"Christmas is the most profitable time of year for restaurants. But how do I go about attracting office parties without spending a fortune on advertising?"
Advertising is a costly business for any restaurant but unless you are a large establishment with hundreds of covers there are other alternatives that will bring the desired results without spending hardly any cash.
Get ready
Make sure your Christmas menu is ready, suppliers sourced, items costed and menus printed. The Christmas menu must also be put on your website.
Using what you have
Use all the information on customers that you already have. This will include the reservation book that will have contact names and numbers of past customers as well as fax numbers for people that might have requested a menu.
Get on the phone
At around this time of year people are already starting to think about where to go for the Christmas office party. Phone the businesses in your area and if they have nowhere booked ask for contact details and either, email, fax or post your Christmas party menu along with other relevant details such as booking requirements and what the biggest group you can accommodate is.
Existing customers
After customers have paid the bill and are leaving give them an envelope with your Christmas menus and another page with other relevant details and if possible a few testimonials from people who had their Christmas party at your establishment last year.
A-boards
Start promoting your Christmas offerings on A-boards on the street outside your restaurant. Include a number of unique selling points - ie happy hours, lively atmosphere.
Venue Finders
Signing up to a suitable venue-finding service such as The Restaurant Ingredient's Venue Finder Service can help boost your Christmas bookings at low cost.
Strategy Clinic
Caterer and Hotelkeeper
October 2006
Act Now
Click Here for examples of our work, or contact us and see how we can make your venue work even harder for you. Call us on 0871 781 2270 for free, professional guidance.
