How Do You Handle Temporary Business Swings?

[SVLFever]

Hello Fellow Leisure and Entertainment Sellers!

As an FEC owner, we are now in the busiest time of year for our business, and the next few weeks will be quite the challenge to get through.   This made me wonder, how do other Leisure and Entertainment businesses manage the "swings" in a business that could be cyclical or seasonal.

Fortunately for me, I have several young team members that start with me in high school and invariably go away to college, but will come back and work over the holiday season to help me get through this "swing".  On the flip side, I have been fortunate enough to have some staff members take "summer jobs" when things slow down here some, but then return back in the fall.

How do you get by with swings in your business?  Do you hire temporary help?  Family members just in?   Semi-retired staff members come back?   

The community would love to hear your thoughts on how you deal with this, as it may inspire others to do the same so please share your thoughts here.

[CareyJo]

We're a seasonal business in that we have heavier seasons and slower seasons.  We don't have employees but that slow crunch still hurts.  I do know that a lot of businesses in the E&L industry like you, here in Montana, run seasonal employees.  It's super common here.  Our main example here is the kids that go off to college and/or come home for the summer.  Most employers here have a running list of who's coming and going and when to plan for transition.  They also do all of the career fairs around our area.  Our local colleges help recruit those winter employees and help them get internships too.  I know in recent years it's been harder to get and keep employees but generally this has never been a problem.  Sorry I don't have better suggestions or experience.

[DinaLRosenberg]

Thankfully our swings aren't that dramatic but we do rely on family members/friends that chip and and work when we're really strapped or to help with special projects.