Hari Raya, Deepavali and Christmas: planning Singapore's other festive peaks

Singapore celebrates many festivals across the year, and each one brings its own wave of bookings. Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali and Christmas are three of the biggest for service businesses. A salon in Geylang Serai, a threading and henna studio in Little India and a spa near Orchard will each feel a different season most strongly, but the planning steps are similar.

Hari Raya Puasa: plan around the fasting month

During Ramadan, many Muslim clients fast from dawn to sunset. Their preferred appointment times often shift: some like an early morning slot, others prefer the evening after breaking fast. If much of your clientele observes Ramadan, look at your hours for that month. Opening later in the evening, or adding a few early slots, can suit clients better than your usual day.

Demand often builds towards the end of Ramadan, as clients prepare for Hari Raya with new hairstyles, henna, facials and grooming. Open your booking page far enough ahead that these weeks are visible early, and keep the waitlist on for the final days, when every evening slot will be wanted.

Deepavali: henna, threading and beauty

Before Deepavali, beauty services such as henna, threading, facials and hair styling see strong demand, particularly in the days just before the festival. Henna designs can take a long time, so make sure each design option is set up as its own service with an honest length. A client who books a simple design and a client who books an elaborate bridal-style pattern should not be squeezed into the same slot.

If you add extra artists for the season, give each one their own calendar and hours. Clients who have a favourite artist can choose that person by name, and everyone else books whoever is free.

Christmas and the year-end: parties, travel and gifts

December in Singapore combines office parties, family gatherings and travel. Many residents leave the country for part of the school holidays, so some weeks are busy and others surprisingly quiet. Hair and nail services peak before party weekends; spas often see demand from people treating themselves or others before going away.

Look at last year's December to see which weeks were full and which were not. Extend hours in the busy weeks and use the quieter ones for team leave. If your staff take turns going away, set each person's days off in their own calendar so the booking page only shows who is actually in.

One plan for every festival

• Mark the festivals that matter most to your clients, and when demand usually starts.
• Widen how far ahead clients can book a few weeks before each one.
• Set up festive services with realistic lengths and buffers.
• Give extra or seasonal staff their own calendars and hours.
• Email clients who ticked to hear from you, with dates and your booking link.
• Keep the waitlist on for the final week, and block the public holiday if you close.

Respect the day itself

Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali and Christmas Day are public holidays in Singapore. Many businesses close, and others open with reduced hours. Decide early, block what you need to, and say so in your booking page description so clients know what to expect.

A business that serves Singapore's many communities can have a strong season several times a year. The difference between a good festive month and a chaotic one is mostly whether clients could see your times and book themselves in, weeks before the rush.

After each festival

Note which services sold out, which days were quiet and how far ahead clients booked. Those three facts are next year's plan, and they are easy to forget by the time the festival comes round again.