Get Ready For Summer Trading

With daylight saving just over a week away, now is the time for businesses to decide whether their trading hours should change with the warmer months.

Daylight saving begins in Victoria on 4 October, when clocks move forward one hour at 2am. The change means more daylight in the evening and, for some businesses, a shift in when customers are likely to be out and spending.

For cafes, restaurants, retailers and service businesses, summer trading can present an opportunity to extend hours, but staying open longer only makes sense if the additional trade covers the additional cost.

Check The Numbers First

Before extending trading hours, businesses should look at when customers are already arriving, when sales begin dropping off and what it costs to remain open for another hour or two.

Staffing can be one of the biggest considerations. Penalty rates may apply to employees working evenings, weekends and public holidays depending on the relevant award or agreement.

Businesses should check employment contracts, rosters and the applicable award before changing staff hours.

The daylight saving change itself can also affect employees working overnight. Fair Work advises businesses to check the applicable award, enterprise agreement or employment contract.

Location Can Change The Equation

Where a business operates can be just as important as what it sells.

Businesses near restaurants, parks, entertainment venues, shopping areas or busy activity centres may have more reason to consider later summer hours because customers can remain in the area later.

A business surrounded by offices or primarily serving commuters may find the opposite. Longer daylight does not automatically create additional customers.

Rather than immediately adding several hours to the trading day, businesses can trial later closing times on selected days and compare the additional revenue against wages, electricity and other operating costs.

Hospitality businesses should also check whether liquor licences, permits or other conditions restrict when they can trade.

Tell Customers Before Summer

Changing the hours is only useful if customers know about it.

Businesses planning summer hours should update their website, Google business listing, social media pages, booking systems and any signs displaying opening times. Automated phone messages and online ordering platforms can also be easily overlooked.

It is also worth planning beyond October. Christmas trading, public holidays, staff leave and the summer holiday period can all affect customer patterns and staffing availability.

For businesses considering longer hours, the simplest approach is to test them rather than assume they will work. A busy summer evening can make staying open worthwhile, but an extra hour with few customers can quickly become an extra hour of wages and overheads.