The holidays are the most exciting, but for many businesses they can be the most challenging time of the year, especially for retailers. The end-of-year rush, and its many holidays, often means an influx of customers and an overwhelming surge of incoming calls.

“What are your holiday hours?”
“Do you have this specific toy in stock?”
“When is the deadline for custom orders?”
“Do you have the holiday cookies available?”
“Can I make an appointment before the end of the year?”

During the holidays, you and your in-store team are focused on serving the customer right in front of you. The phone ringing off the hook becomes a burden, especially for routine questions.

However, the customer on the phone who is waiting for your answer is experiencing long wait times. This means abandoned calls, and abandoned calls mean missed revenue as well as a negative customer experience. That stops now.

The challenge: a missed holiday sale

A high-end jewelry store in December. A potential customer, Abigail, calls at 6:30 PM, needing to confirm if a specific piece of jewelry is still available for pickup before Christmas.

❌ Without AT&T Office@Hand AI Receptionist: The two associates on the floor are swamped, ringing up a line of in-store buyers. The phone rings for five straight minutes until Abigail, frustrated, hangs up and decides to purchase a similar item from a competitor who answered the phone immediately. A crucial, high-value sale is gone.

The solution: always-on, AI-intelligent assistant

✅ With AT&T Office@Hand AI Receptionist: When the phone rings, a professional, friendly voice answers instantly: “Thank you for calling The Jewelry Store. How can I help you today?”

  • Intelligent intent: Abigail asks about the stock of a specific bracelet.
  • Real-time answer: AI Receptionist, connected to the store’s inventory system, instantly confirms, “Yes, we have three of the Rose Gold bracelets in stock. Would you like me to hold one for you, or connect you with an associate?”
  • Positive outcome: Abigail is happy with the instant, accurate answer. The sale is secured, and her customer experience is enhanced by the speed and professionalism of the interaction.

Built for reliability: never miss a call, ever.

AT&T AI Receptionist doesn’t take lunch breaks or time off for the holidays. It is your essential, 24/7 virtual front desk. It’s built on a secure, reliable, enterprise-grade platform with 99.999% uptime, ensuring your business stays connected during those most critical shopping moments.

AT&T AI Receptionist is seamlessly integrated into the AT&T Office@Hand ecosystem. This means one holistic solution to manage all your communications, from voice and fax to your intelligent receptionist.

This solution is perfect for retailers facing the seasonal spike:

  • Boutiques & stores managing stock and returns during post-holiday sales.
  • Cosmetic stores & beauty boutiques booking last-minute holiday appointments.
  • Bakeries & specialty food stores managing high-volume calls regarding holiday hours, order status, and cut-off dates for seasonal items (e.g., custom cakes & holiday platters).
  • Home goods centers fielding delivery status questions for holiday purchases.

AT&T Office@Hand AI Receptionist delivers a reliable, intelligent, and scalable communication solution that helps your business work smarter with prices starting at $39 for 100min./month.

Turn every call into a new customer. Want to explore AT&T Office@Hand AI Receptionist? Let our experts work with you to solve your challenges and accelerate outcomes. Contact your contact their AT&T Sales Rep, or call (877) 219-3898

Ready to order? Follow instructions here to instantly go live! https://assets.ringcentral.com/us/guide/how-to-order-ai-receptionist-for-attofficeathand.pdf

Visit AT&T Office@Hand to learn more.

Originally published Nov 21, 2025