Wednesday morning, October 28. A mother from Voula looks up her son’s dentist on Google Maps, sees “Open,” and drives all the way to Glyfada only to find the shutters down. The practice did nothing wrong in its actual work; nobody simply remembered to update the hours. Small slip-ups like this are why business holiday preparation is worth half an hour of work a few days ahead.
This year, the national anniversary of the “No” (Ochi Day) falls in the middle of the week, so many people will only think of it at the last minute. In this guide you’ll find what to check on every channel where customers look for you, how to communicate on the day with the right tone, what to watch for if you run an e-shop, and how to make the most of your return on Thursday.
At a glance
- Set special hours on your Google Business Profile and update your website and social media.
- On the anniversary itself, a simple message of remembrance is enough, with no offers.
- Auto-replies on email and messaging apps keep customers informed.
- On your e-shop, state clearly when orders will ship and adjust your ads.
What does business holiday preparation involve?
October 28 commemorates Greece’s rejection of the Italian ultimatum in 1940 and the country’s entry into World War II. It is a day of parades and remembrance, and most shops and offices stay closed.
For a business, preparation has two parts. The first is practical: customers need to know when you’re available and what will happen to anything they send you. The second is about tone: a national anniversary is not an occasion for sales. Take care of both, and the holiday goes smoothly for you and for everyone who trusts you.
Where customers will look for you: check every “door”
Think of every place where someone could find out whether you’re open. If even one of them says something different, that’s what the customer will see.
Google Business Profile and Maps
This is usually the first place people check. Add special hours for Wednesday, 10/28, a few days in advance, so the change is visible to those who plan their week early. If Google prompts you to confirm your holiday hours, don’t ignore it.
Website
A discreet announcement bar at the top or a line on your contact page is enough. Avoid pop-ups that cover the content, especially on mobile.
Social media and messaging apps
Update the hours on your Facebook page and mention them in a post or story on Tuesday. If you get a lot of orders through Viber or Messenger, share the update there too.
What if you’re staying open?
A bakery in Chalandri that opens as usual on the morning of the holiday has every reason to shout about it. Many customers assume everything is closed and don’t even bother to look. A simple “We’re here until 2:00 p.m.” on Google and social media brings in people who would otherwise have gone to the supermarket.
How to communicate on the day of the anniversary
On the day itself, your customers don’t expect advertising from you. At most, they expect a sign that your business shares the meaning of the day. A photo of the flag in your shop window or a simple graphic with two sincere lines is plenty.
On a day of remembrance, the most powerful post is usually the shortest.
What to avoid:
- Discount codes or “Ochi Day” deals.
- Puns on historical events or figures.
- Graphics that look more like an ad than a tribute to the anniversary.
Write and design the post on Monday and schedule it for Wednesday morning. If you want dates like this covered all year round, a content calendar, as we describe in our guide to a social media strategy, solves the problem once and for all.
No one is left without a reply
A message left unanswered for a day and a half comes across as indifference, even if you were simply away. Auto-replies prevent that with minimal effort.
- Email: in Gmail and Outlook you can set a start and end date, so the reply switches itself off on Thursday.
- Facebook and Instagram: Meta Business Suite offers an away message for your page’s inbox.
- Phone: if you have voicemail or a virtual phone system, record a short message for the day.
Here’s a sample text: “Thank you for your message. Due to the national holiday, we are closed on Wednesday, October 28. We will get back to you on Thursday, October 29.” Simple, clear and with a specific return date.
Do you have an e-shop? The holiday doesn’t stop orders
An online cosmetics store, for example, may see plenty of traffic on a day when its customers are at home. The key is making sure they know what to expect.
Shipping times
Ask your courier when they pick up and deliver around the holiday. Then state it clearly in a bar on your site, on the cart page and in the confirmation email: which orders ship on Thursday and when they’re expected to arrive.
Ads
Campaigns that drive online purchases can run as usual. Campaigns that ask for a phone call, an appointment or a visit to a closed store, on the other hand, are better paused for that day, so you don’t pay for clicks you can’t serve. Ad scheduling by day and time in Google Ads takes just a few clicks.
Customer service
If your site chat shows “Online,” turn it off or change the welcome message. A “we’ll reply on Thursday” is better than silence.
Your website unattended: what to check before you close
A holiday is the worst time for your site to go down, because nobody will notice. Before you leave on Tuesday:
- Make sure there is a recent backup.
- Postpone plugin or theme updates until after the holiday.
- Check that uptime alerts reach someone who will actually see them.
- Place a test order or submit a test form.
If all this sounds like a burden, it’s exactly the work that organized WordPress support covers, so you don’t have to worry on holidays or on vacation.
A checklist by channel
| Channel | What to do | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Google Business Profile | Special hours for 10/28 | Monday, 10/26 |
| Website | Announcement bar, shipping times, backup | Tuesday, 10/27 |
| Social media | Updated hours, scheduled remembrance post | Tuesday, 10/27 |
| Email and messages | Auto-replies with an end date | Tuesday, 10/27 |
| Google Ads | Pause call and visit campaigns | Tuesday, 10/27 |
| Return | Reply to anything pending, check orders | Thursday, 10/29 |
On Thursday, once you’ve cleared the backlog, take a look at the calendar: Black Friday falls on November 27 this year, exactly one month later. If you don’t have a plan yet, our guide to Black Friday for your e-shop has a timeline you still have time to follow.
How FoxWeb can help
Holidays, sales and celebrations come around every year, yet they often catch us unprepared. At FoxWeb, we keep our clients’ digital presence ready for every one of these moments.
- Communication with the right tone: our social media management includes a calendar with every anniversary, planned in advance.
- Ads on a schedule: in Google Ads campaigns, we set days and times so you don’t pay for nothing.
- Your site in good hands: backups, updates and monitoring, so you can rest easy.
Frequently asked questions
Can I run promotions on October 28?
Technically you can, but we don’t recommend it. Linking a national anniversary to discounts is often seen as disrespectful. If you want to run a promotion that week, keep it well away from the meaning of the day.
When should I change my Google hours for the holiday?
Ideally a few days ahead, so the change shows up in time on maps and in search. After the holiday you don’t need to do anything, because special hours apply only to the date you set.
Should I stop all my ads on the holiday?
No. Pause only the ones that lead to calls or visits you can’t handle. Campaigns for online purchases can keep running, as long as shipping times are clear.
What should I write in my October 28 post?
Something short and sincere that honors the memory of the day. One or two sentences with a simple image are enough. Leave out products, prices and prominent logos.
Conclusion
Good business holiday preparation doesn’t take much effort: updated hours everywhere, a respectful message, auto-replies, clear shipping times and a site that holds up without you. That way, October 28 stays what it should be, a day of remembrance and rest, and on Thursday you return ready for the most demanding month of the year.
From all of us at FoxWeb, our wishes for a calm and meaningful national holiday.
Want your digital presence ready for every holiday and every peak season? Talk to the FoxWeb team or call +30 210 300 57 57.
