How much notice should we give? Owners and Customers, please read?

Question

We own a coffee shop that's been open since late June. When closing for a holiday or for personal reasons, how much notice should we give our customers?

We don't want to be flaky since we're new, but I figure if we give enough notice, it'll be perfectly okay to be closed for a few days around Christmas. I was thinking 24, 25, and 26 of December. Should we post a sign now or in a few weeks?

If you go to a restaurant, or if you own one, how much notice to you give/expect to receive?

Answer 1

For Christmas closing, I posted about 3 weeks out. People are so busy with everything, the regulars will need to reread it several times before it sinks in. Even posting it on Dec. 1 wouldn't hurt. I wouldn't go earlier than that, because people are still reeling from Thanksgiving.

Answer 2

For days like holidays, most people are probably not going to show up, however I would post it the Sunday before you are leaving. That gives your frequent customers time to know if that's where they happen to get their daily coffee and doesn't piss anybody off when they show up and aren't open. It really doesn't matter, we used to post signs the day of, if we were closing early for lack of business, but usually a couple days before a close for an entire day.

Answer 3

I would let my customers know by Dec. first, so they do not make plans to meet with friends at your shop for a holiday get together. Since it is a place where people go to chat and have coffee I would give them this extra early notice.

Answer 4

Definitely 2-3 weeks in advance especially if you have developed regular customers. They will want to plan accordingly. And it wouldn't hurt to offer like a 10% percent dicount on the day you reopen to draw poeple back. If you post that too, they will look forward to you reopening. Just a thought.

Answer 5

I WOULD SAY THE FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER TO LET THE PEOPLE KNOW. SOME PEOPLE WOULD JUST IGNORE THE SIGN IT YOU PUT IT NOW.