🔥 Holiday Gear-Up Series — Friday Recap (Dec 5th): The 10 Critical Moves Your Venue Must Nail This Month
- Ben Maher
- Dec 5
- 3 min read
Happy Friday, legends.
We’re five days into December.The bookings are rolling, the heat is rising, and the silly season is officially ON.
You’ve smashed through 11 parts so far — but today, we’re pausing to breathe and recap the most important actions you need to take ASAP.
Why?
Because December is too intense for owners to forget things.And the biggest issues venues face this month are ALWAYS the ones they “meant to get to.”
This is your Friday reset, clarity boost, and kick in the pants before the weekend rush.
Let’s go.
🎯 The 10 Non-Negotiables for December (If You Do Nothing Else, Do THESE)
Below is the simplified, distilled, “cut-the-crap” list from Parts 1–11.
These are the things that genuinely change the outcome of your December.
1. Fix Your Booking System BEFORE the weekend hits
This alone reduces 80% of December stress.
✔ Clear rules
✔ Clear table limits
✔ Time caps
✔ Confirmation messages
✔ Reduce last-minute bookings
✔ Update your holiday hours EVERYWHERE
Your bookings ARE your flow.Control them or they control you.
2. Promote Gift Cards DAILY
This is the fastest way to boost revenue in December.
Gift cards =💰 Instant money💰 Zero prep💰 Zero food cost💰 Zero effort
If you’re not pushing these daily, you’re leaving thousands on the table.
3. Push Your “Famous For” Items Everywhere
Customers don’t remember full menus.They remember 3 iconic items.
Pick them.
Photograph them.
Reel them.
Pin them.
Repeat.
4. Promote Catering + Pre-Orders
This is where big money hides.
✔ Pastry boxes
✔ Office platters
✔ Coffee traveler sets
✔ Take-home desserts
✔ Christmas brunch trays
✔ Family-size dishes
Convenience is your December advantage.
5. Stress-Test Your Equipment (Today. Don’t wait.)
Not Monday.Not “next quiet day.”TODAY.
✔ Full coffee load
✔ Full fryer run
✔ Full combi load
✔ Full dish pit pressure
✔ Full POS simulation
✔ Full coolroom airflow check
If something is going to break…it’s better that it breaks TODAY, not Dec 22.
6. Get Your Staff On the Same Page
Leadership is everything right now.
✔ Pep briefings
✔ Clear roles
✔ Break plans
✔ “We’ve got this” moments
✔ Staff reset protocol
✔ Zero tolerance for internal conflict
You protect the team → the team protects the venue.
7. Plan for Waste Before It Happens
December =More customers → More prep → More errors → More waste → More lost money.
Start logging waste TODAY.
Cycle stock.
Label everything.T
rim prep lists.
This alone saves $500–$2,000/month.
8. Get Consistent on Social Media
Posting randomly is what kills your December visibility.
You need:
✔ 7 days of content scheduled
✔ 5 reels in the queue
✔ Daily story presence
✔ Gift card pushes
✔ Holiday hours reminders
✔ Hero items
✔ Catering notes
If you only focus on ONE thing this weekend…make it your marketing.
9. Review Your Weekend Roster
Before it’s too late.
✔ No long double-ups
✔ Breaks planned
✔ Senior staff on during peak times
✔ New staff paired strategically
✔ Enough floor support to manage walk-ins
The roster predicts your weekend.Fix it now.
10. Remember Why You’re Doing This
✨ The most profitable month of the year
✨ A chance to build customer loyalty
✨ A team-strengthening month
✨ A time where great operators shine
You’ve got this.
You’re doing the right things.
And I’m here to help you finish December stronger, calmer, and more profitable than ever.
🎁 December Value Bonuses (No discounts — just real support)
✨ FREE 1-hour Strategy Sessionwith every Food Safety PRO System (valued at $220)
✨ FREE Food Safety Essentials Systemwith every 3-Pack Consulting Bundle (valued at $149)
✨ FREE December Content Plannerwith ANY consulting booking(perfect for weekend posting)
🔗 Explore all services:bambamculinaryconsultants.com/services-9
See you tomorrow for Part 12 — Holiday Waste Control & Profit Protection.
One of the most underrated — and most profitable — topics of the entire series.
Ben-
Bam Bam Culinary Consultants
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