Early Birds and Happy Hours

Nothing is more frustrating for an owner of a pizzeria than an empty seat or a quiet telephone. As the old saying goes, "there is nothing more expensive to a restaurant than an empty seat." That is because with each vacant table and as each minute ticks by, you will never have the opportunity to "sell" that seat or minute again. Using a combination of targeted marketing, coupons and promotions, and few little tricks, you can turn your off-peak hours into moneymaking opportunities.



Always take into account your unique business model and location, and work with your brand image to find the campaign that best suits your pizzeria. A "working man's lunch special" featuring your use of pizza pans made in the USA and farm fresh produce would do well in a neighborhood pizza joint, while a pizza and wine pairing would be fun in a more up-scale setting.



Focus Your Marketing to Drive Sales



If your pizzeria is located in a trendy, urban area your marketing should reflect the culture of your community. Utilizing social media and offering happy hour and late night specials would bring in later customers. Twitter is a great way to stay in constant contact with your customers, keeping them up-to-date on the latest specials and featured items. A neighborhood pizzeria can bring in more lunch and late afternoon business by targeting local businesses and offering pizza-by-the-slice. Offering fresh salads and calzones can increase lunch sales by giving your customers additional and lighter options. Consider holding events in your pizzeria to add an element of fun to your brand. A combination pizza making and dough tossing contest is a way to draw attention to your business as well as your superior pizza baking supplies.



Use Coupons and Promotions to Drive Sales



A simple tool you can use to fill seats during off-peak hours is the use of time specific coupons and promotions. Offering deals during off peak times brings in people that otherwise might not patronize your establishment. Don't make the mistake of thinking you will only attract cheap people who are only out to get as much as possible out of you. Sure, there will be a few of those people, but most will continue to frequent your establishment if they like what they see, so use every opportunity to impress your guest with your pizza dough preparation and dedication to quality products.



Think Outside the Box and Make It Fun



There likely is something really unique about your pizzeria that you can use to generate revenue, even during traditionally slow periods. Capitalize on current marketing trends, as well as traditional advertising outlets. Don't forget to have fun with it, because even with the best pizzaware, and the highest quality products, people tend to remember a good time and a fun atmosphere almost above all else.