Actually please DON’T let it snow! I am a huge fan of Christmas, the celebrations and the feel good spirit that comes with it but the increasingly common flurry of snow each year, and the impact on businesses across the UK, is one of dread.
With the snow comes the ‘fear factor’ – a fear that we are going to be stranded in our cars, at work or in the supermarket.
Actually please DON’T let it snow! I am a huge fan of Christmas, the celebrations and the feel good spirit that comes with it but the increasingly common flurry of snow each year, and the impact on businesses across the UK, is one of dread.
With the snow comes the ‘fear factor’ – a fear that we are going to be stranded in our cars, at work or in the supermarket. The ‘fear factor’, helped by a large dose of media-hype, stops people coming out of their homes, it stops them spending, it completely brings towns and communities to a halt all because of a slight covering of white dust.
Bars, restaurants, shops, petrol stations, supermarkets, offices; you name it and that business is affected by snow. Yes it looks pretty – for the first few hours – but it can turn the festive period into the desperate period.
But is that all true or are we brainwashed into believing that?
Some would argue that all the lost business will be regained in non-snowing days to come. For example, a meeting will be rebooked, a shopping trip will happen – with a little more urgency and probably a bigger spend – and actually more people will want to go out, spend and ‘escape’ the feeling of being stranded. Won’t they?
Here are a few examples how some companies have used the snow to their advantage – I hope it inspires or comes in handy:
- Learn from the example of a large pizza chain that actively capitalise on the snow – the restaurant chain is offering special meal deals to customers who have made it into work. Could you offer telephone consultations to those who are house-bound? Discounted rates to those who make it to your premises? Could you encourage people to buy on your website as they won’t be making it to the shop?
- Use a snow day to help build team relations. Give everyone a day off, or give them a half day working from home rather than making them brave the snow. (I hope our staff aren’t reading this!)
- Use the snow to send light-hearted messages to your audience through social media channels
With any luck it won’t snow and we will all have a great run up to the festive holiday – but perhaps save this column for the New Year
That leaves me with little space to tell you what’s happening other than a festive draw of prizes from 1st December and then it’s party, party, party! If you are having your Christmas party with us this year, we look forward to welcoming you and if you’re not, we will see you next year. Remember we’re open 24 hours so Aspers is the perfect place to make sure the celebrations go on throughout the night.
For now, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from us all at Aspers Casino & Clarys Restaurant in Northampton.