4 Pro Tips for Guiding Your Firm Through the Holidays
Learn how professionals on Houzz manage schedules, installations, staff and customers during the holiday season
The holidays can be a joyful time of year, but they can also be stressful. And when you run your own home remodeling or design firm, there are a lot of moving pieces to balance to help your employees and customers keep their spirits up throughout the season.
We asked established pros to share how they manage their schedules, installations, staff and clients during the holidays. Read about their strategies for success, then share your own in the Comments.
We asked established pros to share how they manage their schedules, installations, staff and clients during the holidays. Read about their strategies for success, then share your own in the Comments.
2. Avoid Project Installations if Possible
Because holiday schedules can be all over the map, trying to coordinate a project installation at this time of year can be a challenge. In fact, it can be such a challenge than many pros suggest avoiding installations altogether and waiting until the new year to schedule them.
“A lot of our installers and subcontractors are also taking off for the holidays,” says Rebecca Sutton of Kitchen Design Concepts in Dallas. “We have conversations with our clients during the sales process — if their project timeline runs over the holidays, we know to begin their project at the start of the new year.”
Ruchi Agrawal Mohan of DesignbyRuchi in New York agrees that project installations during the holidays are a hassle. “It’s always harder to schedule deliveries and installations during the holidays,” she says. “The buildings are shut down for deliveries, clients are hosting and vendors are not available. I try to put installations on the schedule way ahead of time or after the holidays have passed.”
Stephanie Frees of Plain & Posh in Clarendon Hills, Illinois, also tries to avoid holiday installations. “I have always tried to get projects completed by Thanksgiving,” she says. “No one wants workers in their homes when they are trying to decorate for the holidays and then hosting holiday events.”
How to Create an Engaging End-of-Year Newsletter
Because holiday schedules can be all over the map, trying to coordinate a project installation at this time of year can be a challenge. In fact, it can be such a challenge than many pros suggest avoiding installations altogether and waiting until the new year to schedule them.
“A lot of our installers and subcontractors are also taking off for the holidays,” says Rebecca Sutton of Kitchen Design Concepts in Dallas. “We have conversations with our clients during the sales process — if their project timeline runs over the holidays, we know to begin their project at the start of the new year.”
Ruchi Agrawal Mohan of DesignbyRuchi in New York agrees that project installations during the holidays are a hassle. “It’s always harder to schedule deliveries and installations during the holidays,” she says. “The buildings are shut down for deliveries, clients are hosting and vendors are not available. I try to put installations on the schedule way ahead of time or after the holidays have passed.”
Stephanie Frees of Plain & Posh in Clarendon Hills, Illinois, also tries to avoid holiday installations. “I have always tried to get projects completed by Thanksgiving,” she says. “No one wants workers in their homes when they are trying to decorate for the holidays and then hosting holiday events.”
How to Create an Engaging End-of-Year Newsletter
3. Show Staff Appreciation
With all the challenges and stresses of the season, it’s important to remember that your own staff may have family commitments or other responsibilities at this time of year. It’s essential as a good business leader to keep staff morale high and show your appreciation for all they do.
“As business owners, we set the tone, so we try to keep things upbeat and cheerful during the holidays, even if things are stressful for us personally,” says Jenny Sneller of Sneller Custom Homes and Remodeling in Spring, Texas. “We set up a Christmas tree at the office and started a tradition last year of getting an ornament that represents each employee. The last few years, we’ve had a gingerbread house contest. It’s important to try to make things festive and fun for everyone.”
Louie Katsis of Olympic Kitchens in Toronto tells us that he offers vacation pay for his staff and prioritizes time off during the holidays. “We set an auto response in emails and voicemails that let clients know when we will be closed,” he says. “However, we always have an option for clients to reach out to a designated staff member for something urgent while we are closed.”
How to Make the Most of Those Quieter Periods
With all the challenges and stresses of the season, it’s important to remember that your own staff may have family commitments or other responsibilities at this time of year. It’s essential as a good business leader to keep staff morale high and show your appreciation for all they do.
“As business owners, we set the tone, so we try to keep things upbeat and cheerful during the holidays, even if things are stressful for us personally,” says Jenny Sneller of Sneller Custom Homes and Remodeling in Spring, Texas. “We set up a Christmas tree at the office and started a tradition last year of getting an ornament that represents each employee. The last few years, we’ve had a gingerbread house contest. It’s important to try to make things festive and fun for everyone.”
Louie Katsis of Olympic Kitchens in Toronto tells us that he offers vacation pay for his staff and prioritizes time off during the holidays. “We set an auto response in emails and voicemails that let clients know when we will be closed,” he says. “However, we always have an option for clients to reach out to a designated staff member for something urgent while we are closed.”
How to Make the Most of Those Quieter Periods
4. Let Your Clients Know You Care
Working with clients to make their dream homes a reality has its highs and lows, but keeping those clients satisfied is a big key to success. The holidays are a great time to offer a token of appreciation or a thoughtful message to let your clients know their value to you.
“I always send holiday cards and gifts to my past clients and connectors,” says Carl Mattison of Carl Mattison Design in Atlanta. “Also, I often — though not this year — throw a large-scale holiday party at my personal home in December where all my clients of the past year are invited. It’s quite a fun time and clients get to meet others and share — hopefully good — stories about how we all are connected.”
Elizabeth Lord of Elizabeth P. Lord Residential Design in Denver sends a post-holiday email newsletter to all her clients and connections that highlights projects from the past year. “I find this generates new business for the new year and kick-starts clients’ desires to start a remodel.”
Join the conversation: What are your business tips for handling the holidays? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Working with clients to make their dream homes a reality has its highs and lows, but keeping those clients satisfied is a big key to success. The holidays are a great time to offer a token of appreciation or a thoughtful message to let your clients know their value to you.
“I always send holiday cards and gifts to my past clients and connectors,” says Carl Mattison of Carl Mattison Design in Atlanta. “Also, I often — though not this year — throw a large-scale holiday party at my personal home in December where all my clients of the past year are invited. It’s quite a fun time and clients get to meet others and share — hopefully good — stories about how we all are connected.”
Elizabeth Lord of Elizabeth P. Lord Residential Design in Denver sends a post-holiday email newsletter to all her clients and connections that highlights projects from the past year. “I find this generates new business for the new year and kick-starts clients’ desires to start a remodel.”
Join the conversation: What are your business tips for handling the holidays? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
More for Pros on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Learn about Houzz Pro software
Talk with your peers in pro-to-pro discussions
Join the Houzz Trade Program
Between vacations, school closures and shortened store hours, the holidays can be a hectic time to coordinate schedules with customers, employees and subcontractors. Getting an early handle on the comings and goings of all interested parties can save you time and stress.
Austin Ardrey of Christopher’s Kitchen & Bath in Englewood, Colorado, feels it’s important to check in with his staff and clients about holiday schedules as soon as possible. “Everyone has lives and they don’t do good work if they’re burnt out,” he says. “Most clients also have plans, so it’s usually best to just keep the communication open and plan together.”
Designer Kate Roos of Kate Roos Design in Minneapolis also likes to get an early handle on holiday schedules. “As early as spring, we start explaining to our clients that once design work is complete, construction could begin in the fall or early winter,” she says. “We always ask clients about the holidays and if they are ok to be under construction during that time. If they aren’t, we will begin work in the new year.”
A great way to have these holiday scheduling discussions with clients is with Houzz Pro. The software allows you to track your communication with clients and give them a personalized dashboard with all the documents and information about their project in one easy-to-access place.
Learn about Houzz Pro business software