While Small Business Saturday isn’t until November, it is important for restaurant owners to start preparing now. The pandemic has had a tremendous impact on the restaurant industry and SBS offers a great opportunity to make up some of the lost revenue. Here we take a look at how to get your restaurant ready for Small Business Saturday.

Register With American Express

American Express is responsible for starting Small Business Saturday. As part of their promotions, they offer a number of benefits to those that register with them. Not only do you become listed on the AmEx website, but you can also receive marketing materials and tips to maximize profits. This can help expand the audience for your Small Business Saturday promotions and open up new revenue streams.

Develop A Formal Marketing Campaign

“Marketing plans and strategies are important because they make sales easier for any business owner. When you target your ideal customer in a smarter way, you reduce the costs of marketing and increase your chances of converting leads into sales.” Creating a formal campaign that encompasses a variety of marketing channels will help you to reach more of your target audience more efficiently.

Start Promotions Early

Much in the way that big businesses extend their Black Friday sales before and after the actual date, extending your promotions to reach beyond Small Business Saturday can give you a leg up on the competition. Having your sales hit just a bit early will help you to maximize on your piece of consumer’s holiday budgets. Having them run a couple weeks after will enable you to capitalize on family visitors and holiday outings.

Sell Gift Cards And Branded Merchandise Online

Finding ways to implement new revenue streams is something that has become essential for small business owners of any kind. There are a variety of opportunities to cash in online, even if you are a service-based business. Gift cards and branded merchandise have the potential to increase revenue and set you up for future business. These can be sold online fairly easily and gives you a chance to gain business from those that are not comfortable visiting your restaurant or ordering take-out.

Leverage Social Media And Email Marketing

Using digital marketing tactics to promote your Small Business Saturday specials is one of the best ways to reach a large audience and build your online presence. Social media and email are great ways to market your restaurant to begin with and Small Business Saturday offers many great ideas for content. A well thought out digital strategy can help you bring in new customers for years to come.

Create A Small Business Saturday Themed Menu

One of the best things you can do as a restaurant owner is to get the opinions of your customers. Since Small Business Saturday has the potential to bring in new patrons, experimenting with new menu items makes sense. You can get feedback on your dishes from a diverse group and introduce new items to your current customer base. Keeping your menu fresh is essential in today’s restaurant landscape and this creates a great opportunity to test.

Let Quikstone Capital fund your Small Business Saturday promotions