Here are a few ideas that I used in the past to increase the sales of my restaurant. Many of these ideas also included my employees in the events that united them into a team. I got better, more loyal staff, and also increased either the restaurants in the community or its sales. Ask them to try, measure your results and have fun.
Easter Egg Hunt - The restaurant provided prizes and sweets for traditional egg hunting in a local park. A visit and a cameraman with the Easter Bunny made this a special event for 50 plus children in a foster family. A local newspaper printed a small story with a photo giving us additional information in the community.
Christmas party - The event was attended by restaurant staff offering a small Christmas gift for children from disadvantaged families. Like the "angelic trees," which are so common today, with one exception. We also provided a Christmas party for children and, of course, a visit with Santa to present gifts. The staff was able to serve and communicate with the children during the party. These events brought the staff closer to the team. Again, local news was on hand to present the history of human interests associated with the restaurant.
Mothers Day - This event, held in a fast food restaurant, showed that the staff turned the dining room into a beautiful dining establishment with candles, flowers and linens. Instead of having orders to place at the counter, the staff took orders on the table and, of course, delivered the food. During this week both guests and employees spoke about this event. Sunday evenings are usually the slowest of all nights for a fast-food restaurant, not to mention Mother's Day, for some reason, mothers do not want to get fast food. This Mother's Day exceeded the previous Sunday days by 18%, and the previous Mother's Day - by 31%.
Daily discounts - Nothing new about the daily special or rotating special, but in 1983 this concept was something unheard of. Most restaurants at that time worked with printed coupons. Customers got used to the ads and waited for the next coupon launch, often demanding to know why the expected run was postponed or missed. Wanting to reduce the dependency on the coupon to count guests, I began to use the daily special daily 7 days of the week. Using only a reading board and posters for advertising, we began to use special combinations, rather than “buy one free” mantra of print ads. Despite the fact that he did not receive an instant “pop” print ad, special effects over time earned to overshadow BOGO and replace it as an effective way to increase sales and protect profitability.
Foundation activities - These were various activities designed to achieve the three goals. First, as a fundraiser for a decent business or organization. Secondly, as a team training, and thirdly, and, most importantly, promote the restaurant. We developed a series of carnival games that used food in restaurants as a secondary prize and for large logo items such as T-shirts and coffee mugs. We accept and play these games at school falls or spring festivals or at local city events and donate to school or charity.
Parade team - At each parade, we distributed coupons in restaurants, logo elements and sold hot chocolate and drinks. Again donation of funds to charity.
barked “That was what I used when I was working for Wendy in St. Thomas.” Many companies at the time used the carnival style of the barker to draw attention to a particular institution. Our place was at the end of the cruise ship docking station, and, as such, often passed by, as the ship’s guests were too eager to try the local fare, rather than the recognizable Wendy menu. Our cruiser was given 100 coupons a day to get through, and he was paid at the number returned to the restaurant.
School reading program - A simple program that allows teachers to award children prizes in a restaurant for reading a certain number of books. Starting with small food prizes and progressing to a family meal at 4, as the child reads more and more books. This program was extremely successful and lasted for years.
Conducting surveys - I would go to high schools on weekdays and offered a class in preparation for the interview and getting my first job. I also offered general questions for business and staff members. Here I would start a relationship with a potential new employee, and also offered some coupons and logo elements to further promote the restaurant.
Cross Advertising - In the tourist area it is very important court places, as well as tourist crowds. Understanding guest traffic is one of the key elements for business survival. Active participation in non-contests, such as hotels without an attached restaurant, is a way of borrowing their authority and connection with your restaurant. Discounts for hotel staff and printed items that are provided to guests, as well as frequent visits with food or deserts, are accompanied by staff associated with your restaurant to hotel guests.
Set a goal for each ad and record the results. Spend time to improve the next event and, above all, have fun.
