This has been in our head for a while...
...if the economy is SOOOOOOOOO dead, why are we all going out to lunch every day? Not that we aren’t just as much guilty of this (going out to lunch too much) as the next person or group, but why does it take at least 5 minutes to find a parking spot, 10 minutes to get to the order taker and another 10 to get the goods? It’s all the people before you in the line!
Sure it’s much worse in specific parts of the country and we’re not trying to reduce the seriousness of the state of the economy at all. We do think that if your establishment (or the customer you sell services or a product to) is one of the lucky ones to have a line going almost or totally out the door or even a semi full dining room, that you should get in these people’s heads even MORE.
How, why and what’s the long term goal?
How?
-Get your beverage distributor is to declare one day a month the “Free Drink Day”.
-Have a staff member offering free samples off a platter that contains an item that you make a ton of margin on or maybe it’s a new or overlooked menu choice that needs some exposure.
-Encourage customers to get their punch card filled out (this has to be communicated by everyone and everything at the eatery), because they get the 10th one for free, but also get entered into a monthly drawing for a $50 gift card to be used ONLY at your business
Why?
-Why “Free Drink Day”, well because, it creates a buzz and gives you something to talk about in your advertising messages and it’s relatively inexpensive to do
-Why samples, well because, if it’s done in a way that the germ-o-phobes will be comfortable with...who doesn’t want a little taste while they are hungry and in line, right? Not only that, but they might just start buying that product you make a ton of margin on or that product that isn’t moving so well.
-Why the punch card drawing, because, it gets them through the door at least 5-10 times per month and they have that chance to win...people love to gamble and can only be redeemed at YOUR place.
Long Term Goal?
-To get them to come back again and again and again. Some restaurants, because of the quality of their food or atmosphere or uniqueness, can get away with this, but those places are SOOOOOOO rare or people find a suitable replacement if they don’t want to put up with it any more. Treat them like kings or queens when they are spending like peasants and you will have the keys to the castle (their wallet) in good and bad times.
And you’re also probably wondering, “What the (insert your favorite curse or wake up dummy word here) does this have to do with me, I sell cars or advertising space or scuba equipment?” You’re right, your business is different, but when was the last time you invited a customer into your dealership to wash/clean their car they bought from you for free, when was the last time you sent an article out to your client on the latest trends in the advertising world with a 10 free spots gift or when was the last time you invited a customer to throw on the fins for an hour on a slow night in your practice pool?
Like we said...this has been in our head for a while...did it get in yours?
...if the economy is SOOOOOOOOO dead, why are we all going out to lunch every day? Not that we aren’t just as much guilty of this (going out to lunch too much) as the next person or group, but why does it take at least 5 minutes to find a parking spot, 10 minutes to get to the order taker and another 10 to get the goods? It’s all the people before you in the line!
Sure it’s much worse in specific parts of the country and we’re not trying to reduce the seriousness of the state of the economy at all. We do think that if your establishment (or the customer you sell services or a product to) is one of the lucky ones to have a line going almost or totally out the door or even a semi full dining room, that you should get in these people’s heads even MORE.
How, why and what’s the long term goal?
How?
-Get your beverage distributor is to declare one day a month the “Free Drink Day”.
-Have a staff member offering free samples off a platter that contains an item that you make a ton of margin on or maybe it’s a new or overlooked menu choice that needs some exposure.
-Encourage customers to get their punch card filled out (this has to be communicated by everyone and everything at the eatery), because they get the 10th one for free, but also get entered into a monthly drawing for a $50 gift card to be used ONLY at your business
Why?
-Why “Free Drink Day”, well because, it creates a buzz and gives you something to talk about in your advertising messages and it’s relatively inexpensive to do
-Why samples, well because, if it’s done in a way that the germ-o-phobes will be comfortable with...who doesn’t want a little taste while they are hungry and in line, right? Not only that, but they might just start buying that product you make a ton of margin on or that product that isn’t moving so well.
-Why the punch card drawing, because, it gets them through the door at least 5-10 times per month and they have that chance to win...people love to gamble and can only be redeemed at YOUR place.
Long Term Goal?
-To get them to come back again and again and again. Some restaurants, because of the quality of their food or atmosphere or uniqueness, can get away with this, but those places are SOOOOOOO rare or people find a suitable replacement if they don’t want to put up with it any more. Treat them like kings or queens when they are spending like peasants and you will have the keys to the castle (their wallet) in good and bad times.
And you’re also probably wondering, “What the (insert your favorite curse or wake up dummy word here) does this have to do with me, I sell cars or advertising space or scuba equipment?” You’re right, your business is different, but when was the last time you invited a customer into your dealership to wash/clean their car they bought from you for free, when was the last time you sent an article out to your client on the latest trends in the advertising world with a 10 free spots gift or when was the last time you invited a customer to throw on the fins for an hour on a slow night in your practice pool?
Like we said...this has been in our head for a while...did it get in yours?
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