Six Ways To Get Bums On Seats This January
January Blues? Not for Your Restaurant!
January can be a tough month for the hospitality industry. Post-Christmas budgets can lead to a lull in restaurant bookings. Here are some savvy strategies to attract diners and keep your venue busy this January:
SMS Marketing
Forget emails, everyone’s inbox is inundated with emails - go straight to their phone! A well-timed SMS is an effective way to cut through the clutter and entice customers. Consider a “Welcome back to the office” text with a tempting free drink offer, or similar to lure in the weekday crowd. North Sydney’s Rengaya recently sent out a $3 oyster SMS which caught our eye!
2. Promote Outdoor Dining
If you’re lucky enough to have outdoor seating, make the most of it this January while the sun is still out. Showcase your stunning outdoor space on social media and in targeted ads. Highlight refreshing drinks, seasonal dishes, and al fresco dining to tempt visitors. Barangaroo restaurant, love.fish uses their outdoor tables to their advantage on their organic socials, the waterside backdrop complements their fresh seafood offering excellently!
3. New Year’s Resolution
Run a New Year’s Resolution competition. Encourage customers to share their goals for the year, offering an instant prize, like a drink voucher, for every entry. The best New Year’s Resolution wins an even greater prize!
4. Pay It Forward
Spread the love by offering a unique gift-giving opportunity. Give your customers a chance to gift their friends a dining voucher for a small but enticing amount, such as $25, creating goodwill and future business. They’ll look generous, they’ll think you’re great and their friend will give you a visit (it’s a win-win-win!)
5. December/January Birthdays
For those December and January birthdays (we know they suck), extend the celebrations into January. Offer a special deal for groups of three or more, where the birthday person dines for free in January (when they show proof of D.O.B.).
6. Gift Card Tactics
Consider when selling gift cards for Christmas, offer a bonus that can only be redeemed in January. For example, for every $200+ gift card purchased, offer a bonus gift card of $50 for the buyer to use in January. This incentivises extra purchases in December and ensures repeat business in the new year. Venues Callao and Alegre in Barangaroo have run an offer like this very successfully in the past.
7. Utilise Discount Platforms
Partner with platforms like First Table or Eat Club to attract budget-conscious diners. These platforms can drive traffic to your restaurant, especially during the lean January period. Platforms like these are a great way to attract new customers and add to your restaurant’s ambience on quieter days (who might even come back).
By implementing these strategies, you can turn January from a slow month into a profitable one. Remember, a little creativity and strategic marketing can go a long way!
