As everyone knows, April is one of the months with a long holiday break in Thailand. There are four public holidays — one for Chakri Memorial Day and three for Songkran — and shops should keep them in mind when planning ahead.
The public holidays in April 2026 are as follows:
Monday 6 April 2026: Chakri Memorial Day
Monday 13 April 2026: Songkran
Tuesday 14 April 2026: Songkran
Wednesday 15 April 2026: Songkran
Many people assume a holiday is just a holiday, no different from the days off in any other month. But don't forget that the April break is when almost everyone takes a long trip home to see family. It is Songkran, when a steady stream of visitors arrives and spends, and it is also when wholesalers and many other businesses close. It is, in short, a stretch of the year that shops need to take very seriously.
For shops in tourist areas, both in Bangkok and up-country
— you will need to be ready for customers arriving from all over, especially during Songkran when Thai and foreign tourists alike pour in. Businesses in these spots may take considerably more than usual, so stock up enough and put on extra staff, ready to serve customers the moment they want something.
For shops near offices and business districts
— staff may take extra days off or stretch the break out, so you could see fewer customers than usual. As well as checking the calendar, it is worth asking your regulars what they are planning, so your own plans run smoothly.
For businesses with no physical shopfront
— you may not have to worry about premises and staff shifts as much as a bricks-and-mortar shop does, but you still need to know whether your business is likely to see more customers or fewer over this period.
A restaurant, for instance, may get a flood of orders all at once because most other shops are shut, while a coffee shop may see orders tail off. Either way, check that your delivery setup is ready to go, and plan online promotions to draw customers in — that is a business opportunity in its own right.
In short, here is what shops should plan before the long break begins:
1. Plan holidays and staff shifts
Building a rota that fits around staff holidays and leave keeps the shop running without a hitch. Set out who is off and have a backup plan for anyone who may need to work through, and consider extra pay or commission as both an incentive and a thank-you.
2. Check your stock — your POS can show you
Checking stock in advance stops you running out just as customers pour in. With Qashier POS you can keep track of sales and what you have on hand at any time, and if you run a franchise or several outlets you can use the stock features to request stock transfers efficiently.
3. Line up the right promotions
With the Qashier POS shop management system you can schedule promotions in advance. Promotions that pull customers in over a long break matter — a special Songkran discount, say, or a buy-one-get-one-free deal. You can set up the Songkran promotions that suit you through Qashier POS, scheduling the start and end times ahead of time so the campaign runs exactly to plan.
4. Be ready to sign up new members
A long holiday can bring a wave of new customers through the door. You can welcome them by signing them up to your shop's membership scheme — Qashier POS makes this easy, needing only a name and a phone number. There is also Qashier Treats, a points-and-rewards system that gives customers a reason to come back next time, helping you grow your customer base and build lasting relationships with new faces.
5. Take payment safely so you don't lose revenue
When customers are coming in thick and fast, a safe way to take payment — such as Dynamic QR payments — cuts the risk that comes with each transaction. Dynamic QR takes payment by PromptPay scan without the customer having to key in the amount, and the system confirms the amount to the shop automatically, so you can be confident the money has come through in full.
Start running your shop better with Qashier today
If you would like Qashier to be your business's right hand, get in touch and we will tell you more. We are ready to support you, whether that means POS terminals for restaurants and shops alike, an effective POS system, or support from our team seven days a week.
For more details, contact our Line Official: @qashier.th or call 02 544 0267