Valentine’s Day 2021 – A New Perspective
The ongoing pandemic refuses to dent the enthusiasm of most Americans when it comes to going out for dine-in at their favorite restaurants. We have seen this during Christmas and New Year’s just a month ago. And while the Holiday season still persists, this gives you another opportunity to showcase your food offers and enhance your sales for the year. We at DS Menu are always seeking the best ways to encourage your business. If you are happy and do well, it will be good for us too!
We assume you have digital signage systems and digital menu boards which currently showcase your delicious menu post the pandemic. This Valentine’s Day therefore gives you an opportunity to ‘create’ the right mood and flavors for your menu, as well as advertise the same on your digital screen.
As we know, Valentine’s Day is usually celebrated by young couples, but over the years it has come to signify love in all relationships. Hence, to innovate on your food menu for the target audience is both exciting and challenging. We present a few pointers:-
Come Up With A Theme
Roses, candles, a pink décor. You can choose the most suitable motif for the occasion. Its celebration and fun time. People are in a good mood to spend. And your restaurant’s décor need to be in sync. Your digital screen too should be ready to accommodate the best designed menu board!
Advertise On Social Media
Imperative for all occasions these days. Plan and post your menu well in advance. Announce your food offers, discounts, gifts. Create a catchy caption to entice all age groups. Also, if you have a data base of your customers, communicating on their mobile phones could be effective as well.
Create A Lovers Menu
The more popular romantic eats (aphrodisiacs) are oysters, lobsters, scallops, chocolate or anything with honey like avocado, arugula or chilli peppers. Given these offers, most would prefer the more expensive ‘specials’ for their loved ones anyway!
Update Your Drinks Selection
The occasion is not just about eating, but about classy drinks too, in order to support the eclectic menu. You can innovate on the cocktail on a romantic theme: offer savory margaritas: have a good (and preferred) collection of wines. Make-your-own-cocktail can also be a good incentive.
Promote Gift Cards
Gift cards are one of the best Valentine’s Day promotions as it is a good incentive for you and your customers. They provide an immediate increase of your cash flow, while at the same time secure future business from your customers.
Offer Take-Away & Home Deliveries
Prepare pre-set menus for customer’s take-away option which would consist of Valentine’s Specials, and also have a prix fixe menu for two with a package of starters, entrees and dessert. Assure customers of best and safe packaging methods used by your restaurant.
Attend To Online Ordering
Your social media promotions will reap benefits now. Customers will order online on seeing your delicious menu. Contactless payments through their smart phones would suit you well as money comes in, any which ways!
Vouchers and Complimentary Offers
Although these are tricky (as these eat into your margins and profits), there is a need to pamper your customers, just the same. A good incentive could be a tie-up with a taxi company say, Uber, and offer customers (who have had a meal at a threshold price point), a part-fare for their ride back home. They might just have another one-for-the-road last drink!
Think beyond Valentine’s Day
All this planning and preparation should not be for this one day alone. Do extend your delicious menu for the week or weekend. Name the occasion ‘This Valentine’s Week’ and advertise your menu accordingly. Besides, many customers too join in the fun after the 14th, in the hope of saving some bucks!