Steps to take when preparing to close for the holidays.

If you are planning to close up your business for the holidays, this requires a little more effort than simply locking your doors. Holiday closures require a fair amount of planning and communication amongst your team. Here are some of the steps you should take to get your business ready to close for the holidays. Inform Staff, Vendors, and Customers One of the first things you need to do to prepare for your business's closure is to inform relevant parties about your plans. For instance, inform your employees about your holiday business hours in internal meetings, and remind them with subsequent emails and notices around the office. You can tell vendors about your closure over the phone, and then send them emails to remind them as the dates approach. Finally, you can inform customers by posting on your company's website and sending out holiday newsletters. Set Up Out-of-Office Notifications While you are on your holiday break, you and your employees will likely not be checking your emails or your business voicemails. However, you don't want to leave customers or inquiring parties hanging. This is why you should create automatic email responses and update your answering machine to inform people that you are out of office, but will follow up with them as soon as you return. This is a great way to relax on your holiday break without leaving customers feeling abandoned. Unplug Non-Essential Appliances and Electronics Before you leave your business for the holidays, go around and unplug all non-essential items. For instance, be sure to unplug things like printers, copy machines, televisions, coffee makers, and so on. By unplugging these items, you can save a considerable amount of energy while you are away. These are some of the steps you should take to prepare your business for a holiday closure. Want another way to be prepared? Make sure your business has the right commercial insurance protections whether it's open or closed. For assistance with all your business insurance needs, contact the experts at East End Insurance Agency today.