Preparing for the holidays: What you should know about cost and procurement

What’s in store for operators this year as we head into the holiday season?

Deck the halls with holiday décor

Entegra’s Trends Report highlighted lavender as an up-and-coming color for 2023. Added to neutral and natural tablescapes, plant walls or wreaths, this color of the year will complement these other seasonal trends.

• Natural and neutral. Think creams and beiges, burlap and yarn balls to create a sense of warmth and welcome. With the pop ularity of the modern farmhouse look, extending this décor into your business could attract more interest.
• The vintage look. Add a touch of hominess with retro favorites like crackled glass ornaments, snowy village scenes or electric train sets circling a central area.
• Bringing nature inside. Whether it’s in a dining room or hotel lobby, pumpkins, gourds, trees and garland (real or faux), lend a touch of holiday spirit wherever they’re placed.

Setting the mood through color, holiday lighting, the scent of fir or pine and live greenery can help you create the perfect vibe for customers. It shows that you’re in sync with what they care about and welcome them into your establishment.

Staffing your business for the holidays

Finding enough staff to operate smoothly is a challenge right now, and competition to keep those workers is fierce — even when businesses offer higher wages.

• As per survey, 77% of consumers planned to go out to eat during the holiday season.
• New Year’s Eve is one of the restaurant industry’s busiest days.
• According to research, 31 percent of Thanksgiving travelers planned to stay in a hotel during their trip.

Hiring and training new staff and getting them up to speed can be another stressor for management. If that’s the case for your business, adding temporary workers and getting the quickly trained and up to speed can help.

One thing is certain, the holidays are an exciting time that brings opportunities and challenges. If you’re looking for a procurement partner to get through it all, let’s chat.

Call us at 833-955-1490 or contact us to get more information about putting Entegra’s purchasing power and business performance improvement solutions to work for you.