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How much money can your business save by having a Christmas shutdown?

The Christmas period historically was an almost universal shutdown for businesses, allowing staff to relax, unwind and revel without the lurking spectre of work in the background. It can be fantastic for staff morale and there have even been studies to suggest productivity is at its lowest when staff are made to work at Christmas. These days, however, more and more workplaces are staying open for longer, often right up to Christmas Eve and in many cases including Christmas Day. Business is business, and these companies see the opportunity to make extra money as too great to turn down. But could you be financially handicapping yourself by staying open during Christmas? Let’s look at ways you could actually benefit by having a festive shutdown.

1) Overheads. By not being open, you’re simply not paying for as much. Everyday expenditure such as lighting, heating, electricity, staffing costs and possibly even food and beverages are not needed. You may usually employ security guards who won’t now be needed, or save on the cost of powering up several computers throughout the day. Whatever your overheads are, sit down and work them out. You may actually stand to save some money by having a shutdown.

2) Energy costs. By having a shutdown for a few days, or even a week or more, your business will become ‘greener’ for a little while and your energy costs and emissions will plummet. If you’re not sure how much you are actually spending on energy, ask an expert before you compare the best energy deals. As aforementioned, heating, lighting and gas usage will cease, allowing financial outlay to be halted for the time being.

3) Possible future problems. By having a shutdown, you allow your business the opportunity to see to any routine or necessary maintenance which needs doing. This sounds like it would actually increase financial outlay, but it can prove to be the contrary. If you don’t see to the small hazards and problems which exist in a workplace, you open yourself up to health and safety contraventions and these can prove to be incredibly expensive.

Are more firms staying open over the Christmas period?

The simple answer to this is yes. While most businesses have their doors firmly shut on Christmas morning, many industries are operating as normal in order to satisfy demand. While you’ll struggle to find a supermarket or grocery store open on the day, smaller shops, pubs, restaurants and bars are keeping their doors open to punters. Additionally, airlines operate as normal (which is understandable due to differing time zones) and many UK offices are functional 365 days a year to satisfy the thirst of the workaholic.

Thankfully, Britain’s mainstay shops such as Marks and Spencer, Tesco, ASDA and Waitrose have vowed that they will never open on Christmas Day. These large stores have declared that it is not worth being open due to the trickle of customers who would come through the doors, and the overheads they save outweigh any potential takings.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Hazel Deller .