How to Prepare Your Retail Team for the Christmas Rush

The festive season is the busiest and most profitable time of year for retailers across Australia and New Zealand but also one of the toughest to manage. 

According to Deloitte’s 2025 Holiday Retail Survey, 84% of Australian retailers expect stronger sales this season as shoppers prioritise value, convenience and experience. However, seasonal hiring remains tight, with many stores competing for a smaller pool of casuals compared to 2024. 

The stores that plan early, collaborate with their centres, and build resilient teams will hold a serious advantage this Christmas. 

 

1. Start Early: Plan Before the Rush

It’s never too soon to prepare for Christmas trade, in fact, large national retailers like Just Group and Accent Group began recruiting as early as late July, with seasonal job ads appearing across Seek and LinkedIn by early August. 

If you’re a smaller or independent retailer, don’t worry, there’s still time to compete. Start by: 

• Reviewing last year’s sales and staffing data to forecast this season’s peak trading hours. 

• Setting success targets (conversion, basket size, satisfaction) and sharing them with your team early. 

• Finalising recruitment now while the casual talent pool is still active through November. 

Collaborate with Your Centre Management Team 

As we discussed in October’s blog: [The Modern Retail Advantage – Collaboration Over Competition], building strong relationships with your centre management team is critical during the lead-up to Christmas. 

Now is the perfect time to: 

• Meet with your centre’s marketing team to find out how your store can participate in December campaigns or activations. 

• Ask about mock trade hours, staff parking plans, and extended trading schedules, most centres finalise these by late November. 

Tip: The earlier you align with centre initiatives, the more visibility and support your store gains during the busiest trading weeks.

 

2. Build a Team Ready for Peak Performance

Your people are your biggest asset especially when foot traffic and pressure are at their peak. 

Training & Onboarding 

• Train for real-world Christmas challenges: queues, exchanges, high-volume transactions, and cross-selling. 

• Introduce new hires early so they can shadow senior team members before peak trade begins. 

Rostering & Culture 

• Build rosters that balance experience with flexibility. 

• Empower staff to step up: 

• Let a senior casual run a Saturday shift (with management nearby). 

• Have a junior ASM lead morning huddles to build accountability and confidence. 

• Recognise effort through small competitions and incentives, they boost engagement when fatigue sets in. 

Cross-Team Coordination 

• Encourage daily huddles between sales, stockroom, and online teams. 

• A unified approach keeps service levels high and bottlenecks low. 

 

3. Focus on Customer Experience and Efficiency

Customer expectations soar during the festive period. The little things make a big impact. 

• Keep store presentation polished and festive: it drives impulse purchases. 

• Train staff to engage proactively; connection and care win customers. 

• Ensure online, click-and-collect and in-store systems are seamless to reduce friction. 

• Plan for stock delays or returns, so your team can respond confidently. 

Pro tip: 65% of consumers say staff helpfulness is the top reason they return after a positive Christmas experience. 

 

4. Keep Morale High Through the Season

By December, energy levels dip — and the coffee and sugar intake skyrockets. It’s part of retail life!
Keep your team fuelled and focused with simple morale boosters: 

• Start friendly in-store games or competitions now, offer Christmas coffee vouchers as prizes. 

• Keep a lollie jar or fruit bowl behind the counter, it’s a small gesture that keeps energy (and spirits) up during long shifts. 

• Encourage managers to rotate breaks fairly and check in regularly with their team. 

These small moments of care can make the difference between a stressed team and a strong one. 

 

5. Partner Strategically for Seasonal Recruitment

With competition for retail talent still strong across ANZ, partnering with a retail recruitment specialist ensures you secure the right people fast. 

At Frontline Retail, we help businesses: 

• Access pre-screened, work-ready candidates ready for peak trade. 

• Benchmark pay rates and retention strategies for casuals and core staff. 

• Identify high performers you can retain into 2026. 

With the right recruitment partner, every hire adds value to your performance, culture, and customer experience. 

 

6. Reflect, Reward and Reset

When the rush is over, take time to review and reset. 

• Reflect: What worked? What needs refining? 

• Reward: Celebrate your team’s wins, no matter how small. 

• Retain: Identify standout seasonal hires and offer ongoing opportunities. 

Recognising effort not only boosts morale it sets the tone for a strong start to 2026.