ChowNow Boost your sales for special events

Up Your UPSELLS

Boost Your Restaurant’s Ticket Size for Game Days and Special Events

by ARIANA CHOMITZ

Big day coming up? Whether it’s a holiday or the final game in a series, you know your diners are already anticipating what to order. Sure, you could stick to your normal menu and operations, but adding upsells and premium deals can make your diners — and your bottom line — even happier.

When festivities bring you an increase in takeout volume, you can make each order count for more by maximizing profit margins.

Here are some tips to increase your big-event food sales: Create a Party-in-a-Box

Consider getting creative and helping people make their special-event food more festive. Source a themed table cloth, ribbons in team colors or swag to go with the season, and create a package that customers can order from you along with their takeout.

Combining a few inexpensive but festive elements into a single “Party-in-a-Box” is a great way to have a highermargin item while also providing value back to your customers — Hello, one less trip to the store! Plus, many customers will be looking for ways to stay safe at home, but still get in the spirit.

Offer Limited-Time Event-Menu Specials

Customers may have their go-to favorites, but it’s hard to say no to an exciting, limited-time menu special! Get creative with your special-event food offerings — bonus points for coming up with names that fit the theme.

For example, Mile End Deli is a restaurant in Brooklyn that gets into the Olympic spirit with a “Poutine Olympics” menu. Their online ordering features limited-time poutine dishes with international twists, like their Eggplant Parm Poutine for team Italy. Diners are encouraged to try all the team-themed offerings before selecting a winner. Themed specials like these are a great way to get your diners visiting more frequently, or adding more to their orders than they might have otherwise.

It’s fair to price these special-event food items higher than your normal menu, because of the limited quantities and the extra work that goes into them. Plus, since holiday and sporting events are usually a time when people gather, you can make these menu specials available in larger portions to be enjoyed by bigger parties — just look at how Mile End offers a “Party Poutine” size!

Promote Drink Specials

If local regulations allow you to serve alcohol to-go, make sure you are taking advantage of it. Create a special event cocktail, or just make sure your regular cocktail menu is available on your ChowNow ordering. If you have a “favorites” category on your menu, this weekend is a great time to add one or two easy drink options to it so that customers can find them faster. After all, who wouldn’t want to add on a six-pack with their order of wings?

Always Upsell With Menu Add-ons

Add-ons or upcharges are a way to make sure you are getting paid fairly for the work you put into takeout orders. If you don’t already track this info, look at your sales data to find your most popular sides or sauces. You can make sure that every time a customer clicks to order a hamburger, you are also offering them a side of fries or onion rings for that extra, small charge, reducing customer friction and increasing your ticket size.

Want to learn more creative ways to grow your online ordering? Book a demo with ChowNow.