Big events like the Daytona 500 can help you drive your profits up and open new streams of income for your restaurant. Event driven marketing can help your restaurant business thrive regardless of the season. The good news? Your restaurant does not even need to be near the event to profit from it. A little savvy research, a pinch of creativity and a willingness to put in a little time and effort can translate into increased revenues. Event marketing is a wonderful way to market your brand to new demographic audiences while building trusting relationships with customers so that they continue to do business with you over time.
Brainstorming Ideas
Group brainstorming is a terrific way to come up with fun, unique marketing ideas. Gather your staff and give them the theme-Daytona 500. Let their thoughts and ideas flow freely. Get a big board or hand out sticky notes and record every idea no matter how crazy or far out it may seem. Out of all those ideas try to find at least 15 and if you are lucky 30 or 31 ideas that you can implement in the month leading up to the big race.
Here are a few ideas you can tweak to reflect your restaurant culture and your capabilities. These are only starting points so don't feel limited by them. Let them get your own creative juices flowing.
Track Tankards
Tankards are a great way to drink your beer. Fans will thank you for that tankard come race day. Maybe you can create commemorative tankards with the faces of Daytona 500 drivers or teams. Every Tuesday put a favorite brew of the team or driver on special.
Trivia Quiz
Let's face it. Fans love to show off their knowledge about a sport. You can cash in on their enthusiasm. Create a series of quiz nights about the Daytona 500, Indy 500, Nascar. Offer a special menu and sell tickets for the dinner and quiz. Pick food that is simple but popular at the track. Offer prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.
Drink of the Day
For those that don't drink beer create a Daytona 500 cocktail of your choosing. Feature it at a special price throughout the month or on a certain night of the week to draw in more people.
Nostalgia Nights
Throw in a nostalgia night and show clips of old races and racing icons. Combine it with a free appetizer with the purchase of a meal or drink. Bring out the peanuts or popcorn
Soapbox Derby Day
Sponsor a local soapbox derby day. Set up a food tent and hold drawings throughout the day for free food items inside your restaurant to increase traffic. If that is not possible consider holding a model car race inside your restaurant. Set up a big track and run several races a day or during the week.
Tailgate Party
On the day of the race host a tailgate party. Create a menu featuring track-favorite foods and serve up box lunches/meals. And don't forget to put everything in easy to eat and easy to carry containers or paper.
In Restaurant Boutique
Create another stream of income by creating a small retail shop featuring event driven merchandise. For the Daytona 500 you could sell T-shirts, hats, driver pictures, postcards of the track, commemorative glasses or tankards. Models of the various racing cars. No doubt you get the idea. Set up your boutique near the entrance and exit so people see it and pass by it more than once.
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