How to Retain Winterlicious Customers

How to Retain Winterlicious Customers
By Dwayne Reno

It's almost time for winterlicious, the citywide food event for restaurant lovers.
The citywide event happens January 29th to February 11th, 2016. Winterlicious can be a great marketing tool for foodservice operators. Participation is not free, but it can help to attract customers you might not normally get during the winter months. Hence helping to increase new trials at your restaurant and word of mouth.

The thing about Winterlicious
Winterlicious customers are usually in it for the deals, most will never return over the course of the year. In a very competitive marketplace with rising food cost and a low dollar, many foodservice operators are apprehensive about offering such low prices to get customers through the door. Below are a few tips that will help you retain your Winterlicious customers.

Get the word out
Most restaurants don’t do a good enough job encouraging customers to eat at their location during Winterlicious. You pay to participate so it is important that you express your participation.

How to achieve this: Online Marketing is a great way to make potential customers aware of your restaurant’s participation well before the event.

Online tools: Most of your customers are online so use your website and social media channels to interact with potential online customers. Also make use of customer review sites, online blogs and your email list to help you get the word out.

Advertise every chance you get
Now that you have successfully steered the hungry Winterlicious crowds to your restaurant don’t forget to advertise. Many foodservice operators forget to give the customers a reason to come back. During Winterlicious you should be actively promoting any ongoing specials and promotions your restaurants offers. That includes dessert, drink menus and wine lists as well.

How to achieve this: Make use of table toppers and staff participation (up-selling).
Winterlicious is a great time to get your staff members fired up. Think about offering an incentive to staff members who are successfully up-selling. Another important thing is to differentiate your restaurant from the other 200 plus competitors who will be participating.
I did an article on brand differentiation, here.

Winterlicious gave that customer a reason to visit your restaurant in the first place. When customers leave your table, the excellent food and customer service they received should be enough reason for them to return.

Until next time your customers want to know why they should spend money at your restaurant, bar or cafe. So give them the goods!

Need inspiration? Checkout some of our services.