Little Known Ways To Making The Most Of Your Restaurant Gift Certificates
Times are tough. I mean, it could be worse, but the bottom is everyone wishes the situation was better. My heart goes out to restaurant operators. They are one of the few hit hardest by the recession.
It’s about time you, the restaurant operator, get creative if you want your business to survive this economic meltdown. I’m thinking put restaurant gift certificates to good use. I know. Restaurant gift certificates aren’t exactly novel ideas, but these methods on how to use them effectively to boost sales might just be the big break you’re looking for.
- Partner with online restaurant finders
- Host in-house events and use the certificates as rewards
- Partner with local businesses
1. Partner with online restaurant finders
A restaurant finder is a website that lets people search for restaurants based on the user’s preferences. For example this website, Restaurant.com, it allows users to find restaurants and afterwards offer them to purchase restaurant gift certificates.
What’s the big deal? The big deal is that partnering with these services entail free online advertising for your restaurant. If you failed to do this, the customers would’ve never seen your place, and proceeded to eat at another restaurant around the corner.
2. Host in-house events and use the certificates as rewards
Restaurant gift certificates also make great prizes.
Why not hold an eating contest in your restaurant? Contests attract a lot of people. To offset the costs, sell admission tickets or else raise the menu prices a little, with restaurant gift certificates as prizes to the contestants. It’s a good opportunity to draw the spotlight to your restaurant and attract new customers throughout the year.
Of course you don’t always have to go with eating contests…
3. Partner with local businesses
A good move is to partner with local businesses in your area. For example, provide realtors with free restaurant gift certificates worth $100 to give their clients who bought a home in the area.
Don’t let this example restrict your choices. You can also partner with car dealerships, retailers, etc.
Did you know that, according to a survey, 18% of restaurant gift certificates go unredeemed? And the best thing about them is that they are paid in advance. This means the whole amount is yours until the customer with the certificate shows up at the counter.
Get creative and boost sales during hard times with restaurant gift certificates.