The holiday season brings a surge of excitement—and bookings—to kennels everywhere.
As pet parents head out of town, they rely on your facility to keep their furry family members safe and comfortable. But with the increase in demand comes the challenge of managing more pets, ensuring safety, and maintaining the highest standards of care. Preparing your kennel for this busy period is essential to maximizing success and delivering a stress-free experience for both pets and their parents.
Optimize Your Kennel’s Capacity
During the holidays, demand often exceeds the rest of the year. To accommodate as many pets as possible without sacrificing care, it’s important to review your available space and determine if you can safely host more animals. Here are some ways to prepare:
- Assess Existing Space: Review how much room each kennel suite occupies and explore creative ways to expand capacity while maintaining comfort.
- Upgrade Crates or Suites: If you haven’t already, consider upgrading your kennels or suites to ensure pets have enough room to relax and feel at home.
- Streamline Drop-Offs and Pick-Ups: During busy times, streamlining your check-in/check-out process with efficient workflows or tools like Gingr PreCheck can help reduce stress for both staff and clients.
Carefully balancing capacity without overcrowding will allow you to serve more clients while maintaining quality care.
Stock Up on Supplies and Staff
Running out of supplies or being short-staffed can quickly turn a busy holiday season into a logistical nightmare. Avoid last-minute issues by getting ahead of these needs:
- Inventory Check: Review all essentials such as food, cleaning supplies, bedding, and toys. Stock up to meet higher demand, so you don’t run out when things get hectic.
- Increase Staffing: Plan to increase staff or temporarily hire seasonal workers to manage the increased pet care, cleaning, and customer service needs.
- Staff Training: Make sure all staff members are fully trained on kennel protocols, especially any new hires. A well-prepared team can handle the holiday rush smoothly.
By stocking up and ensuring you have the right team in place, you can keep operations running without disruptions.
Implement a Booking and Cancellation Policy
With the increased holiday demand comes a higher risk of cancellations or no-shows, which can affect your business’s bottom line. To manage this:
- Establish Clear Booking Policies: Make sure clients are aware of your holiday booking requirements, including deposits or pre-payment to secure their pet’s spot.
- Set a Cancellation Deadline: Have a firm but fair cancellation policy, such as requiring notice at least 48-72 hours before the boarding date, to allow you time to fill the slot.
- Automated Reminders: Use your pet-care software to send automated booking confirmations and reminders to avoid last-minute confusion and help clients keep track of their reservations.
Implementing clear policies helps reduce lost income and improves overall client communication during the busy season.
Create a Festive and Safe Environment
While it’s important to make the kennel feel festive, safety is a top priority. You can create a holiday-themed atmosphere while ensuring the comfort and security of the pets in your care:
- Decorations: If you choose to decorate, ensure that items are out of reach from pets and free of choking hazards. Avoid string lights, tinsel, or small ornaments that could be dangerous.
- Holiday-Themed Treats or Activities: Offering holiday-themed treats or playtime can make the stay more special. For example, a "holiday feast" of pet-friendly food or themed toys during play sessions can enhance the experience.
- Routine and Comfort: The holidays can be a stressful time for pets. Keeping routines consistent and providing comfort items from home, like blankets or favorite toys, will help reduce anxiety and ensure they feel at ease.
A festive yet safe environment leaves a positive impression on both pets and their parents, enhancing their holiday boarding experience.
Promote Your Holiday Services
Maximize the potential of your holiday services by promoting them to both existing and new clients. Here’s how:
- Email Campaigns: Send out emails reminding clients to book their pet’s holiday stay in advance, highlighting any special holiday offerings.
- Social Media Marketing: Use social media to showcase the festive environment at your kennel and encourage bookings. Highlight services like extended stays or holiday treat packages.
- Referral Discounts: Encourage satisfied clients to refer friends and family to your kennel with special discounts for holiday bookings.
Early promotions can help fill up your schedule quickly and keep your facility at capacity throughout the season.
By preparing your kennel in advance, stocking up on supplies, creating clear policies, and promoting your services, you can turn the holiday rush into a successful and stress-free season. A well-organized and welcoming kennel ensures that pets—and their parents—enjoy the holidays as much as you do.
Gingr takes the stress out of managing holidays for your pet-care business. Get a demo today!
