[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″]With under two weeks left until Mother’s Day, the clock is ticking for venues that want to make a big impression on Sunday May 14.
Each year, Australians fork out a whopping $2 billion on Mother’s Day, with a large portion of that spending going to restaurants and cafes for special Mother’s Day brunches, lunches, afternoon teas and dinners.
Needless to say, Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity for even the smallest businesses to boost earnings and increase profits, especially if you’re in the restaurant or café business.
With a few clever promotions, this Mother’s Day will quickly become a profitable day for you and your restaurant.
Offer Mums a Complimentary Extra
Everyone loves a freebie, so why not give each mum that dines at your establishment a special Mother’s Day gift? Not only will they love getting a present just for dining with you, it will also add a level of exclusivity to you event.
If you’re feeling extra generous, you could say mum’s dine free when they make a booking for four or more people, but it could be as simple as offering each mum a complimentary glass of bubbly on arrival.
Another alternative is offering a free dessert. This has the potential to get you extra sales, as when everyone sees their mum digging into a delicious dessert, they won’t be able to resist getting one themselves!
Customise Your Menu
It’s quite common for restaurants and cafes to offer set menus on Mother’s Day, but if you want to take this convention one step further, why not make a custom menu?
By adding a few dishes that aren’t part of your standard menu to your Mother’s Day packages, you’ll not only be spoiling your customers, but also increasing the appeal of your special, one-day only event.
Provide Entertainment
Even if your business doesn’t ordinarily offer entertainment, if it’s within your capabilities, consider hiring a band or a musician to provide some live music. People can go out for dinner any day of the year, so when Mother’s Day comes around, they want something a little more special.
Also keep in mind that there will be a lot of families out and about, so if you can provide a distraction for the kids, by all means, do it! This could be as simple as setting up a craft table or hiring a face painter.
Tips to Ensure Mother’s Day Goes off Without a Hitch
Mother’s Day is bound to be busy, so make sure everything runs smoothly by implementing these handy tips.
Have Set Dining Times and Make Bookings Essential
On an ordinary day you might have the space for a family to drag their lunch out over a three-hour period, however, on Mother’s Day demand will be too high to accommodate such a leisurely dining experience.
To ensure good table turnaround, implement set dining times. For instance, you might have a dinner seating from 5-7pm, followed by a seating of 7-9pm. This will ensure you can make as many bookings as possible, without making anyone feel too rushed.
If all goes well, you’ll also be too busy to accommodate walk-ins, so make sure you clearly state on any promotional material that bookings are essential.
Extend Trading Hours
If you’re normally only open for lunch or dinner, it’s worth opening for brunch and afternoon tea as well. Make the most of customer demand by extending your trading hours, even if it’s only by an hour, so you can squeeze in some extra bookings and make yourself a nice little profit.
And of course, make sure you effectively communicate any special offers to your customer base. Whether you send out an EDM to your email database, make an event or run some promotional material across Facebook, or simply put a banner on your website, the more people who know about your exclusive Mother’s Day dining experience, the better![/vc_column][/vc_row]