Top
10 Reasons for Gift Certificates
"I come from a family where gravy is considered a beverage." -- Erma Bombeck
"I come from a family where gravy is considered a beverage." -- Erma Bombeck
We all have a little Erma in us. Mostly kept in check, 'she' runs wild during
the holidays! Wonderful food is the
anchor of festive holiday gatherings and romantic, intimate dates alike. Whether you are sharing a cheerful cappuccino
with a dear friend or a family-style meal with your loved ones, the holidays
bring out the foodie in all of us.
Offering gift certificates for purchase helps promote your business in so many different ways. Here's just the Top 10!
Offering gift certificates for purchase helps promote your business in so many different ways. Here's just the Top 10!
10. Instant Marketing: Just Add certificate! John and Beth love-love-love-love your homemade
gnocchi. They know that their friends
would love it, too. Gift certificates
are a great way for the Johns and Beth’s to be your instant marketing
team! When your loyal customers purchase
a gift certificate for their friends, you've just broadened your client base.
9. Variety
(and your curry shrimp) is the spice of life!
New customers -- and even your loyal standbys! --
are more likely to experiment with your menu if they are paying with a gift
certificate. Then they take their great
experience to the office and ... (See No.
10!)
8. One
size fits all. Mom
and Dad. (Sigh.) They have everything; they want nothing. But they love Sunday brunch! When you offer gift certificates, even those
who don't frequent your restaurant or coffee shop are likely to stop in to buy
the perfect (easy!) gift that they are certain will be enjoyed. Even out of town friends and relatives can
take advantage of your certificate offer and purchase a gift for their
local-to-you friends and family over the phone or on your website.
7. A
special thank you. The
guests at Table 22 have just finished the tilapia and can't stop raving about
the sauce! Why not tuck a gift
certificate for a nominal amount into the bill folder? You will find that this simple gesture given
at just the right time will have an surprising impact on your bottom line! That's another
story that will make it to the water cooler ... and beyond! (See
No. 10 ...)
6. Dinner
of the Month Club. Be super creative
and consider selling a dozen certificates in set amounts as a packet, marketing
them as a Dinner of the Month Club.
5. Buy
50 get 10. Who doesn't like a
deal! Whether you are a high-end dinner
establishment or a local coffee shop, why not offer patrons who purchase gift
certificates a little perk just for themselves?
When you offer a gift certificate of a particular monetary value -- or
just a free cinnamon roll with that morning's coffee, they will ... (See
No. 10 ...)
4. With certificate you get egg roll. Give your gift giver more holiday bang for their buck and offer a free appetizer or desert ( or both!) to the guest redeeming the certificate.
3. Get
your Santa on! Think of it as part
of your marketing budget if you must -- but donate, donate, donate! Whether you send a few gift certificates to
the local elementary school as a special thank you for the teachers or to the
area clinic for the nurses who work so diligently, you can be assured that your
good deed with spread like wildfire and
you'll have just gained two handfuls of new customers!
2. Night
out! Consider putting together an
entertainment package that puts your restaurant at the center of it all! Partner with a local limo company and offer
certificates for dinner with transportation included to their special
event! Not only will your certificates
be available at your restaurant but on the limo website as well!
1. The
gift that keeps on giving back! Gift
certificates are the very best way to promote your business all year long by bringing new customers
through the door. They are an easy,
planned-out or spur of the moment marketing tool. They delight those receiving them as
gifts. They give you a great name when
you make donations within the community.
They are a tool to help you forge alliances with other local
businesses. They even soothe a ruffled
customer or thank a loyal patron! The Number 1 reason for offering gift
certificates is as clear as a peanut in the Kung Pao: They market you all on their own!
The Superior Menus Team is delighted to have you as
a member of our family and we wish you the very best for a healthy and
prosperous New Year!
