What Harrisburg Businesses Do for the Holidays

What Harrisburg Businesses
Do for the Holidays

by Michelene Malosh

Pop quiz: Name the one month of the year that universally creates the most havoc and excitement in the business world. The answer... December! You may question the real effect the month of December has on ALL businesses, but the impact of the turning of the calendar page to "December" on the work place and the worker varies in different industries, work sites and individuals - but there IS an impact on practically everyone.

For a variety of industries, business activity during the holiday season significantly increases. In fact, many businesses annually count on this end-of-year surge in revenues for their overall annual profitability.

Scott Krugman, a spokesperson for the National Retail Federation (NRF), said that November and December sales are a "make-it-or-break-it" period for many retail entities. This year the NRF anticipates over 466 billion dollars in total holiday season sales, which is 18.8 % of the annual total. The retail industry projects a 6% total sales increase over last year and a 12% increase per consumer this year, due to the general public’s confidence and favorable perception of a stable economy. Also, according to the National Retail Federation, department, apparel and specialty, and toy stores will have the biggest increase in traffic and sales during the holiday season. Local stores in the area, such as Hecht’s Department Store, actively cultivate the holiday shopper in a variety of manners by finding ways to meet the special needs of the holiday shopper. For example, throughout December, Hecht’s hours are extended daily from 7 through 9 a.m. to 10 through 12 p.m., in order to provide options and flexibility for customers’ shopping convenience. In addition to extended hours, retailers commonly hire seasonal sales help in order to provide extra service for assisting and expediting shoppers. A local Toys ‘R Us manager stated that, "Staffing is a major challenge this time of year. The hours are longer and more intense for everyone and the customers are more demanding, more exact in their requests from their kids." Many companies hire seasonally and discover that finding good, reliable workers is always a challenge.

As a result of the various holidays, the additional shopping for various gift exchanges, and dress-up for celebrations, the non-retail economy is additionally fueled. Businesses like restaurants (lunches, dinners, parties), gas stations and convenience stores (extra traffic, need more gas), florists, bakeries, etc., all benefit. The result is a need for additional staff, longer hours by staff in these kind of businesses, and less personal time by the staff in these industries.

Frank, a Harrisburg area UPS delivery driver for the past 15 years, depicts the seasoned professional’s "no-nonsense" attitude when he stated that his "work hours are naturally much longer in December - no big deal." ("It’s five o’clock now and I’m just eating lunch.") "It’s crunch time" in the business, but Frank can see extra benefits to his company and in his work experience. "I feel like Santa when I deliver some of the packages. Customers can be very appreciative and it’s exciting to get something there, especially the days right before Christmas." His work around the holidays gives Frank an "added feeling of importance," as well.

At the Ruby Tuesday Restaurant in Mechanicsburg, managing partner, Mark Pletcher, states that "The restaurant business booms in December." "Besides the increased number of customers in December, people tend to spend more. Customers exhibit a more festive, free-spending attitude. There are a lot more after-shopping customers. Alcohol consumption goes up, in general, more desserts are ordered, cappuccino requests increase, customers tend to stay longer (winter lifestyle change)." Additionally, like in other retail establishments, at Ruby Tuesday, additional revenue is generated in December by the purchase of gift certificates. The return customer is also cultivated when holiday parties have served and provided a "good experience" so they’ll want to come back again.

Gift certificates are a staple at almost any service or retail business entity in December; it is an easy and convenient option for both the company and the customer. Pep Boys in Mechanicsburg does not experience a substantial increase in customers in December for onsite purchases, but rather, has a brisk increase in selling gift certificates for both merchandise and service. Larry Robenolt, proprietor of First Impressions, an image consulting firm in Harrisburg, reported a large increase in gift certificate purchases for a variety of pampering services, from manicures, pedicures, facials, make-up consultation, color analysis, to accessories and clothing products. In December, there is a decrease in long term services by those too busy to bother this month, but there is an increase in consultation for accessories and makeup relating to holiday parties. First Impressions also handles requests by companies in the area for "unique, packaged holiday gift items" that result in the staff assembling an assortment of thematic body care/personal items in a basket.

What about the worker who does not work in the retail or service industry; what is the impact of December? For the office, manufacturing or "untraditional" worker, the holiday season may not significantly increase the workload, but probably has impact on productivity and effectiveness. Roger Beardmore, Vice President of Pennsylvania Counseling Services stated that in December, employers receive much less productivity from workers in the production line and in the office, as distractions and stress increase from added time demands and family complications related to the holidays. There is a duality in terms of festive feelings due to increased social events, but also, a lowering of morale and working together to get things accomplished.

There are traditions in December in many work places, such as the annual company/office "holiday party." In some work places where there are 24 hour operations, the company party may come to the worker. In the Pinnacle Health Care System, which includes Harrisburg Hospital and Polyclinic Medical Center, the top managers go on site on a designated holiday celebration day in mid December to serve a big holiday meal to staff during each shift. At the Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS) in Harrisburg, the Executive Director caters an afternoon holiday reception in the office building, and there is even an end-of-the-year selecting and honoring of an "employee of the year."

The "classic" out-of-the-office company holiday party is traditionally held at a restaurant, hall or hotel, includes a free dinner for the employee and a partner/date, with dancing, and involves some company-related festivity. Harris Savings Bank holds an annual holiday party for all 400 employees and a guest at a local hotel banquet room, complete with a disc jockey for music and dancing, dinner entree choices and recognition awards for years of service in the company. As the holidays are a time for family gatherings, the annual December party at Harris serves as a mechanism to gather together the Harris "family" of employees from the various branches from five Pennsylvania counties and northern Maryland locations. Harris Savings Bank Marketing Director, Richard Steltzer, says that at this year’s holiday party, a slide show of pictures taken of the various branch employees, in-action, is planned during the cocktail hour "in order to create and share the family photo album during the annual Harris employee reunion."

Holiday celebrations and rituals often are an extension and reflection of the nature of the business and the worker. At JPL Productions, a state-of-the-art Harrisburg-based video production company with a creative workforce of producers, directors, editors, writers, and camera operators, would you expect anything but an all-out, first rate production number for a holiday party? Never! At JPL Productions in December, there is a holiday "theme" party, painstakingly planned and produced like a "big show," and held right in the JPL studios. Last year the theme was "Christmas in Hawaii" and was held on Pearl Harbor Day, December 7th. Thematic props and devices abound at their party - from the parking lot tiki-lights, to plastic leis and sunglasses, from Hawaiian holiday music to hanging surf boards, even a grass hut or two for beverages, the food, and entertainment. The holiday party at JPL, attended by employees and clients, is not just for fun and tradition but "is a business decision." Michael Endy, a producer at JPL, states that "the party is a business enhancement used to demonstrate to customers the applied imagination of a staff of professionals in a creative business." Film production is a "work hard, play hard" environment and the BIG production party reflects this type of worker style.

Another tradition during the holiday season is the organized acts of good will and charitable contributions to others, to the needy and less fortunate. In another case of a "business" organizing a big event that reflects what it regularly does well, we look at Harrisburg’s own Department of Public Welfare headquarters. Where better to find a model holiday charitable program for needy families with children than the "Wish Program," held annually by Pennsylvania’s Department of Public Welfare. The Public Welfare state agency is the largest state agency in the country and is an umbrella social services organization that administers funds programs for the economically, physically and mentally vulnerable in Pennsylvania, including the children. What started in 1989 as a few program offices within the Public Welfare agency identifying and distributing gift baskets to a few local client families has currently expanded to include many other state agencies, such as Labor and Industry, Transportation, Health, Environmental Resources, to statewide associates (Dental, Bar), and local churches. Participating work groups adopt a financially needy family and are given first names and ages of family members and the wish/needs list by/for the children. Ornaments representing each participating family hang from a large holiday tree in the lobby of the Public Welfare headquarters. Each work group obtains, through their own financial contribution and/or through donations by area businesses, food, clothing, books and toys, wrap the gifts, and present them at the lobby tree for distribution. Mary Ellen Fritz, spokesperson for the Department of Public Welfare, stated that since 1989, the "Wish Program" has helped, 1121 families and over 4,000 individuals, mostly children, in Central Pennsylvania. This year approximately 800 individuals are targeted. Since the children and families are identified through the providers of welfare services, Ms. Fritz indicates that the "Wish Program" gives agency employees the satisfaction of directly helping a family that their work indirectly supports.

December is traditionally the midway point and a break-in-the-action in schools. The frequent perception of grade school teachers in December is, "Here comes another (2 week) vacation." Judy, a third grade teacher in the Cumberland Valley School District, says, "In actuality, for the teaching profession, the increased work pace and time demands in December requires a short break in order to redirect the focus back to learning after the holiday period ends." Judy states that the younger children are in a "perpetual state of excitement" and high energy and there is a continuous barrage of holiday-related distractions and events, such as school-related holiday sales, parties, and shows. In higher education there are three to five weeks "off" between fall and spring semesters. Dr. Michael Becker, associate professor of psychology at Penn State Harrisburg, states that December is "crunch time and is hectic" - grading papers and tests, final week of class, and finals. Additionally, Dr. Becker is of the Jewish faith, and Hanukkah falls during finals week, which creates for him "added time restraints and stress at the end of the semester." Although the four weeks between semesters give college professors a chance to regroup, Dr. Becker states that, "besides grading, (he is) busy getting ready for the next semester and there’s always research.

Traditions, parties, distractions, stress, good will, and changes in business climate are just some of the hallmarks of the holiday season in the work place. Different professions experience different paces and practices. And there’s no doubt that, no matter what you do or where you work, things tend to be different in December. We all have our own holiday and end-of-year rites and rituals, depending on the industry and individuals. The diversity of what goes on in business and the celebration options that exist in December are fascinating. The challenge for you, in both surviving and thriving this season, is to examine what you need to do, take charge of your time and activities, discover you own unique expression, experience, and enjoy!