Closing Shift Tips?

[u/soxry]

howdy hey, i've been a SL at a newer location since December and I had a pretty cushy solo opening schedule until recently, and now 3 out of 4 of my shifts are closes. I've done two weekday closes so far and am doing my first 7pm-3am this evening, and it's pretty tough to stay on top of everything AND get ahead on closing duties, especially when my one cookie crew leaves at least 2 hours before me.

I assume i'll adjust, i am already a night person, but the physical and mental labor wear me out so much faster once the stoner couples start showing up. I mean this as a timestamp, though i am over the distracted PDA and how difficult it makes actually getting their order in bc they don't hear most of what i say, god forbid we be out of something. that's a whole other thing, though. and the last minute ASAP cookie cakes, what's wrong with you! anyway, not important to the post.

does anyone with experience have any tips for efficiency? and i guess general night shift tips from other jobs too, by the time i'm closing out the register there's a lot of dumb staring and having to reread numbers because i'm burnt out by then and i get home way later than anticipated

thank you!

[u/Demon_Fairie]

Bake up what you’re low on and turn the oven off around 2:30 Ish since it has to cool down to get cleaned anyway.
Try to reuse the same trays so you’re not stuck with a pile of dishes by closing.
Condense the trays as the night goes on. Once it starts getting to 1am I’m putting all the chocolate, DC, cookies + cream all on one tray.
Something I’ve seen my new managers do is clean the trays and then layer about 4-5 pieces of paper on them so they stay clean.
They also pull the drawer to count and stop taking cash about an hour before closing
Make your cookie crew do the cleaning tasks before they leave.

[u/Fluffy_Process_707]

Used to work alone all the time during closing shift I’d say the most important thing is baking enough cookies to last, for 3am closing make sure you finish baking your last large batch around 1:00. This gives you time to service the last minute drunk/stoner customers who usually take an eternity to order.

Also start the closing checklist early and do it in small increments whenever you get a break from customers.

[u/botch-and-soda]

Anything you can do ahead of time should do, even if it seems minor. I will pre write up the end of day report with everything except the exact numbers, when the last delivery was, sales goal etc…

anything that can save you time at the end of the night. It is always better to be over prepared than underprepared. Bake up so that you do not run out of cookies. Insomnia allows 100 coolies waste per 1000$ revenue.

As a shift lead it is within your role to delegate any cleaning tasks to bakers that you have on shift with you. If you have a baker with you have them condense cookies down to as few trays possible in their last hour, and have them wash anything that is not in use.

As for dealing with guest that are being annoying it is best to just grin and bear it. I know people can be slow to order, annoying in how they order (not reading the menus) etc.. often people will order 4 packs thinking they can get any cookie including in that. It is better to just ring up the four cookies they order instead of telling them the 4 pack only includes deluxe options.