How to not just survive, but THRIVE this holiday season

This is why I thought to create this loving self care guide for you, and your retail team for the most busy season of the year. 

And if you've supported us at Orchid & Pine by partnering with us this year, I'd like to extend my deepest gratitude for your business. It's meant the world to me and my family. I so appreciate you. 

With love, 

Charina 

1.) Wear practical footwear. Throughout the day there’s a lot of standing, walking, carrying, and moving while helping customers. This is a time of year to invest in great footwear that is not just beautiful, but will also help you keep on your twinkle toes. Avoid the sore feet syndrome at the end of the day and invest in a great pair of shoes. 

2.) Know where to park. You may be bringing on new team members this year (if you haven’t already). Before their first day, inform them where to park, where permit parking zones are,  and how much it may cost to park in nearby structures. 

3.) Plan your route. Traffic will increase over the holiday season. Share the best routes to the shop with your team, and keep in mind any extra festivals, markets, or events that will impact traffic so they can plan accordingly. 

4.) BWOwB and hydrate.  Keep you and your team well hydrated by encouraging them to BYOwB - that’s right, your own water bottle, not beer! Plan ahead and make sure your hydration station is well-stocked throughout the holiday season. 

5.) BYOL.  Encourage team members to bring their own lunch if they can. If your shop is in a high-traffic area with cafes and restaurants,  foot traffic will increase as people have more time off to shop and eat. Remind your team that it may take them much longer than usual to order their lunch and pick it up in time to return in a timely manner from their lunch break. 

6.) Cater. If it's within your budget, have a special day where you cater or buy lunch for your team.  Believe me, in all my years of working retail, I always appreciated this extra treat. If this is an extra expense that might not be accessible right now, then a healthy community treat like a festive, holiday fruit bowl can still go a long way. Run your metrics, and time this for the most busy days of the year. You and your team will appreciate it and will be more resilient to higher levels of stress. 

7.) Limit caffeine. Now I’m not saying no coffee or tea, but it does help to stay grounded and breathe more deeply when you’re not overly wired up on caffeine. Limiting caffeine (and its sister treat - sugar) can decrease the rollercoaster highs and lows of energy spikes during the day. It helps to stay more grounded especially when you have that one harried customer who comes in right before closing, desperate to find their last-minute gift.

8.) Know where the supplies are. If you haven’t already, look at how efficient your supply storage and stock are in your warehouse and cash wrap. Make sure that every single person on your team is aware of where all your supplies are and that tissues, bags, ribbons, and gift wrap are regularly stocked throughout the day. 

9.) Know when to take a break. A well-timed break can go a very long way. This goes for everyone from the leadership, management, and associate team. Make creating the break schedule an integral part of your opening day meeting. Your management team sets the example for this, keep the bar high on self-care and your customers will also feel well cared for. 

10.) Embrace the busy-ness. The holiday season is your summer! Think of this time as similar to when flowers are putting in all their work to bloom in the garden. In retail, this is not the dormant time of year. Remember that in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the holidays, this cycle will come to an end. 

I hope you enjoyed this wellness guide for your team, and I hope that you have the most abundance, joyful and wonderful holiday season. 

Charina