Tips For Restaurant Promotions (1/2)

Tips For Restaurant Promotions Senior Citizens Sponsor a contest for the senior citizens of your community. Run a drawing during the months of November, December, January and February. Let them enter by stopping by your restaurant or mailing in an entry form they can pick up through senior citizen’s service organizations. Once a month draw a person’s name and pay his or her utility bill for the month or offer a special candlelight dinner for the winner. This is a community involvement promotion that may gain local media attention. Don’t ignore the 65+ audience as potential customers. This is the fastest-growing age group in the United States. They are active participants in the community with a good deal of disposable income. Profit from Good News Read the newspaper. Every time you see an employee promotion for a company in your target area, send the person a congratulatory letter and enclose a “Be My Guest” card or discount coupon. You might also send a letter to anyone written up for good deeds-the fireman who saved a child, the policeman who was hurt in the line of duty or the child who raised the most money for Easter Seals. It is not even necessary that they live in your target area. Provide those outside your area with a larger discount that will entice them to visit your restaurant. Remember, word-of-mouth about your good deed for rewarding a local hero will generate increased awareness and goodwill in the community. Health Check Promotion Contact your local public health department and request their cooperation. Arrange for them to set up a blood pressure testing unit on your parking lot or in your restaurant or set up a free child fingerprinting booth. Contact your police department for more information on this promotion. Give everyone tested a coupon to be redeemed in your restaurant during a given period of time. School Promotions Award “Be My Guest” cards or discount cards to students who earn high grades, have been elected student officers, have been selected athlete of the week or otherwise have received school honors You can also help your local schools encourage perfect attendance. Offer a free dinner for two to any student completing a semester of perfect attendance. Work with the local high school to develop a sports award program. Give cards or coupons to winning coaches in your area once a week. The coaches can award them to team members who can then redeem them for a free or discounted meal or entrée. Even if you don’t have a menu that appeals to children or teens, you should always be investing in the future. In addition, making their children happy will make parents want to return the favor by dining at your restaurant. Opening a New Unit? Give a free meal card to everyone who interviews for a job, whether you give them the job or not. Make friends of everyone that you interview. If they have come into your restaurant, they probably live in your area and will become customers if you try to be friendly, even if you don’t hire them. They will appreciate your courtesy and tell their families and friends. Business of the Week Offer local businesses coupons that give their employees a discount off their orders during a specific week. Advertise this “Business of the Week” with signage in your restaurant, and you will find that other businesses will call you to set up a similar program. Call the local Red Cross whenever a disaster such as a large fire or flood hits your community. Offer to deliver pizzas, or other hand-held foods, and soft drinks to the disaster area for fire fighters, disaster crews and victims. This program should be organized in advance with your local emergency organizations so that you are ready to act in an emergency. Hi Neighbor! Create a street-by-street promotion in your neighborhood. Use direct-mail and in-store advertising announcing “Tuesday Night Is Main Street Night”. Offer a special to residents of Main Street for Tuesday night only.