With the end of the year nearing, there are two reasons for a new restaurant marketing idea. First, new restaurant marketing must take into account the holidays. Holiday parties come in many forms. There are company events, family gatherings, and social parties. Each of these present ample opportunities for new businesses and customers. The second restaurant marketing plan must focus on the new year. In this article, we’ll focus on restaurant marketing ideas for the holidays.
Holiday parties provide great opportunities for restaurant marketing ideas. Marketing for restaurant business events not only generate additional revenue, but bring in a group of customers that may not normally eat at your restaurant. Help the business focus on employee or customer appreciation. Providing employees with a social aspect outside of the office builds stronger working relationships. Getting to know other coworkers families develops deeper bonds.
For the family parties, there are several ways to build a marketing plan for a restaurant. One focus could be on not hosting everyone at your house. Another could be avoiding the mess and hassle of cooking. A third is having a place to go after the meal is over. These three themes could easily be tied together when marketing for restaurant holiday parties. Bringing families together without the stress of planning, cleaning and impressing the other members allows them to spend quality time together without the distractions associated with hosting at their house.
The third topic, a restaurant marketing plan to attract social parties, has the most creative options. There are many groups that would host a social party. There are the parties for people who only see each other a few times each year. These would require a restaurant marketing idea with a reunion theme. Another group sees each other on a regular basis and treat each other as family. Some simply want to gather in lieu of their family, since they may not be able to get together with them. There are plenty of new restaurant marketing ideas.
So, if you’re marketing for a restaurant, there are still some options this holiday season.
As I have been writing, most retail stores acheive 40% of their annual revenue in the holiday season. With the current economy, many stores have cut back on their marketing. That is a huge mistake! It furthers the downward spiral, since your potential customers don’t hear more about your store. It also allows others, who maintain or increase their marketing, to get a much better exposure rate.
The final week of October provides a last opportunity to start or add some marketing for the holidays. We have been working with several clients to add targeted direct marketing efforts to their marketing plans. For it to be effective, any campaign should plan for three or more mailings.
With only four weeks to the busiest shopping week, Thanksgiving week, the rush is on! Most retailers have placed their advertisments in the newspapers, bought their TV and radio time, have put their signs in the grocery carts, are having flyers distributed, and have scheduled multiple mailings. If you haven’t done this for your retail store, this week may be your last chance to get any of it done.
In order to put your marketing in motion, decide on a highly targeted sector of your customer base. Then figure out a specific message or offer to send them. Finally, find a professional to complete the project. At this late time, even if you have the skills, knowledge, and capabilities for this project on your own, chances are you don’t have the time to get it done.
Be sure to find a professional with expeirience in marketing, finding the target market, and capablities to get the work completed. Once you find a professional, be sure to take his/her advice and make decisions quickly. By trusting the professional and making quick decisions, your marketing wil bring new clients in to help you acheive a great reatail sales season!
These final tips for a great retail sales season are for those stores, and their owners, that either haven’t started their holiday marketing or want to ensure their best season ever! Using these in the next few days or weeks will help you create a profitable holiday sales season.
Once you follow these steps, see what the response is and continue. If you have the time, resources, and inventory, continue the process with other customer segments. Bringing in your current customers, along with new ones, will ensure you have a great holiday sales season!