Friday, December 20, 2013

Top 10 Reasons for Gift Certificates

"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!

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!