It’s officially the best time of year
Do you smell that? The cinnamon and pumpkin? The nutmeg and clove? The crisp breeze carrying fragrant wood smoke from the neighborhood chimneys? The perfect blend of sugar and spices atop each hand-crafted HoneyBaked Ham? We do, too. The end of autumn brings with it two of our very favorite things: the holidays, and the heartwarming scent of freshly-glazed HoneyBaked Ham.
While our stores proudly serve the highest quality and most delicious products all year long, it’s no secret that the holidays are our bread and butter. Here are some of the things we love most about operating a HoneyBaked Ham during the most wonderful time of the year:
1. The Customers
Our loyal customers are the reason we go through it all. Some franchisees have seen customers drive from up to 200 miles away to pick up their holiday ham from the closest HoneyBaked Ham store they can find. Often in those cases, that customer has had a HoneyBaked Ham for every Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner as far back as they can remember, and they wouldn’t go without it.
Those are the kinds of touching stories that help make the holidays so special – getting to be a part of a tradition that spans generations, creating connections and relationships that develop into decades-long friendships as customers return again and again for their delicious holiday ham.
2. The Crew
During the end of the year, the number of employees in a HoneyBaked Ham store increases exponentially: it has to in order to fulfill the holiday production requirements. Some franchisees have even seen folks use vacation days from their regular job to get in on the action for a couple days at HoneyBaked Ham.
HoneyBaked Ham does not run out of ham. And a large portion of what keeps that statement true is the dedication of holiday teams that fill the prep areas, operating like an automated assembly line. In our highest-output stores, these teams can glaze and wrap around 1,000 hams a day. Our seasonal crews are integral to ensuring everyone in the community has access to their favorite holiday meal.
3. The Volume
It’d be a significant understatement to say the holidays are an important time of year for us. Because it’s such a high-volume time of year, we make sure to stay ahead of the hustle and bustle with calculated preparation. As early as August, franchisees start assessing numbers from the previous years’ holiday season, looking for seasonal crew members to manage the demand for glazing, and finding temporary storage if necessary to hold all the extra product.
4. The Rush
Even when we’re operating at maximum efficiency, with all the extra crew and preparation and fully-stocked shelves, even when we’re absolutely certain we’re ready, there’s nothing quite like the rush of opening up a HoneyBaked Ham store bright and early to a line of bundled-up customers that extends all the way down the sidewalk. Often, this is the kind of challenge that drove us to become business owners in the first place. It’s an incomparably exciting feeling.
5. The Atmosphere
There’s a special feeling that comes with the responsibility of preparing and serving our customers the perfect meal for their families’ holiday feasts year after year. Watching the front and back of the store work in unison to keep up with demand, the whole store buzzing with energy. The unmistakable aroma of melting sugar and spices. The long, often exhausting days of the holiday season are a delirium, no doubt about that. But the reward of being a part of it all is priceless.
6. The Love
Our customers love HoneyBaked Ham because it’s the reliable, unmistakable, quality experience they’ve known their whole lives. They love coming into our stores to pick up their perfect holiday meal. But the love doesn’t stop there – our franchisees love HoneyBaked Ham. They love what they do as business owners and community members, love the traditions and joy only the holidays can bring. It’s the love that makes the end of every year feel special, that fills us with the familiar warmth of the years behind and the shimmer of hope for the years to come.
We hope you’re as excited as we are!
