Get Ready for Holiday Foot Traffic: A Checklist

The holiday season may bring a welcome boost in customers, but it also brings a whole range of extra stresses to your business. As a working mom, you probably have enough on your plate: work, family commitments, and Christmas preparations, too. So the last thing you need is an avoidable business problem waiting for you at the door.

Preparation can go a long way in keeping your premises safe and welcoming during the busiest weeks of the year. Use this quick checklist to get your business ready before the holiday rush gets into full swing.

Tidy Up Your Entrance

The entrance to your business is the first thing your customers will see, so make that first impression count. Check that the approach to your building looks tidy and customers can get to the door without having to step over litter or piles of equipment.

Make sure your outdoor mats are lying flat and not creating trip hazards. We all know how slippery entrances can be in wet weather, so if you don’t already have any, put some floor mats down and place warning signs in wet areas while the floor dries.

Clean Your Car Park and Walkways

A busy car park over the festive season can quickly become a mess of grime, oil stains, litter, and debris. Not only does this give your business a neglected look, but it can also create hazards for people walking to and from their cars.

We asked parking lot cleaning experts CRI Washing for their advice: "Get your parking lot or garage cleaned before the holiday rush. Pay particular attention to pedestrian routes, accessible parking spaces, loading areas, and the area around your main entrance. For outdoor lots, choose a reputable local pressure washing company with strong reviews. For example, if you’re arranging Rockwall pressure washing this winter, a nearby contractor may offer more flexibility if bad weather means the work needs to be rescheduled."

Get Ready for Deliveries and Extra Waste

More customers means more deliveries, packaging, and trash, so make sure your bins are big enough to take it all. You should also make sure your employees know where to put cardboard, packaging and other waste, so you can dispose of your unwanted items properly and avoid clutter. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers advice on reducing and managing waste, which is a helpful read in the lead-up to Christmas.

Clear out your delivery areas, too, so there are no vehicles blocking pedestrian routes or accessible parking spaces. If you expect a lot of deliveries over the festive season, agree on a schedule and access arrangements with the delivery team in advance.

Give Your Staff a Simple Daily Checklist

Even after you’ve sorted out your premises, regular checks will help you stay on top of things and deal with problems before they affect customers. Ask a staff member to take a few minutes each day to check the entrance, walkways, car park and bins, and to report any damage or issues that need sorting out.

You don’t need to turn this into a complicated process! Just a simple checklist and a named person to keep an eye on things can help you keep your business running as it should.