miss out.
Cheers!
Contact Best Metropolitan Towel & Linen today for assistance with sourcing all your restaurant linen needs, and proven strategies to grow your customer base.
By mary
How to Successfully Navigate the Holidays
Consumer trends are shifting as millennials grow in their influence. Millennials and Gen Zers are restructuring the holiday dining norms. A significant portion of these generations opt-out of the typical in-home holiday meal arrangements for dining-out options. With the growing demand for dining options, many restaurateurs are shifting their availability options to meet this opportunity.
In order to meet this demand, restaurateurs face a few obstacles. Focus on the following important areas over the next few weeks to ensure that your restaurant meets the holiday season well-equipped and finishes the season strong.
Use the Proper Tools
There are two major areas to focus on to meet the demands of the season: POS data and staffing. It is imperative to analyze your POS data for the last two to three years for holiday season trends, in addition to keeping a vigilant eye on the trends of the current season. This will allow you to predict the hours which will require extra or minimal staffing.
Staffing during the holidays is a major hurdle. On the one hand, people need extra money during the holidays. On the other hand, people tend to want more time with their families during the holidays.
One way to handle staffing dilemmas is to automate scheduling by using a restaurant scheduling software. This will allow for clarity between management and staff, and will also grant staff power to effectively communicate their desired working schedule. A key feature to use is the time-off deadline feature. This will allow you to setup a firm cutoff date for time-off requests without necessitating interpersonal, heavy-handed involvement between management and staff.
Also, consider listing open shifts with slightly higher pay on heavy traffic days, rather than assigning them to certain employees. Flexibility in certain regards will ensure that your staff feels supported during this joyful but also stressful period.
Listen
Despite your best efforts, there may still be areas in your holiday planning that need improvement. You must be deliberate in your strategy to encourage open communication during the holidays. Inspire your staff to offer their feedback on everything from areas of improvement to successful initiatives. Challenging periods are not a good time to draw divisive lines between management and staff. Everyone is on the same team.
Conclusion
Diplomacy and strategy are key ingredients for producing a peaceful and profitable holiday season. There is a huge opportunity for monetary growth, as well as team growth, for your restaurant this season. Play smart and don’t miss out.
Cheers!
Contact Best Metropolitan Towel & Linen today for assistance with sourcing all your restaurant linen needs, and proven strategies to grow your customer base.