Office holiday party · The boss · Warm · about 2 minutes
Holiday Party Speech From a Small Business Owner (2 Minutes)
A second-generation owner thanking a staff of about a dozen at the holiday dinner, with families at the table, and wanting each of them to hear it.
Given by Leland, who owns a family hardware store. 243 words. The names are made up.
The toast
Okay, everybody. Find a seat if you can, or lean on something. I'll keep this to a couple of minutes.
My dad opened this store when I was nine, and he used to say you could tell how the day was going from the bell over the door. Lots of rings, good day. Not many, go find something to fix.
This year the bell rang a lot. I'd love to tell you that was me. It wasn't. It was Jasmine learning the name of every contractor who comes in before seven, and having their order pulled before they reach the counter. It was Irv, who has been here longer than the paint aisle, spending forty minutes with a woman in October showing her how to fix her own sink, and selling her one rubber washer. She came back the next week and bought a lawn mower. And it was all of you covering for each other when the flu went through in February and we were down to three people on a Saturday.
A store like ours doesn't have a lot of tricks. People can buy a hammer anywhere. They come here because of who's behind the counter, and who's behind the counter is you.
So I'm grateful, and I know my dad would be too. To the families here tonight, thank you for lending them to us, especially on weekends.
Everybody, raise a glass. To all of you, and to the bell.
Why it works: The bell is a detail only this store has, and it gives the speech a frame for the thank-yous. Two named people get a specific reason each, and the flu-season line covers everyone else so nobody feels skipped.
Make it yours
Borrow the shape, not the lines. Put your own people, your own year and your own detail in each spot, or answer a few questions and get a first draft built from them.