Whether you’re ready for it or not, the festive season is upon us. It’s the time of carol singing, present wrapping and all the stress and excitement that comes with it.
However, for our customers in the catering and hospitality sector, the Christmas period includes a lot more than decorating the tree; it is undoubtedly the busiest time of the year. With that in mind, we’ve put together our heads together and come up with some top tips to ensure you are prepared for the upcoming festivities.
Keep your furniture clean
An obvious tip, but perhaps the most important of all, keep your furniture clean. For busy restaurants and cafes alike, ensuring both your furniture and your establishment are clean can go a long way in impressing your customers, especially were food is concerned.
Caring for your furniture, whether it’s plastic or wooden, also ensures its longevity. Wooden furniture doesn’t need much maintenance, but cleaning your table or chairs after use with a damp cloth, prevents fluids from infiltrating into the wood. Oiling your table as well ensures liquids are absorbed less quickly, helping it to keep cleaner for longer.
Plastic furniture on the other hand, can be cleaned using a damp cloth and industry-safe antibacterial spray.
Tidy Up
Keeping your furniture in tip top shape is one thing, but making sure the space around it is clean and tidy is vital too. It may seem obvious, but ensuring your guests have a good first impression is essential to both keeping them happy throughout their stay, as well enticing them to return for a second visit.
Vacuuming or mopping the floors, as well as keeping the facilities clean, are expected of eateries throughout the year. As the festive season is by far the busiest, it’s important that standards don’t slip.
Tidying away any broken or unused furniture will give a more presentable and professional appearance, as well as helping to save your floor space.
Know your numbers
With large numbers of people often gathering in one place at one time, having enough chairs to accommodate your guests is vital. Depending on the size of your establishment, working out how much space you’d like to take up with tables can help you to manage space and avoid blocking any exits.
Stackable chairs and fold away tables can make a great, space-saving addition to your restaurant, café or pub. Trust us to help you find the furniture that meets your needs. We have a range of furniture, from the durable and stylish Shaker Tables, to our collection of Remo chairs; which can be stacked up to 10 high.
Decorate tastefully
Less is more, and changing up things ever so slightly can have just as much impact as going all out on decorations. With so many ways to decorate, finding ones that complement the style of your establishment is important.
Candles, as simple as they are, can create the cosy atmosphere you’re after. Whether you choose to enclose your candles in lanterns, or surround them with glittered pinecones, fashioning decorative centrepieces to add to your table is an inexpensive way to spread Christmas cheer.
Save space
Having some sort of floor plan over the festive period will help you to make the most of the space you have, especially if your restaurant, bar or café is tight on dimensions. Knowing the most effective way to arrange your furniture will help you comfortably accommodate the large numbers of people visiting your business over the season, as well helping your employees to navigate the increased number of customers.
your outdoor space
The great outdoors may not be everyone’s cup of tea, especially in the colder months, but that doesn’t mean you should disregard your outdoor space completely. Patio heaters or outdoor fire pits can be great additions to entice your customers out the door and into the garden, along with outdoor furniture. At Trent, our outdoor furniture is both durable and weather resistant, and available in seasonal colours. Adding festive coloured cushions and throws will help to make your space cosier.
If the outdoors isn’t your thing, why not use your space for solely decorative purposes – especially if your indoor capacity has little room for a Christmas tree. Fairy lights can help to create a winter scene outdoors. If you are using lights, make sure they are weather resistant and securely seated on strong tree branches, but not too deeply hidden within the foliage that they don’t shine through.
Have fun!
Christmas is all about bringing people together, and having a warm and cosy space that does just that is key. Regardless of the size of your establishment, ensuring your environment is friendly, festive and clean is all you need to make this year a success.
From all of us at Trent Furniture, we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!