Reopen Your Exotic Christmas Menu! Merry Business!!

As they say ‘every cloud has a silver lining’! The ongoing pandemic has inadvertently fuelled the desire in people to unwind themselves in various ways during this Christmas & Holiday season. Not that the pandemic is over. But by now people worldwide have accepted and adjusted to the new normal’s safety protocols in wearing masks, social distancing, sanitizing and the rest, while performing their diurnal duties.

We at DS Menu assume that you – our valued restaurateur – have reopened after some very difficult times, and with the necessary safety protocols. While we deeply empathize with you, it would also be our kind suggestion to look forward to better times, now that the Christmas and holiday season have opened up and your customers are more than willing to patronize your business once again.

Before we delve into offering some marketing pointers for your business, we wish to share some Christmas promotion ideas which could increase sales and engage customers effectively. These could be trendsetters!

Christmas Promotion Ideas For Your Digital Menu Board

Along with your menu items, you may add any of the following promotion/s to entice customers and accelerate sales and revenues. However, do take care to analyze the cost-revenue equation carefully before you commit to the incentives.

• Free distribution of Christmas-themed masks to your customers.
• 20% off all Christmas-themed drinks provided this does not dent your bottomline!
• Everyone who can recall five of your Christmas specials on your facebook post gets a complimentary coffee.
• Customers who make at least a week’s advance reservations for Christmas Day get 10% off on certain items.
• 3-for-2 appetizers if purchased along with drinks.
• Everyone who donates (a threshold amount) to a charity gets a coupon for a free alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink.
• Bring a loved one and they get a complimentary dessert of their choosing, if the total meal purchase is above $100.
• Everyone who buys the full Christmas Day menu gets a loyalty coupon for $100 redeemable within three months.
• Complimentary Christmas cookies, goodies, chocolates and other gifts by Santa for self and family.

These promotions can be made effective from Christmas Eve right up to the New Year’s celebrations.

Marketing tips on the Christmas menu & sales

• Make Effective Use of the Digital Menu Board: Announce your Christmas menu and new offers well in advance: assure customers of a memorable time with food and entertainment. Request for advance reservations for facilitating suitable seating arrangements.
• Update Social Networking; Post your facebook, instagram, whatsapp and all other communication channels with the Christmas menu and message. Promote flyers and banners in your neighborhood. Announce your safety measures as well.
• Decorate Your Restaurant For The Occasion: Place a berries wreath at the entrance door along with a pine cone; decorate your windows; hang fairy lights; bring in a Christmas tree. Put together a themed centerpiece and post them on social media. The ambiance matters as much to a customer as the food.
• Christmas Special Menu (unique and creative): the items should be a mix of popular and innovative dishes with known ingredients. You may have a diverse spread and offers with Christmas breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. However, for best business try and keep the menu lean with potential of robust up-sells and entrees.
• Christmas Menu (2); some suggestions: Roasted turkey and stuffing, roasted beef, chicken and duck. Honey glazed ham, mashed potatoes, Cranberry-apple gravy, Brussels sprouts with ginger and orange, Christmas pudding, Gingerbread topped fruitcake. Others such as Egg and ham breakfast sandwiches and glazed blueberry rolls for brunch.
• Christmas-Themed Drinks: despite the ongoing pandemic customers will want to unwind themselves and special alcoholic drinks as well as cocktails along with hot chocolate and coffee would be most welcome. Suggestions: Margaritas, Hot buttered rum and Pecan pie martini!
• Create Your Own Branding For The Event; along with the digital menu board you may add playlists and videos advertising your restaurant’s name and its brilliant track record. You may create your own hashtag and innovate suitable names for your menu items.
• Entertain Your Customers Along With The Food: Suggestions: You may arrange a Caption Contest by posting a Christmas-themed picture and ask customers for a suitable caption, and then reward them when they come in. Also, you may arrange for ‘make a food wish for Christmas’ and offer the same at a discount. Live music could be great too!
• Give Back to Frontline Workers; Suggestion: place a donation box in the restaurant which will enable customers to donate for your staff and also for health-workers charity in your locality. Customers will be encouraged to purchase more for a good cause. For customers who donate above a threshold gift coupons could be offered.