Have you ever thought about how you, as a manager or business owner, will feel on the morning of Black Friday if you don’t have enough staff to process online orders, answer customer calls, or manage checkout counters where lines stretch all the way to the door? Statistics show that over 66% of shoppers spend more than half of their holiday budget during this period (Deloitte), and 75% shop online, meaning the pressure on stores, warehouses, and teams is enormous.
Getting organized early doesn’t just mean having your logistics in better shape—it’s an investment in a profitable, balanced, and stress-free experience. And this goes beyond internal planning: working with a staffing agency can quickly provide you with additional, trained people, so you’re ready to handle customer demand successfully.
So why does it matter so much to prepare your workforce now for Black Friday and the holiday season? Here are the key advantages:
The Numbers Don’t Lie: Preparation Is Essential
- 66% of shoppers allocate more than half of their holiday budget during Black Friday;
- 75% purchase online;
- 81% of in-store shoppers are looking for clothes and accessories.
Don’t relax after Black Friday—the weekend before Christmas can generate even more traffic. Your planning should cover the entire peak season.
Don’t Let Employees Burn Out: Training Ahead of Time Makes the Difference
Black Friday and the holiday season are among the most demanding times for your business. Many companies invest heavily in marketing campaigns but forget about the people on the front line. Without proper training, employees can become insecure, stressed, and demotivated.
A well-designed training program gives them confidence and the tools to handle unhappy customers or unexpected situations. You can run simulations of large order volumes, complaints, returns, or clear procedures for out-of-stock products.
Training is not just a seasonal investment—a well-prepared team remains effective and reduces errors in the long run.
Do you find yourself understaffed just as peak season approaches?
Hiring early is essential: the best candidates won’t wait. Plus, you need time to train them before peak periods.
Effective strategies include:
- Temporarily switching part-time staff to full-time;
- Recruiting students;
- Recruiting former seasonal employees;
- Using recruitment agencies or simple online ads.
It’s always safer to have more people on the team than to be caught short-handed on the busiest days. Don’t forget to factor in holidays and unexpected absences.
Work with a Staffing Agency – The Flexible Solution for Peak Periods
One increasingly common solution for covering workforce needs during peak times is outsourcing recruitment to specialized staffing firms. Demand for temporary staff spikes during Black Friday and Christmas, but also for special projects. externalizarea angajarilor catre firme specializate. Cererea pentru personal temporar creste in perioade precum Black Friday si Craciun, dar si in timpul proiectelor speciale.
Business benefits of partnering with a staffing agency:
- Save time and reduce administrative costs;
- Get candidates already screened for the role and your company culture;
- Cover long-term absences or temporary spikes in business volume.
How Smartemp Can Support You
Smartemp, with 13 years of experience in staff leasing and a decade of collaboration with multinational companies, provides complete support in finding and attracting seasonal candidates, adapting to the specific needs of each industry. We have extensive expertise in retail, logistics, call centers, telecom, transportation, HR, finance, IT&C, IT help desk, and office management.
Benefits of working with Smartemp:
- Recruitment of temporary staff using our database and direct search (headhunting). We start early to ensure you have the right people in place for peak season.
- Organizing onboarding meetings with temporary staff to brief them on required documents, working conditions, and job responsibilities.
- Drafting and signing all employment documents: individual labor contracts, internal regulations, declarations on additional income, dependents, and health insurance.
- Preparing addenda and decisions; submitting employee records to authorities.
- Designing timesheet templates tailored to client needs.
- Processing and paying salaries, vacation, medical leave, and related taxes.
- Prepare and submit the 112 tax declaration.
- Manage meal vouchers.
📧 Contact us for a personalized offer at office@smartemp.ro or call 0738 662 370
How to Shorten the Adaptation Period for New Employees? Build an Onboarding Strategy
Simplify processes. Use clear, easy-to-follow procedures.
Recommendations:
- Practical, on-the-job training;
- Assigning a mentor or experienced colleague to guide new hires;
- Short Q&A sessions in the first days.
Flexibility and Agility – The Secret of a Successful Team
What happens if a key employee is absent on the busiest sales day? Cross-training and flexible teams are the answer. Teams where members know multiple roles work more efficiently during peak times. But organization is key:
- Use scheduling apps and a shared team calendar;
- Plan critical days in advance and allocate extra resources;
- Monitor productivity and adjust schedules in real time.
Motivated Employees = Satisfied Customers
Motivated employees are also more productive: studies show productivity can increase by 17% and profitability by 21%. Engaged people drive better performance and superior customer service.
Ways to motivate your team:
- Bonuses and rewards for results;
- Daily recognition of their efforts;
- A positive, collaborative atmosphere.
Even small gestures, like words of appreciation, have a big impact on morale and service quality.
Black Friday and the holiday season are not just about discounts and flashy campaigns—they’re about people. Your team makes the difference between chaos and profit. When you have enough staff, well-trained and motivated, you can focus on growth and customer experience, not on putting out fires in your online store, shop floor, or warehouse.
Prepare your colleagues early, train them, support them, and if needed, work with partners who can quickly provide skilled people. You’ll enter the peak season with peace of mind, and the results will show both in sales and in the loyalty of your customers and team.
Sources:
- Shopify – How to Hire Temporary Staffing For the Holiday Rush
- Amcham.bg– Staff Leasing: the Magic Trick Companies Use to Make Black Friday and Christmas Miracles Come True
- Xyleme – Black Friday: Now is the Time to Up-Skill and Train Your Workforce
- Atrium Global – Plan Your Black Friday Staffing Strategy Now
- HRTechCube – Unleash the Potential of Your Workforce This Black Friday
- Elementsuite – The Darker Side of Black Friday for HR
- Connecteam – How to Get Your Retail Team Ready for Black Friday
- Drive Research – Black Friday Statistics, Trends & Facts [2024]
- Deloitte – Black Friday–Cyber Monday spending expected to reach new highs
- BDC – The advantages of training your employees
Read also:
How to Prepare Your Workforce for Seasonal or Short-Term Projects – Without Adding Internal Workload
10 Signs You Need Staff Leasing – Even If You Haven’t Realized It Yet