Upgrading your workplace before the holiday rush

Money. Technology. Marketing. It’s all important for ensuring holiday success. But let’s agree that nothing’s going to get done unless you’ve got the people to do it. Here are a few ideas to find and motivate good people during the holidays.

Identify resources needed

Determine the people necessary for your holiday period - part-timers, full-timers, contractors. Consider hiring lower-cost talent like students. But don’t skimp on salaries and benefits if you want to attract more experienced people. Make these decisions now so that you’ve got the time to search, find, and train your new staff.

Review your fulfilment procedures

Check to make sure that you’ve got all forms and paperwork at the ready to handle any transaction that comes in – especially if you sell internationally. Double check your package assembly, quality control, and shipping areas to make sure they’re stocked with supplies and that employees have adequate space to work. Review the procedures for shipping products overseas and have a few shipping companies lined up to handle these types of transactions.

Create and post your job listings

Write a specific job description for each position you’re fulfilling – no matter how small. Check that each responsibility is accountable and easily measured. Consider the specific experience and skills you’re looking for. Place your ads on popular employment and contractor sites like, Indeed, Studentjob.com, Reed or LinkedIn. Look for talent among your friends, family, and community. Post on your business social media to attract candidates who already follow and know your business and may be looking for a job.

Re-visit your physical space and employee schedules

If you have increased your number of employees, make sure your they have enough space to do their work. If necessary, rent temporary space to hold inventory or create a production area. Consider work hours and whether you need to be operational 24/7 during the busy holiday season. Think about hiring employees in a different time zone or even a different country to address language challenges. Look into online scheduling services like RotaCloud or Shiftboard to help you manage hours, time, services, and costs.

Leave time for employee training

The more you can mentor, train, and advise your new employees before the big holiday rush, the better you’ll be able to handle the increased volume. Reserving time for this can pay off big productivity dividends during the holiday season.

Consider incentive commission plans

Think about offering incentives or commissions to your employees based on sales and profits of the company during the holiday season. Have weekly sales and on-time fulfilment goals and even consider contests to keep your employees focused on your goals and reward them when they achieve.