- March 16, 2022
- Posted by: Morgan Ayres
- Category: Bakery, Cafe, Restaurant
As a restaurant or café owner, you may find that certain times of the year are busier than others, and one of the busiest times for restaurants and cafes is St. Patrick’s Day. Customers come out in droves for the holiday, expecting a unique experience that includes themed décor, food, and drinks, as well as a lively atmosphere. By preparing ahead of time and implementing smart practices, you can capitalize on this busy occasion and make St. Patrick’s Day a very successful day for your establishment.
Here is a five-point checklist to help you prepare for St. Patrick’s Day:
- Provide Live Performances
A big part of the St. Patrick’s Day experience is the lively atmosphere, and one way to create that atmosphere is by providing live performances. Traditional Irish music is a perfect choice for the occasion and can draw in a crowd. Marketing the live performance along with your restaurant or café can create excitement and attention for your business, ultimately leading to a more profitable day on the 17th.
- Offer a St. Patrick’s Day Menu
Guinness and green beer are staple drinks for the holiday, and customers also expect traditional Irish food. It’s important to offer a special St. Patrick’s Day menu to keep customers engaged and interested in your establishment. By offering unique dishes and drinks, you can differentiate your business and attract more customers.
- Plan the Entire Event
Preparing for one of the busiest days of the year requires extra planning and attention to detail. Retraining staff and ensuring inventory is stocked are essential tasks to focus on. Retraining staff prior to a busy time for your business can help to reinforce certain operational aspects, serving as a best-practices refresher, and ensuring that your employees are prepared for a smoothly run event. Additionally, make sure that your top-selling menu items are available, in addition to any limited-edition St. Patrick’s Day menu items. Neglecting to ensure that inventory is stocked can result in unhappy customers and lost revenue.
- Organize a Raffle
Raffles are an effective way to grab customers’ attention and keep them engaged. Offering prizes that feature items specific to your restaurant or café or St. Patrick’s Day, and donating a portion of the proceeds to charity, can make the event even more fun and bring people together.
- Hire Security/Additional Employees
It’s important to remember to hire additional staff or security during a lively occasion like St. Patrick’s Day. Failure to do so could result in damages to your restaurant or café if you don’t have the staff to alleviate the situation. Lively events always have the potential to turn chaotic, so it’s best to have staff who are able to mediate those situations and ensure the safety of everyone involved.
Implementing holiday-themed aspects to your restaurant or café is essential for St. Patrick’s Day. Customers want a true Irish experience, and neglecting to provide that can result in a poor opinion of your business. By working to ensure a positive experience for customers, you improve the reputation of your establishment, increase profits, and further the success of your business.
For assistance in management or planning for your business, utilizing consulting services can be very beneficial. The services of a hospitality consultant can help your business to drive sales and continue to further your success. For more information, consider the services of Pinnacle Hospitality Consulting.
In summary, by providing live performances, offering a special St. Patrick’s Day menu, planning ahead, organizing a raffle, and hiring additional staff, you can prepare your restaurant or café for one of the busiest days of the year. With these strategies in place, you can create a unique experience for customers, differentiate your business from competitors, and ultimately increase profits.
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