Happy almost holidays! Now is the time when businesses enter the rounds of holiday parties and gift-giving. Boston’s a busy town, and when it comes to needing some fast catering on tap, there’s a lot to consider before you start making your holiday plans.
Save the Date
Businesses often schedule their events weeks or months in advance in order to secure the best dates for their preferred caterers. Looking at your total holiday commitments, not just to the staff, but to clients, customers, and business associates is essential. Here are some tips to get you started off right.
1. Pick a date now! Everyone has a load of commitments at this time of year, and from Thanksgiving right up until New Year’s Eve, people are shopping, visiting family, going to parties, school events, and so on. Canvass the office now to get an idea of a good date if you have not picked one already.
2. Are you sending gifts to clients and customers? You’re going to need to factor this into the budget. For instance, a top sales rep might have an account who’d appreciate a gift of coffee and pastries for the office. Or a manager might want to treat their staff to something just for them.
3. Location, location, location! Are you going to hold the event on or off the premises? Sometimes a big happy-hour post-work bash is a hassle for reasons of weather or scheduling, and a lunch party in the office is the way to go. A lot of prime venues are reserved up to a year in advance, so unless you started hunting around July, you may have to slow your roll a little.
4. Think about your staff first, your swag second. What kind of holiday workflow are you handling and what’s going to be easier on your staff? Caterers who bring the goodies to the office for breakfast or lunch or going home, getting dressed up, driving back in, and going to the function?
Sometimes a nice spread of cafe favorites from a place like Domain can be just the ticket. Sandwiches, soups, coffee, and juices go a long way to injecting a mellow note into the usually frenetic holiday pace. It’s also a great time to give out any bonuses, awards, and exchange gifts with each other. Make the holiday merry and bright, without the hassles.
