Small Business: Ready for silly season

For many firms it is a crazy time of year because of increased customer demand. Photo / iStock

Summer brings in the crowds, but also puts extra pressure on business owners.

Christmas Day is less than four weeks away and the busy silly season is kicking in.

For many firms - particularly in retail and hospitality - it is a crazy time of year because of increased customer demand.

But pressure is also coming on workplaces to get things done before staff hours reduce over the holiday.

Dana Johnston and JP Schmidt co-own hospitality businesses 46 & York in Parnell and Meadow in Remuera.

Johnston says one pressure at this time of year is maintaining a good impression among the swelling numbers coming through the doors.

"Behind the scenes, things can be super-busy so the pressure is to maintain your composure, keep smiles on the faces of your team and make sure efficiencies are optimised to ensure customers are still getting the bubbly, friendly experience," says Johnston.

Maintaining a work-life balance is another pressure.

"By this time, Christmas parties are coming thick and fast and our loyal customers often want to catch up and have a couple of drinks.

"Staying healthy and getting plenty of exercise is important to keep on top of things."

Thomas Rodda is director of transport and tour operator Thermal Land Shuttle in Rotorua, where the tourist trade is ramping up for summer.

One of his primary challenges at this time of year is getting enough capable staff to deal with increased customer demand.

"Trying to find good people who represent our brand well and impress our customers with their knowledge and personality isn't easy," he says.

This year Rodda has hired more staff so he can work on the business rather than in it and keep a good overview across the firm.

"I also invested in a new website this year with a new booking system, to streamline things and help me - and those businesses who recommend me, like local hotels - keep up with bookings, which are often made the night before."

For many it's a time of year when planning ahead is starting to pay dividends.

Stephanie Millar is the owner of Auckland-based cat-minding business Cat Whisperers.

For most of the year, she usually works in the business on her own but over the Christmas holiday period, she is bringing in about eight extra workers to help.

She began searching for staff about July with the aim of locking them in by October.

"I was 19 when I bought this business about three years ago and it has been a massive learning curve.

"My first Christmas was quite difficult. Nothing went wrong, but I put myself under a lot of stress and that was something I had to think about dealing with better.

"Plan early and get in quite a lot more help was the big lesson."

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