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Whether you're brand new, coming back after a break, or just want to get organized before the rush, this is everything to do before your first holiday drop, in order.
Work through it in one sitting, or a step a day. Either way, you'll be ready before customers start asking how they can get your food on their holiday tables.
0. Sign up (if you're new)
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1. Catch up on what's new
If it's been a while since you logged in, start with Welcome back: what's new on Hotplate. It covers all the things you may have missed: the new portal, iPhone app, Pop-up Mode, collab drops, sending a link to pay for manual orders, and more. Plus, a quick refresher on how drops work!
2. Choose your holidays
Look at your calendar and pick the holidays you want to sell for. One or two is plenty. A Thanksgiving drop and a Christmas drop make a great season.
3. Decide what you'll sell, and update your menu
You don't need a huge menu. Stick to what you're known for, and consider a seasonal twist to make it fun and special: a cranberry-orange loaf, a pumpkin pie croissant, a holiday version of your best seller.
Then update each menu item in Hotplate:
Photos. Beautiful food photos sell. You don't need fancy equipment: shoot near a window and let the natural light work its magic.
Pricing. Double-check that your prices still leave you a healthy margin. Holiday ingredients often cost more, so take the time to make updates.
Descriptions. Include ingredients, size, and how to store or reheat it.
4. Put your storefront link in your Instagram bio
Treat your Instagram profile like your website. Lots of customers will check your page before they order, so your bio should make three things clear at a glance: who you are, what you make, and how to get it. Keep it to about four lines:
What you make. A short, fun description of your food, in your own voice.
When and where. Your ordering schedule and pickup location.
A call to action. Invite people to subscribe for text alerts or place an order.
Your Hotplate link. Make your storefront the link in your bio, so the answer to "how do I order?" is always the same: link in bio.
More tips in our guide to writing a great Instagram bio.
5. Post a "how to order" carousel
The holidays bring lots of new customers, and some of them will expect a regular storefront. A "how to order" post explains how your drops work before the questions hit your DMs.
Make it a four-step carousel that walks through how to order, from subscribing for alerts to picking up.
Include your pickup locations and schedule.
Pin it to your profile so it's the first thing new visitors see.
Optional: add when holiday orders open and close.
Hotplate has a free Canva template to make it easy: find it in our guide to the how to order post. For inspiration, search #HowWeHotplate on Instagram to see how other chefs do it.
6. Draft your drops
Set up each holiday drop in Hotplate: your menu, quantities for each item, pickup windows, and when orders open and close.
When to open orders:
Thanksgiving: open orders the week of November 2. That gives you time to market the drop, remind customers, and have your final numbers well before pickups the week of November 23.
Christmas: open orders December 1, or the week of December 7, for the same reasons.
Work backwards from your pickup dates to plan how much time you need to shop, prep and pack. And don't forget to print your order tickets in Hotplate before pickup day.
7. Publish your drops
Before you hit publish, double-check your quantities, pickup windows, and the date and time orders open. When your drop goes live, everyone subscribed to your storefront gets a text with the link to order.
8. Market your drops
The basics go a long way:
Announce the date orders open, a week or so ahead.
Remind people the day before and the morning of.
Post when orders open, with the link in your bio.
Share the moment. Post your first order, your orders rolling in, or the moment you sell out. See how Chicken's Kitchen did it.
For even more holiday marketing advice, check out these 7 ways to market your holiday drop →
You're ready
That's it! Pick your holidays, open orders, and let Hotplate handle the payments, limits and pickup schedule.
Find more holiday guides and chef stories in Holiday HQ.
