As the holidays approach and gatherings ramp up, Happy Hour is one way to attract guests to your restaurant – but the concept has lost a little of its lustre recently. Studies show that 47 per cent of people believe that the discounts offered during Happy Hour are negligible and 62 per cent say that even with Happy Hour discounts, it’s still too expensive to go out.
If you’re looking to offer something new, attract a fresh crowd, and get ahead of the competition, giving Happy Hour a makeover may help.
Adjust your schedule
While Happy Hour is traditionally held after work, consider your restaurant’s traffic patterns. 41 per cent of diners aged 21 to 34 say that specials like this play a key role in whether they visit a late-night restaurant, so half-priced cocktails, mocktails, and apps later into the evening could bring in a younger crowd and raise revenues at a traditionally slower time for your restaurant.
Make it about mocktails
Non-alcoholic beverages have become a large part of restaurant menus, with 33 per cent of diners loving that they can order fancy drinks without the alcohol. However, perceived value could present a problem, as 45 per cent of people say mocktails are too expensive. Create some new beverages using kitchen ingredients and existing inventory to help lower the cost of your mocktails while offering something innovative.
An impressive mocktail menu may also broaden your potential customer base. For example, you may appeal to corporate clients who don’t need to drink to have fun with their colleagues. Get creative with your marketing to make the most of a mocktail Happy Hour!
Change it up
Once you’ve got a following for your Happy Hour, you want to encourage repeat visits, so you need to mix it up. Consider rotating your promos to include ladies’ night, couple time, or any other theme you think guests would enjoy. Switch up the menu by rotating in beer flights, or speed dating to keep people interested and attract a diverse group of customers. Gather feedback from your guests and your staff to create a Happy Hour that resonates all around.
Updating your Happy Hour helps you to grow your customer base, encourage regular visits, and make a name for your restaurant while boosting the bottom line.
