Hospitality sales grew 14% in the week of the Queen’s Jubilee in 2022 when compared to the preceding week. Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd of June were bank holidays, which gave Brits a 4-day weekend through until Sunday 5th, boosted by extended licensing hours and sunny weather.
The Coronation of King Charles III on Monday will be one the biggest events of the year, and will offer a much needed boost for hospitality venues up and down the country.
Unsurprisingly, historic events are a big driver of footfall and revenue for the sector, but they are also the most difficult when it comes to labour management.
Walking the line of operational efficiency and staff motivation becomes increasingly challenging when you throw long, busy shifts and staff who are eager to make their own holiday plans into the mix.
Operators looking to maximise sales must start by optimising their labour. Here are 4 easy-to-implement tips that will set you up for success:
Forecast your peak trading times through historical sales data
Look at your sales during the Queen’s jubilee as a good like-for-like position and consider your demographics. With this data, you can forecast the peak times of guest spending and make sure you have a fully-staffed front of house ready to pull some pints.
Taking this proactive approach to your labour management will guarantee you have your people in the right place and at the right time, reaching full productivity and maximising sales in the process.
Communicate effectively with your team
Particularly during busy holidays, high service levels and informed staff are essential in any venue. Your team needs to know when they are working and what their roles and responsibilities are before going into a busy shift and serving guests.
Early and effective communication of shift briefs and slack tasks to staff means every hour of the day will be filled with a clear sense of responsibility, increasing engagement and maximising productivity.
Listen to your staff
Bank holidays are a great time for the industry, but it’s important to remember that they’re also a time when your staff may want to be with friends and family too.
Striking the right balance between work and life for your staff is really important, especially so in what is now a retention and not a recruitment world.
If your labour is managed effectively with forecasting, advanced rotas and clear communication, you won’t be asking your employees to stay late or come in on their day off, both of which are big drivers of high turnover and low engagement.
Incentives
In the same way you drive sales through deals and special offers, you can boost staff motivation and engagement with incentives. Try and centre your staff around the excitement of the shift, offering the best seller a £50 bonus, for example. This kind of goal will keep your staff motivated and eager to sell, keeping spirits and sales up over the long weekend.
Find out how S4labour can give you the tools for you and your staff to be your best.
