 Retail/Restaurant
Marketing
In a difficult economy you need to think
out of the box to gain exposure and better yet build traffic
to your establishment (which means more sales). Here are some
ideas to spark that creativity:
- Frequent Diner/Shopper: Keep customers coming back
with a frequent diner or shopper cards. Provide each visit
with a different discount or after a certain number of visit/purchases
get a discount or a freebie (appetizer or small gift).
- Incentivize Employees: Create a Family and Friends
Night to entice employees to spread the word about your
establishment. Offer a special discount or something different
(live entertainment, giveaways at door, refreshments). OR
You can provide employees with coupons/flyers that are marked
with their name/employee number - employees receive a prize
or bonus depending on how many are brought back!
- Slow Night Specials: Create traffic on slow nights
by providing an incentive with a discount or promotion.
- Celebrate Something/Any thing: Celebrate a silly
holiday (Ground Hog's Day, Flag Day), create a themed night
(Arabian Nights, Mardi Gras, Cinco De Mayo), or celebrate
a landmark year/month for business. Have a birthday party
once a month and give a discount for everyone celebrating
birthdays! Once you have the idea call local newspapers
to have it on their calendars or even invite them to the
event.
- Have an event: create your own Reality show like
American Idol (music store) or Bachelor (singles night at
bar/restaurant). Or simply host a BBQ or tailgate party.
- For a good cause: Do some charity work: restaurants
can donate to a shelter or even host a holiday party, clothing
store can collect clothing, gifts/groceries can give gifts
to families and hospitals, salons can provide services for
people entering the workforce. One good thing will do wonders
for free publicity.
- Partner-up: Partner with local non-competing merchants
to offer on-the-block discounts, host a special night, or
just split advertising costs. Even consider partnering with
the competition to create events like a Holiday Shopping
Night, Taste of Town, Wine Tasting, or Romantic Evenings.
- Crazy Contest: Develop a contest to bring traffic
to your establish... run a coloring contest - bring in entry
for a freebie/discount, have a photo contest - at the end
send out invites for contestants and friends to pick winner,
ask for recipes or have a cook-off...
Hope this list helps... I'd love to hear
some of your ideas. Email me at tamara@getouttoday.com
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