In the previous blog entry, we worked through some of the advertising possibilities available if you as the restaurant owner use the crafty and multi-purpose sign holder. Near the end of the previous post, we jumped into how building marketing connections with event coordinators could yield no or low cost benefits for your restaurant, and in this entry, we want to continue with the same theme. Who else you might want to build connections with to continue getting your restaurants name out there, and continue getting people in the door? And, how is a sign holder going to facilitate this connection?

This recommendation is specific to restaurants that don’t mind someone else doing some of their advertising work for them, and have licenses to serve alcohol. The goal here is to contact multiple alcohol suppliers and inform them you’re willing to represent their goods as a featured item in return for marketing supplies.

What exactly does that mean? Alcohol companies, being part of one of the most competitive markets that exist today, love to get their name out any way they can. A large portion of their advertising and marketing budget goes not only to television and print advertisements, but to deals with restaurants and bars as well. In dealing with restaurants, alcohol companies normally set up annual distribution contracts at various prices. If, however, you inquire into advertising ventures with many of these companies, you may receive their product at a reduced rate, as well as these marketing supplies we mentioned earlier.

These marketing supplies are basically anything and everything to get more traffic in your restaurant – anything from banners, posters, flyers, and of course inserts for your tabletop sign holder. These various mediums will be branded with your logo and the alcohol company’s. The important thing to remember here is every case is negotiable; also known as, don’t worry about your restaurant being overrun by beer or vodka advertisements. The goal for both parties is to ensure the success of each other, as it is only in the partnership that growth is to be obtained.

So what do we know now? We know a sign holder is an avid addition to various places in your restaurant, as they can efficiently package information about your restaurant, your community’s events, and maybe even another company’s logo. Also, by building connections with advertisers of major events or popular goods, you could receive effective low or no-cost print advertising for your restaurant.

Til’ next time!

If you run a restaurant, you’ve more than likely adopted the use of plastic sign holders of various sorts, placed throughout the venue. Those pieces of plastic, whether or not you’ve had to pleasure to experience, contain serious market potential and are incredibly influential. In this addition, you’ll be introduced to some ways to capture and utilize the potential of plastic sign holders in your restaurant.

Plastic sign holders are by far the most versatile and efficient method of presenting knowledge to a restaurant patron at a table or bar. Because of their various shapes and sizes, you can accommodate any table size or setting, and accomplish your goal of presenting as much information as you possibly can, while being virtually non-intrusive and captivating. Let’s delve into what you, as a restaurant owner, can display to take advantage of your atmosphere to brand your company name.

First and foremost, plastic sign holders do a fantastic job of supplementing your already full menu. As you know, some restaurants stay open throughout the day and accommodate multiple peak times, and others specialize in maybe only one or two peak times. Needless to say, some restaurants have multiple menus. But, more often than not, your restaurant has items it serves all day long. These are some of the items a restaurant owner should advertise through plastic sign holders – examples being coffee, tea, or other various drinks. The most important note here is to not provide only a skeletal outline of what you’re offering – make those everyday items enticing by drawing interesting comparisons or listing some of your rare ingredients. Using plastic signs to advertise the items you offer is fantastic, but what about advertising something seemingly unrelated to your restaurant?

Your restaurant, although a unique entity with a methodology and philosophy of its own, is inherently part of a larger community. From a market perspective, it is your obligation to be a part of that community by contributing to it in some way shape or form (yes, other than property taxes). How exactly can you do your part to promote the community, while still getting at least some advertising advantage?

It’s rather simple, actually. Near the entryway, register, amongst the bar, in the bathroom, or on the tables, set up a sign holder with an updated calendar of community events. Inform your customers that your restaurant is an active member of the community and its happenings, and provide them incentive to appear at said events by offering discounts with proof of attendance. This both creates and assists the much-appreciated and always crucial “word of mouth” portion of your advertising campaign, and tells your community that you’re just as much a part of it as they are.

The final recommendation is for those restaurants that appreciate the versatility of sign holders, and a little extra time to build some marketing partnerships. This recommendation is to essentially outsource a portion of your marketing to a large event.

What the heck does this mean exactly? It involves you looking out for large traveling events happening in your area, contacting their marketing department, and letting them know you’re willing to advertise their event throughout your restaurant. This may result in your name being included on their publication of official sponsors. This is, more often than not, free on your behalf – and again, you’re getting your name out to your community, and being an active member.

As always, best of luck with implementing these suggestions - and here’s to your continued success!