Holiday Marketing for Your Restaurant
October 15, 2018It’s never too early to think about how you plan to market your restaurant for the holidays.
Let’s take a look at some holiday marketing ideas you can use this year!
Family Focus – Invite St. Nick
If you have a family-oriented restaurant, you can think of ways to entice families during the holidays with child-focused activities.
What’s a bigger draw in December than having Santa available to visit tables and say hi to kids?
You can choose to have Santa during a dinner service or schedule a special lunch or brunch for Santa’s visit. You can order restaurant supplies that enhance the festive theme.
If you want to take this marketing option to another level, you may want to create a simple, on-brand photo opportunity. Make sure you’re aware of demand – the last thing you want is an hours-long line that rivals anything at the mall!
Instead, set up a short two-hour window during non-rush hours for photos with Santa. You may even ask people to make reservations to avoid lines that interrupt your service.
To expand the marketing opportunity, ask people to share the photos online and tag your restaurant on Facebook or Instagram.
Adult Focus – Cocktail Hour
If you prefer to have a more adult focus on your holiday celebration, consider a cocktail hour. This can happen during December or even for New Year’s Eve.
You can even incorporate an ugly Christmas sweater contest or another theme. Be sure to give plenty of notice – an adult’s only affair may take more planning for people to be able to attend, and the holiday months can fill up quickly!
Be sure to share your event online, through the mail, with in-restaurant flyers, and any other way you can. The more patrons, the merrier. It may help to have an RSVP system as well to make sure you have the restaurant supplies and staff you need.
Holiday-Themed Menu Items
The holidays are a perfect time to try out new menu items and have fun with themed food. Of course, you should keep things simple for the kitchen. You don’t want to buy too many specialty restaurant supplies that won’t keep, either.
Think about how you can put a fun twist on existing menu items, or consider introducing one new appetizer, entrée, and/or dessert.
Doing seasonal or themed menu items can be done well beyond December. Consider focusing on a few holidays, especially if they tie into your restaurant. St. Patrick’s Day, the 4th of July, and many more special days give you a lot of opportunities. You can even find offbeat holidays to celebrate!
Get the Restaurant Supplies You Need Today!
Get ready for the holidays well in advance – plan your promotions and get the restaurant supplies you need now.
Going into the end of the year is also a good time to do a thorough assessment of your restaurant equipment. Investments you make today will not only help set you up for success in the new year, but it can also help with your taxes as well!
If you’re interested in looking at high-quality equipment for your Little Rock restaurant, we’re here to help. Contact us today!
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