What does your Restaurant/Shop do for the Holidays & New Years?

[pessosices]

Hey Foodie Friends!

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

I hope y'all are enjoying and maybe even getting a little time off.

Speaking of which, here's my Question for y'all:

What does your Restaurant/Shop do for the Holidays?

Do you stay open, or close down?

Do you do any Holiday Specials? 

Do you decorate or play fun music?

Do you do any giveaways?

Do you ignore it all together?

Looking forward to hearing all about your holiday spirit!

[pessosices]

I'll get things started!

We're seasonal so we're closed for all of the holidays, but we used to put up a little tree and menorah and put on a holiday playlist.

We would also make some seasonal ice cream flavors like Candy Cane, Gingerbread, Pumpkin Pie, and Eggnog!

These days since we're closed, we do an eGift Card sale, 10% off. It's big for gifts, and we sell a lot of them!

[ElisabethB]

@pessosices I love that ice cream cone ornament SO MUCH! 🍦💕

[pessosices]

Thanks, @ElisabethB ! My mom found that one and it's a perfect tradition addition!

[Donnie-M]

We personally close down for Christmas Eve & Christmas Day, which this year is Friday & Monday.  We are also gonna close New Year's Eve this year since it falls on a weekend.  I know M-F Food service....we are very lucky.

We did a secret santa this year and I handed out Christmas Bonuses.  I didn't this year, but next year (covid willing), I am gonna do my red envelope giveaway.  We hand out a red envelope to each customer in December with a secret prize inside.  If they open it before the first week of January, you don't get the prize.  They have to come into the store and open it.  Consider it a "No Peeking" prize!

Donnie-M

[ElisabethB]

@Donnie-M Love the red envelope idea - how fun! 

[pessosices]

That's a great bit of time off for everyone, @Donnie-M !

Really amazing and generous of you to give out bonuses and the red envelope giveaway - it sounds like you're really making a great experience for your staff and customers. And a really cool way of bringing people back in - love the no-peeking prize!

Happy holidays, friend!

[JUYBoutique20]

We're usually closed on Christmas through the 27th....We open back through New Year's Eve then closed on New Year's Day.  Christmas music from Dec 1st-24th then back to the jams on Dec. 28th.  I don't take down Christmas decor till we open back up after New Year's Day.  I actually add New Year's decor to the Christmas decor. 

[aarontw]

Our Christmas tree is still up at home... maybe I can put a 2022 on top and make it a new years tree 😂

[pessosices]

@aarontw I say leave it up all year and just switch things out for each month!
One particularly rough year I left it up for about 8 months, no decorations, just the soft white lights, it was really nice.

[JUYBoutique20]

@aarontw you definitely should.  I might leave my tree up and decorate it for Valentines....

[pessosices]

That's so great that you get a bit of a break, but still fit in some customers for NYE, @JUYBoutique20 !

Gotta love a whole month of Christmas music, and a tree up through new years is perfectly fine, especially with some New Years decor in there too!

It sounds like you've created a great festive & fun environment for you, your customers, and staff!

Enjoy it all-

[JUYBoutique20]

I definitely try to keep it fun and festive.  Here in Alaska, it can get pretty glooming looking since we have longer nights, so Christmas decor helps keep the vibes up.  

[pessosices]

That checks out and makes a lot of sense @JUYBoutique20 ! 
Gotta love good festive vibes when the skies are dark and gloomy

[GourmetOnWheels]

We offer all types of 100% grass-fed meat and Fowl to our customers for their dinners. I canceled the two farmers' markets, but have nice deliveries.

René

[aarontw]

Next time I am in your area for the holidays I am dialing you up! This year we're eating crab for New Years eve, I called to reserve some from a local (non chain) grocer today 🙂 

[pessosices]

Oh man, @aarontw , that sounds like a great plan - and awesome that you're supporting local folks too! Happy new years!

[GourmetOnWheels]

@aarontw Sounds like a plan, I only ship non-refrigerated items, as shipping refrigerated items cost far too much to ship. No one will pay that and I can't eat that cost.

Everyone that ships refrigerated items need to take a good look at the cost. All shipping companies now charge both by volume and weight, adding the cost of your boxes, styrofoam insert, icepacks, and airbags. And see what your actual shipping cost is. Anyone that has an economical solution PM me.

René

[pessosices]

That's sounds like some great offerings, @GourmetOnWheels ! 

Sorry that you had to cancel the farmers markets, but I'm glad you're still delivering and keeping folks happy and well fed!

[GourmetOnWheels]

@pessosices Don't be sorry I canceled as no customers would show, spoke to two vendors that were there they each had 10 and 11 customers in 4 hours.

René

[pessosices]

Oh wow, I'm glad that worked out then!