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There are two sides to quiet periods or closing business over holidays.  We might do this to ease our schedules, or vendors may do so.  In either case, there is a need to plan and properly communicate with those impacted.  Lack of planning can cause all manner of headaches that have no useful solution.

Launching a Product or Service

The most common of these challenges in my recent experiences is dealing with a flood of year-end deployments.  Sites like the Apple Store, Google Play, and Amazon are sent a larger-than-normal number of applications.  Thus, typical response times suffer.  This response may be expected, or it can derail your launch plans.

Podcasts and books are just some examples.  All of your plans to time a release with the calendar can be wasted if the desired platform is not available.  For example, launching a podcast on January first typically requires you to complete your submission before the end of November.  Make sure you check with scheduled outages and slowdowns for any critical vendors.

A Planned Slow Down

Your business may allow you to slow down or stop progress over the holidays.  Do not assume this holds for all of your customers.  Any planned lack of availability should be communicated weeks and preferably months in advance.  Make sure you are not a vendor that leaves customers high-and-dry without plenty of warning.  You expect it from your vendors and should provide the same.

Industry Quiet Periods

Quiet periods are common in many industries.  Therefore, do not be afraid to take advantage of those standards to get yourself and your team a rest.  The reduction in focus on external forces may be a chance to improve your infrastructure.  While the doors may be closed, you can always do some internal work to prepare for a better year ahead.

Take Advantage of This Time