It’s the most wonderful time of the year—unless you’re working a double during BOGO vape sales on Christmas Eve. The holidays are a stressful time for anyone in retail, and this industry is no exception. While it’s all too easy to sit back and let Krampus take over, the most successful retailers know what it takes to survive, and even thrive, during the holiday rush.
Supervising the Elves: Holiday Staffing 101
Everybody knows the holiday rush is coming, but it’s still important to communicate with your employees during this time. This is especially true when it comes to scheduling, PTO, and last-minute call-ins.. Letting your staff know exactly what is expected of them, including any opportunities for overtime, restrictions on PTO, or potential repercussions for no-shows during the busy season, can eliminate a lot of confusion (and excuses) ahead of time.
If you think you might need some extra hands for the holiday, don’t wait until the last minute to start hiring. This time of year is difficult enough without having to train and onboard new employees, so it’s a good idea to try to finish these processes in the days and weeks leading up to the big holiday rush.
Your Holiday Budtender Survival Kit
Make sure to stock some goodies in the breakroom to reward your hardworking employees during the holiday season, including:
- Caffeine (and plenty of it)
- CBD balm
- Noise-cancelling headphones
- Treats that are NOT peppermint flavored
- Sativa for productivity, indica for relaxation (you might want to limit this item to once your employees have clocked out.)
Dealing With Grinches: Customer Service
“There is a spiritual aspect to our lives — when we give, we receive — when a business does something good for somebody, that somebody feels good about them!” ― Ben Cohen, Ben & Jerry’s co-founder
Although they might not be as frightening as Krampus himself, Grinches can still ruin your holiday just the same. The key here is to remain calm at all times, even when your customers are not. Shoppers are stressed out during the holidays, too, and sometimes all it takes is a smile, a kind gesture, or a positive retail experience to turn their day (or season) around.
Since a lot of your shoppers will likely be looking for gifts, it’s a good idea to create a cheat sheet with some default ideas and go-to answers for common questions. Cover product recommendations for first-timers, daily users, and others. Not only does it make the whole transaction quicker, but it can be genuinely helpful to someone who is new to toking and the culture around it.
Now is a good time to celebrate your regular shoppers, too. Make it a point to remember names and, if possible, offer loyalty perks, handwritten notes, or even personal gifts as a way to reward their loyalty.
The Naughty List of Retail Mistakes
Shopping during the holidays can be a trying time for everyone involved, but you should do your best to avoid these retail mistakes when working in the retail cannabis industry:
- Being stoned while dealing with holiday shoppers
- Arguing over store policies, especially with a line full of customers
- Trying to rush customers through their purchases (this is when most mistakes happen)
- Ghosting customers in the middle of a transaction
- Dressing in holiday attire if you’re not going to give off festive vibes
Filling the Stockings With Care (and Cannabis): Inventory Management
The head shop/cannabis industry’s equivalent to Black Friday is known as Green Wednesday, and it traditionally takes place on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving—right at the start of the big holiday rush. With so many people traveling on Green Wednesday, it’s a great time for cannabis retailers to offer steep discounts on their products. Not only are people stocking up for themselves during this time, but they’re buying early Christmas gifts for friends and family, too.
Recent data from Treez, a POS system built specifically for dispensaries, has seen the average size of customer shopping baskets surge by 34% during the week of Thanksgiving. This is compared to an increase of only 11% during Christmas week.
With that in mind, inventory management is crucial during this time of year. For best results, create your strategy ahead of time. Make sure to account for discounts and seasonal promotions, as these products are likely to fly off the shelves quicker than others. If it ever looks like you’re about to run out of a popular product, don’t hesitate to order more right away. However, keep in mind that your distributors might need some extra time to fulfill orders during the holiday season, too.
Finally, perform inventory audits before and after the holiday season. The initial audit can help track over- and under-selling products, while the post-holiday audit makes it easy to evaluate the effectiveness of your promotions and maintain regulatory compliance.
It’s Supposed To Be Silent Night, Not Exhausted Night: Avoiding Burnout
“Self-care is your fuel…Whatever the road ahead or the path you’ve taken, self-care is what keeps your motor running and your wheels turning.” ― Melissa Steginus, mindfulness teacher and productivity coach
Much of the holiday season is spent in a frenzy, but we can’t forget the opposite side of the coin: employees being left to operate a store during a time when most consumers are relaxing with their friends and family. Whether it stems from being too busy or not being busy enough, the risk of employee burnout and fatigue is an ever-present threat during the holidays.
Luckily, there are several steps you can take to help avoid burnout in a retail setting, including:
- Taking frequent (but brief) breaks throughout the workday
- Playing your favorite music on the in-store stereo
- Watching Netflix on your phone during downtime
- Relaxing as much as possible on your days off
- Eating healthily and drinking plenty of water
- Getting a full night’s sleep at the end of the day
While some amount of employee fatigue is expected during the holiday season, the best way to avoid long-term burnout is to treat it before it ever becomes an issue.
3 Signs That It’s Safe to Exhale
The holidays are usually over just as quickly as they began. You’ll know when it’s time to exhale again by looking for these telltale signs:
- Nobody’s complaining about a lost, misplaced, or delayed order
- You can finally hear the in-store music again (and it’s not Christmas music)
- The Krampus in your soul has gone back to sleep for another year
Wrapping It All Up: Tips for the Post-Holiday Comedown
Don’t let Krampus cramp your style this holiday season. Those who start early will have plenty of time to prepare for the holiday rush, and that could be enough to give you the edge over the competition. With a festive environment, friendly staff, and a little bit of planning, your customers are sure to come back for more.
