Christmas is a time for family, friends and plenty of delicious food and people are looking for new and festive experiences during this period. If you run a takeaway café or restaurant, it’s important to make sure it stands out from the competition. Here are five different ways you can make your café or takeaway shine this Christmas.
1. Diversify Your Stock and Menus
Visitors to your café or restaurant will be expecting a range of seasonal foods and drinks. Make sure you have plenty in stock so that no one leaves disappointed. Hot chocolate, eggnog lattes, spiced cider – all these things give off that cosy feeling of wintertime that many people crave during this time of year.
Don’t forget to promote these seasonal items. Customers may be tempted to try something new when they see it listed in bright red letters next to their favourite drink or sandwich option. You could also offer discounts on certain items or create special bundles (like a hot chocolate with whipped cream plus a cookie) that are only available throughout December.
Here are some other ideas for bringing the spirit of Christmas into your menu:
Special seasonal coffees
A great way to entice customers into your café is by offering special seasonal coffees. Think of flavours that evoke the feeling of Christmas such as pumpkin spice, gingerbread and eggnog. This is an inexpensive way to add to your usual offerings and customers will feel like they’re treating themselves and getting into the spirit of Christmas by upgrading their usual latte or cappuccino to something more festive.
Traditional Christmas treats
Another way to make your menu more festive is to include some traditional Christmas treats such as mince pies, Christmas cake or stollen bites. Sandwiches can include seasonal fillings such as turkey and cranberry sauce or pigs in blankets. You could also add some Christmas desserts like Christmas pudding and yule logs, or festive flavoured ice cream.
Mulled wine or hot chocolate
If you’re appropriately licensed, adding mulled wine to your menu is always a good idea. As the days get colder, your customers will appreciate the warmth as well as the lift in spirits that a glass of this traditional beverage will give them. You could either offer it as an add on or, if you’re feeling particularly generous, give a free glass away with certain purchases.
Hot chocolate has the same effect, but without the alcohol. If you already offer hot chocolate, why not give it extra holiday pizazz by adding some Christmas themed toppings or decorations?
Themed snacks at the till
Another way to make your counter look more festive and also encourage a few impulse purchases is to have a selection of Christmas themed sweets and biscuits at the till. Candy canes, gingerbread people or Christmas shaped chocolates are always popular.
2. Deck Out Your Café with Holiday Decorations
It’s time to get festive and spread some holiday cheer! Adding a few touches of Christmas decorations in your café will create an inviting atmosphere for customers, as well as encourage new customers to come inside and have a look around.
The holiday season is the perfect time to spruce up your café with a few Christmassy touches. Decorate the walls with garlands, string lights over the countertops, and set out a few poinsettias or festive plants. Go all out with a fully decorated Christmas tree if you’re up to it or just add some fairy lights and tinsel if you want to keep things simple.
The great thing about Christmas ornaments is that there are decorations to suit every style and taste. Whether your café is fun and cheerful, sophisticated and subtle, opulent and luxurious, minimalist and low key, or outright zany, there is something to suit. The decorations should reflect the personality of your café and your customers, so go with what feels right to you.
Your customers will appreciate the holiday spirit you’re creating, and it may even entice them to stay longer and order more food or drinks. Plus, if you take pictures of your décor and post them online, you might be surprised by how many people come in just so they can experience the Christmas atmosphere for themselves.
Adding Christmas decorations is an easy way to make your café feel more festive during the holidays and attract more customers at the same time.
3. Themed Events
Coming up with some fun themes on different days is another great way to entice customers inside and create a sense of community. How about having a Christmas Jumper Day where all the staff wear Christmas jumpers and any customers who wear their own Christmas jumpers get either a discount or a small freebie for getting into the spirit of things?
Or you could do something similar where you choose a traditional Christmas colour for different days. One day everyone could wear red, another green or gold or silver. You could have a lot of fun coming up with ideas for different themes to get your staff and customers in the Christmas mood.
4. Christmas Music
Christmas is a time of joy and celebration, so what better way to bring customers into your café than by setting the atmosphere with some classic holiday music? Playing music in your café can be a great way to create a festive atmosphere for customers that will draw them in and help them feel cheery.
Finding the right music
Choosing the right kind of Christmas music is key when creating an inviting atmosphere in your café. If you want to keep things light and cheerful, opt for classics like “Jingle Bells” or “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”. These songs are universally recognisable and are sure to put customers in the holiday spirit.
If you prefer something more contemporary, there are plenty of modern holiday songs out there that can also work well. Mariah Carey’s hit single “All I Want For Christmas Is You” has been popular since its release in 1994, while Michael Bublé’s album “Christmas (Deluxe Special Edition)” features renditions of traditional Christmas carols.
Either way, keep it fun and upbeat to get your customers in a great mood.
Volume matters
Be mindful of the volume when playing Christmas music in your cafe. Too loud and it can be off-putting. No one wants their conversations drowned out by blaring speakers. On the other hand, too quiet means that customers won’t be able to appreciate the holiday spirit you’re trying to create. Find a happy medium where everyone can enjoy themselves without feeling overwhelmed by sound levels.
If you have seated areas and don’t just offer takeaways, you could consider playing instrumental versions of songs instead of vocal ones. This will make it easier for people to hold conversations without being distracted by lyrics or singers.
5. Raise Money for Charity
The holidays are a great time of year to give back and help those in need. If you own a café, there are many ways you can use your business to raise money for charity during the Christmas season. From organising special events and promotions, to donating food and supplies, there is no shortage of ways that your café can make a difference in the lives of those who are less fortunate. Let’s explore some ideas for how you can use your café for charitable giving this holiday season.
Organise special events and promotions
One way that your café can give back during the holidays is by hosting special events or promotions. For example, you could host an event where customers donate money in exchange for a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.
You could also organise a promotion where customers get a discount on their purchase when they bring in non-perishable items to donate to local food banks or shelters. Or you could do the same thing if they donate clothing or blankets.
These types of events and promotions not only help raise money for charity, but they also create a sense of community and goodwill within your café. And if done correctly, they can be great marketing opportunities that will bring more people into your establishment.
Donate food and supplies
Another way you can use your café to give back during the holidays is by donating food or supplies directly to charities. Many cafés have excess food or supplies that would otherwise go to waste, so why not put them to good use?
You could give leftover pastries or baked goods to local shelters or soup kitchens. You could donate takeaway packaging supplies such as napkins, cups, utensils, etc to charities. Or you could even make meals for homeless individuals who may not have enough food. Any type of donation you make from your café will be greatly appreciated by those in need this holiday season.
The holidays are a great time of year for spreading cheer and giving back if you own a café. There are many ways that you can use your business as an opportunity to raise money for charity this Christmas season. Whether it’s organising special events and promotions, donating food or supplies directly, or simply making meals for homeless individuals, any action taken will make a difference in someone’s life this holiday season, and your customers will appreciate your generosity too.
Adding seasonal food and drinks to your menu, decking your café out with festive decorations, having fun themes on certain days, playing Christmas music and raising money for charity will all help entice customers into your establishment. Ultimately though, it’s all about spreading Christmas cheer. If you make your customers feel happy and festive, they’re going to want to come back again and again.