8 Ways to Prep Your Interior Design Business for Time Off
Imagine being able to take time off in your Interior design business for holidays, vacation, or just some R&R! Taking time off for the holidays (or any other reason) can be rejuvenating but only if you are truly able to unplug. A few well-thought-out preparations before you sign off can help you get the most out of your - much-deserved - time off.
The key is to make sure your clients and your team know when you'll be gone, how to get a hold of you if they must, and have a plan for your return.
HERE ARE 8 WAYS TO PREP YOUR INTERIOR DESIGN BUSINESS FOR TIME OFF
Give your Clients a Heads up - At least 1 week before you close up, prepare an email to your clients (and trades). This email should be matter-of-fact and also help humanize you (and your team) so your clients are excited for you to take time off.
Wish them a happy holiday
How to reach you in case of "emergency"- i.e. do you prefer text since you'll be offline?
Define for them what qualifies to you as an emergency.
Let them know the exact date you'll return.
Inject some playfulness - This could be something like your Top 5 favorite holiday movies, Your Holiday Bucket List, Share your Christmas Spotify list, etc. Even better if you can make a printable for them to enjoy as well as a small token of gratitude.
Create an awesome Auto-responder - This will serve as a reminder to your clients that you are out of the office and when you will be coming back as well as provide information to potential clients or other inquiries.
Start with an attention-grabbing headline - Make it interesting and include the return date.
Include your return date in the body as well as the email heading.
Provide Quick Links:
Interested in working together? Link to your scheduler and be sure to set your availability (internally) to the date you'll return.
Subscribe to your Newsletter
Follow you on social media
Get your download
For all other inquiries, let them know that they will need to re-follow up with you after the holiday if they still need you. (Otherwise, you'll end up spending days trying to respond to emails that may not need a reply)
Update your availability in your scheduling tool (i.e. Acuity, Dubsado, Schedulicity, etc.)- This one is important! You don’t want to send that awkward email “Sorry, but I have to reschedule our appointment because I am out of the office and forgot to mark it on my calendar” Yikes!
Pro-tip: Do this at the beginning of the year for all of the dates that you plan to take off.
Closed Dates in your email signature - At least 1 week before your departure, add a note in your signature line that alerts others to your upcoming time off. Best to do this after you have sent an individual email to your clients.
Prep your team - If you have an assistant, prep them on how to review emails/calls and how to handle different scenarios.
Update your voicemail- if you often get phone calls related to work, change your voicemail.
Notify callers that you are out of the office when you will be back, and what their next step should be.
Pause your inbox - Don't let pesky notifications ruin your holiday by enticing you into working.
If you are a Google Chrome user you can pause new emails from showing up.
I do this so that if I do need to work on some things, I can refer to my inbox without the stress of seeing new emails (that almost 100% of the time can wait)
Give yourself a day to get caught up before your public return - Schedule a day or two to slowly get back to work before you are expected to communicate with clients. For example, if you plan to be back at the desk on January 4th - Tell your clients you'll be returning on the 5th or 6th to give you a chance to get organized and focused.
Upon your return, give your clients a quick phone call- Touch base with them, ask about their holiday and simply connect with your voice. This very small step helps clients feel supported and excited to resume the project.
