The early days of the pandemic effectively turned the restaurant world upside down. The National Restaurant Association cited that 17% of U.S. restaurants have permanently shut down since the emergence of COVID-19. Since then, however, the industry has been able to adapt to new safety protocols and technology to bounce back strong.

As consumer demand for dining out increases, so does the need for related promo products. Buyers in this market – restaurants, bars and coffee shops – are always looking to attract new business by targeting local consumers and families, and neighboring businesses and events for catering. With such a wide net to cast, buyers can benefit from countless promo items:

• Restaurant Uniforms – The appeal of uniforms is two-fold: establishing a strong brand identity and giving your staff a professional look. You can accomplish these goals with everything from custom name tags for front-of-house staff to branded aprons for kitchen line workers to promotional T-shirts for everyone in between.
• Décor – Restaurant interior design choices can be promo opportunities too. Table tents can promote upcoming events, custom menu boards can change with the seasons and accessories like lampshades can don your brand logo.
• Barware – It might seem obvious that every establishment needs promotional drinkware and utensils, but it doesn’t make it any less important. Glasses, mugs, coasters, tablecloths, cutlery, ice buckets and much more are all promo opportunities waiting to happen.
• Safety Products – The biggest shift in the industry over the past few years has called for an increase in hand sanitizer dispensers, social distancing floor stickers and booth dividers. Additionally, a related effect of increased safety measures has been a shift toward touchless technology like QR codes and instant-payment methods.
• Merch – A tried-and-true way to drive customers to your establishment is with branded merchandise. This can range from classic options like T-shirts, bottle openers and drinkware to more specialized, themed items like plush toys and collectibles.
• Bundles – Don’t forget that you can look for kits or even bundle similar items to increase order sizes. Themed bundles for meal prep (packaged food, branded utensils and drinkware) or cocktails (glass, shaker, mixing ingredients) are a big hit with customers, and general gift baskets stuffed with promo are great for charity events and other giveaways.

Present a Marketing Plan
Want your clients to see you as an expert? Suggest more than just promo products. Remind every client that promo products are fantastic marketing tools for restaurants and bars, but they should also use social media, ads and SEO best practices to reach their audience. Ads and SEO can be especially good for attracting new customers, while social media is fantastic for engaging with regulars. Running polls and contests on social media will also help with exposure.

When to Reach Out to Prospects
Restaurants are year-round operations that will seek promo opportunities from you whenever possible, so it’s important to always keep that line of communication open. That being said, you should always consider specific needs for the seasons. Establishments will need to prepare for increased outdoor dining in the spring and summer, while they’ll look to invest in heat lamps and temporary vestibules when the weather gets colder. It’s also important to consider seasonal menus and holiday-based events. As always, make an organized marketing calendar and open the lines of communication several months in advance to get everything done in a timely manner.

Questions to Ask
Here are a few things to ask potential partners when inquiring about their promo needs:

• How do you currently market your business?
• Does your staff wear uniforms?
• Do you have a promo shop in your restaurant/bar?
• What are your goals for growing sales/catering sales?
• What incentives do you use for repeat business?
• Do you currently use branded napkins/glassware?
• Do you have annual charity events or holiday events to promote?

Checklist: Important Events to Consider
Be sure to ask prospects about what promos they need for these events:

• Holidays
• Concerts/karaoke night
• Charity outings
• Beer/wine tasting
• Cooking classes
• Happy Hour deals

Next Steps

How do you target restaurants in your area? Are they any strategies you implement that we haven’t touched on? Let us know!

[Sources]
“Roughly 17% of US Restaurants have permanently shut down since the start of the pandemic as industry leaders warn of ‘unprecedented economic decline’.” Hartmans, Avery. December 7, 2020. Business Insider.

“100 Must-Have Promotional Products for Restaurants & Bars.” ODM Group.