Sure, Halloween can be a big deal to some, but there are plenty of October “holidays” to scare up additional sales. Here are some of the most fun October holidays and a few ideas to turn them into celebrations at your operation:
California Wine Month (winds up the first week in October) – Include wine specials all month long, invite wine distributors to come and host tastings, offer wine samples to those waiting in line or at a table, pair new wines with old menu favorites.
Hispanic Heritage Month – Highlight your Hispanic employees with photos around your operation (but ask for volunteers first), create Hispanic-cultural dishes, post signage with Spanish-language welcomes and acknowledgments.
Hunger Awareness Month – Host a food drive and offer discounts to customers who participate, organize and communicate your own efforts to distribute leftover food, cater to a homeless shelter and ask employees to volunteer their time.
Sweetest Day (3rd Saturday in October) – Organize a dessert contest that is “competing” for the Sweetest Dessert and invite customer to cast their votes, give coupons in advance for a free dessert (with an entrée) on Sweetest Day, offer a Sweetest Plate with a mix of your most popular dishes (and consider making this sampler plate a permanent part of your menu).
Fire Prevention Week (usually the first full week in October) – Partner with schools to award kids with gift certificates (free kid’s meal) for those who bring in a fire escape plan, offer fire fighters discounts all week (drop off coupons and letters of appreciation to nearby fire stations), organize a kid’s contest for best “Fire Safety” poster and display all the entries.
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