Introduction
We’re now a month out from Christmas, and the holiday period brings a familiar challenge for Western Sydney businesses: keeping customers informed about when you’re open.
Nothing frustrates customers more than driving to a business only to find it closed. During the holiday season, with irregular trading hours across Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year, the potential for confusion multiplies.
The good news is that updating your holiday hours takes less time than you’d think—if you know where to update and what to include. This guide covers everything you need to do to keep your customers informed and your doors busy during the holiday period.
Why Holiday Hours Matter More Than You Think
The Customer Experience Impact
Consider this scenario from a Hills District restaurant owner we know:
Last Christmas Eve, they received multiple one-star Google reviews. Not because the food was bad or service was poor—but because customers drove from Parramatta to Castle Hill for dinner, only to find the restaurant closed.
The hours listed online were their regular hours. They’d closed early for Christmas Eve but hadn’t updated anywhere.
Those reviews are still there. One bad experience during the holidays can impact a business’s reputation for months.
The Search Reality
During Christmas week, Google searches for “[business name] hours” and “[business type] open near me” spike dramatically. When customers search “is [your business] open today,” they expect accurate information.
If Google shows incorrect hours:
- Customers who find you closed when they expected you open leave frustrated
- Customers who think you’re closed when you’re actually open take their business elsewhere
Both scenarios cost you money and damage trust.
Every Place You Need to Update
Holiday hours need updating in multiple locations. Miss one, and customers will find conflicting information.
Your Website
Contact Page Most customers look for hours on your contact page. Update with a clear holiday schedule.
Footer If your hours appear in your website footer, update there too.
Homepage Consider adding a temporary banner or notice about holiday hours during December.
Pop-up or Announcement Bar A site-wide announcement bar catches attention for temporary information like holiday hours.
Google Business Profile
This is the most important update for local businesses. When people search for your business or “businesses open near me,” Google displays your hours directly in search results.
To update Google Business Profile holiday hours:
- Open Google Business Profile (business.google.com)
- Click “Edit profile”
- Select “Hours”
- Scroll to “Special hours”
- Click “Add hours”
- Add each holiday date with its specific hours (or mark as “Closed”)
- Save changes
You can add special hours weeks in advance—do this now for the entire holiday period.
Social Media Profiles
Facebook Business Page
- Go to your Page
- Click “About”
- Click “Edit” next to Hours
- Update accordingly
- Update your bio with holiday hours or a note to check your website
- Post about holiday hours as content
Email Signature
Add a note to your email signature in December: “Please note: We have special holiday hours from 23 Dec - 2 Jan. [Link to hours]“
Voicemail Message
Update your business voicemail to include holiday hours: “Thanks for calling [Business]. We’re currently closed for the holidays. Our regular hours resume on [date]. For our full holiday schedule, visit our website at [URL].”
Third-Party Listings
Check any directories where your business is listed:
- Yellow Pages
- True Local
- Yelp
- Industry-specific directories
- Local business association websites
Many of these let you update hours, though some may require contacting them directly.
Creating Your Holiday Hours Schedule
Before you start updating, plan your complete holiday schedule.
Key Dates to Consider
Christmas Period 2025:
- Tuesday 23 December - Regular hours? Extended hours?
- Wednesday 24 December (Christmas Eve) - Early close? Regular? Closed?
- Thursday 25 December (Christmas Day) - Closed (most businesses)
- Friday 26 December (Boxing Day) - Closed? Special hours? Sales?
- Saturday 27 December - Regular? Special?
- Sunday 28 December - Regular? Special?
- Monday 29 December - Regular? Special?
- Tuesday 30 December - Regular? Special?
- Wednesday 31 December (New Year’s Eve) - Early close? Regular? Special event?
New Year Period 2025/2026:
- Thursday 1 January (New Year’s Day) - Closed (most businesses)
- Friday 2 January - Regular hours resume? Transition day?
Format Your Hours Clearly
When displaying holiday hours, use a consistent format:
Good Format:
Holiday Hours 2025/2026
Tuesday 23 Dec: 9am - 6pm (extended)
Wednesday 24 Dec (Christmas Eve): 9am - 2pm
Thursday 25 Dec (Christmas Day): Closed
Friday 26 Dec (Boxing Day): Closed
Saturday 27 Dec: 10am - 4pm
Sunday 28 Dec: 11am - 3pm
Monday 29 Dec: 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 30 Dec: 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 31 Dec (New Year's Eve): 9am - 4pm
Thursday 1 Jan (New Year's Day): Closed
Friday 2 Jan: Regular hours resume (9am - 5pm)Bad Format: “We’ll be closed for Christmas and back sometime in the new year.”
Specificity prevents confusion.
Website Update Options
How you display holiday hours on your website depends on your setup.
Simple Text Update
The quickest approach: add a text box or section to your contact page with your holiday schedule.
Example:
Christmas & New Year Hours
Our regular hours are Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm.
During the holiday period:
- 23 Dec: 9am - 6pm
- 24 Dec: 9am - 2pm
- 25-26 Dec: Closed
- 27 Dec: 10am - 4pm
- 28 Dec: 11am - 3pm
- 29-30 Dec: Regular hours
- 31 Dec: 9am - 4pm
- 1 Jan: Closed
- 2 Jan: Regular hours resumeAnnouncement Bar
Many websites support a site-wide announcement bar at the top of every page. This is perfect for temporary notices.
Example text: “Holiday Hours: We’re open special hours 23 Dec - 2 Jan. See our schedule →”
Link this to your contact page with the full schedule.
Pop-up Notice
A pop-up that appears once per visitor can catch attention. Use sparingly—too many pop-ups annoy visitors.
Example: “Before you visit, please check our holiday hours for the Christmas period.” [View Holiday Hours] [Dismiss]
Calendar Widget
Some businesses add a simple calendar showing open/closed days for December and January. This visual approach helps customers see the schedule at a glance.
Google Business Profile Best Practices
Your Google Business Profile deserves special attention because it’s often the first (and only) place customers check.
Add Special Hours for Every Affected Day
Don’t just mark Christmas Day as closed. Add special hours for every day your hours differ from normal, even slightly.
Google shows “Hours might differ” when special hours are set, which signals to customers they should pay attention.
Confirm Your Regular Hours First
Before adding special hours, verify your regular hours are correct. Special hours override regular hours for specific dates.
Update Well in Advance
Google sometimes takes time to reflect changes. Add your holiday hours now—a month in advance—to ensure they display correctly when customers search.
Add a Google Post
Complement your hours update with a Google Post highlighting your holiday schedule. This appears in your Business Profile and gives you more space to share details.
Post content example: “Christmas trading hours at [Business Name]
We’re making some changes for the holiday period:
🎄 Extended hours Christmas week (23 Dec): 9am - 6pm 🎄 Christmas Eve: 9am - 2pm 🎄 Closed Christmas Day & Boxing Day 🎄 New Year’s Eve: 9am - 4pm 🎄 Closed New Year’s Day 🎄 Back to normal 2 January
Have a wonderful Christmas from all of us at [Business Name]!”
Email and Social Communication
Beyond updating your listings, actively communicate with customers.
Email Your Customer List
Send an email in mid-December with your holiday schedule. Keep it simple:
Subject: Our Christmas & New Year Hours
Body: “Hi [Name],
With Christmas approaching, we wanted to share our holiday hours so you can plan your visits.
[Holiday schedule]
Thank you for your support this year. We look forward to seeing you over the holidays and into the new year.
Happy holidays, [Your name]“
Social Media Posts
Post your holiday hours on Facebook and Instagram:
- Two weeks before Christmas (the initial announcement)
- The week of Christmas (reminder)
- Christmas Eve (last-minute reminder)
Make it visual—create a simple graphic with your hours rather than just posting text.
Common Holiday Hours Mistakes
Avoid these errors we see every year:
Only Updating One Location
Updating Google but forgetting your website, or vice versa. Check everywhere your hours appear.
Being Vague
“Closed for Christmas” doesn’t tell customers when you reopen. Be specific about every date.
Forgetting to Remove Holiday Hours
In January, remember to:
- Remove or archive the holiday hours from your website
- Clear any announcement bars
- Update voicemail to regular message
- Google special hours expire automatically, but verify they’ve cleared
Waiting Too Long
Customers start planning holiday activities weeks in advance. Update your hours by early December at the latest.
Inconsistent Information
Different hours on Google versus your website confuses customers and damages trust. Double-check all sources match.
Special Considerations for Different Businesses
Retail Businesses
- Highlight extended pre-Christmas hours clearly
- Note last shopping days for Christmas
- Promote Boxing Day sale hours prominently
Restaurants and Hospitality
- Note if bookings are required for holiday period
- Mention special Christmas or New Year menus
- Include reservation contact details
Service Businesses
- Clarify emergency availability during closures
- Provide emergency contact if applicable
- Note when bookings for the new year open
Medical and Health Services
- Provide after-hours emergency information
- List nearby alternatives for urgent care
- Include Medicare/health fund notes if relevant
Holiday Hours Checklist
Use this checklist to ensure complete coverage:
Planning
- Full holiday schedule created with specific dates and times
- Staff informed of schedule
- Decision made on emergency/on-call availability
Website Updates
- Contact page updated with holiday hours
- Footer hours updated (if applicable)
- Homepage banner or announcement added
- Check that all pages with hours are consistent
Google Business Profile
- Special hours added for all affected dates
- Google Post created about holiday hours
- Regular hours verified as correct
Other Platforms
- Facebook page hours updated
- Instagram bio or highlights updated
- Voicemail message updated
- Email signature updated
- Third-party directory listings checked
Communication
- Email sent to customer list
- Social media posts scheduled
- In-store signage prepared (for physical locations)
January To-Do
- Set reminder to remove holiday announcements
- Set reminder to restore regular voicemail
- Set reminder to verify Google hours are correct
Start Updating Today
With Christmas now just weeks away, it’s time to get your holiday hours sorted. The process takes an hour or two—a small investment to prevent customer frustration and lost business.
Update your Google Business Profile first (it’s the most critical), then work through your website and other platforms.
Your customers will appreciate knowing exactly when they can visit. And you’ll avoid those dreaded “was closed when Google said open” reviews.
Need help updating your website for the holiday period? Cosmos Web Technologies assists Western Sydney businesses with website updates and Google Business Profile management. Contact us if you need a hand.
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Cosmos Web Tech is the web development division of Ganda Tech Services, specialising in website design, SEO, and e-commerce for Australian businesses.