Pros Share How They Guide Their Firms Through the Holidays
Discover how designers and remodelers manage schedules, installations, staff and clients 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 design or home remodeling firm, there are a lot of moving pieces to balance to help your staff and clients 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 that many pros suggest avoiding installations altogether and waiting until the new year to schedule them.
“It’s always harder to schedule deliveries and installations during the holidays,” says Ruchi Agrawal Mohan of DesignbyRuchi in New York. “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.”
Rebecca Sutton of Kitchen Design Concepts in Dallas agrees that project installations during the holidays can be a real challenge and should be avoided when possible. “A lot of our installers and subcontractors are also taking off for the holidays,” she says. “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.”
Learn about Houzz Pro business software
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 that many pros suggest avoiding installations altogether and waiting until the new year to schedule them.
“It’s always harder to schedule deliveries and installations during the holidays,” says Ruchi Agrawal Mohan of DesignbyRuchi in New York. “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.”
Rebecca Sutton of Kitchen Design Concepts in Dallas agrees that project installations during the holidays can be a real challenge and should be avoided when possible. “A lot of our installers and subcontractors are also taking off for the holidays,” she says. “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.”
Learn about Houzz Pro business software
3. Show Staff Appreciation
With all the challenges and stresses of the holiday season, it’s important to remember that your own staff members may have family commitments or other responsibilities 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 Manage Critical Conversations With Your Clients
With all the challenges and stresses of the holiday season, it’s important to remember that your own staff members may have family commitments or other responsibilities 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 Manage Critical Conversations With Your Clients
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 major 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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Learn about Houzz Pro software
Talk with your peers in the Pro-to-Pro discussions
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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 major 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 the 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 clients, staff and subcontractors. Getting an early handle on the comings and goings of all interested parties can save you time and stress.
“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,” says designer Kate Roos of Kate Roos Design in Minneapolis. “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.”
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.”
A great way to have these holiday scheduling discussions with clients is with Houzz Pro, which helps track communication with clients and creates a central record of what’s been agreed upon. Houzz Pro also allows pros to share photos and files with clients and send proposals, a 3D Floor Planner and more.