3 Tips to Make Your Business Stand out on Mother's Day

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This year, May 13th is projected to be one of the busiest days of the year for restaurants. This should come as no surprise—what better way to celebrate a special occasion than with a delicious meal?  We know you've got the delicious meal part covered, but that's only half the battle. The other half is how you'll get customers to choose to spend Mother's Day at your establishment. Here's what we suggest:

1. Whether you'll be serving brunch, lunch, or dinner, be sure to offer something special for moms! Depending on what you serve, consider offering a complimentary appetizer, dessert, or cocktail for all mothers who dine with you. Who doesn't like free stuff? Just be sure to post about it on your social media pages so that everyone knows about your promotion!
2. Attract more customers by making it an exclusive event. If Mother's Day is the one day of the year that you serve brunch, chances are pretty high that your customers will want to come check it out! This is also a perfect opportunity to offer a special cocktail that's also only available once a year.
3. If your establishment isn't able to serve brunch, lunch, or dinner, don't worry. There are still ways to bring people in that don't directly involve serving a meal, such as hosting a fun class for moms and their children.  There will be plenty of opportunities to go out to eat as a family, but how often do mothers get to attend a baking class with their kids? Choose the type of class depending on your establishment; it can be anything from baking and decorating cookies, mastering the French macaron, or making fresh pasta. The possibilities are endless!

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4 More Holidays to Take Advantage of This Month

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Most people associate May with Mother's Day, but don't forget about these other holidays worth celebrating!

1. Restaurants, you do not want to miss out on celebrating Cinco de Mayo this year. Research shows that Mexican food has quickly become one of the most popular types of cuisine in the United States—even if it's not your specialty, consider putting your own spin on tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and other Mexican favorites to offer as a special on May 5th. A tequila tasting event and live music are great ideas to try out as well!
2. Every year, May 6th - 12th is dedicated as Nurse Appreciation Week, and the 8th is Teacher Appreciation Day. Show your appreciation as a business and draw in larger crowds by offering something special just for nurses and teachers.  Remember, giving away something is not a loss! The chances are pretty great that those who receive a complimentary item will also make a purchase and become a repeat customer.
3. In the United States, many consider Memorial Day Weekend the start of summer. It's the perfect opportunity to roll out your new summer menu! Build up excitement and pique curiosity by posting "sneak peek" photos of your new items on all social media platforms. This is also a very fitting time to offer special discounts to those in the military if you don't already.
4. May has been named the National Month of Salad, Salsa, the Strawberry, and Barbecue. Consider creating menu specials based on these 4 themes, which go perfectly hand-in-hand with summer! Strawberry Salsa anyone?

Keep In Mind: Planning
for June

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With such a busy month ahead, planning for June might seem like a challenge, but don't get discouraged! Take note of the events below now, and you'll be well on your way to another great month.

• Are you running any promotions or offering a special menu for Father's Day on June 17th? Use any free time you have in May to start planning early!
• Prime season for weddings and graduation parties continues throughout June. If you still have availability to host or cater, let the world know on social media! If you're all booked, make sure you'll be prepared in all areas.
• Speaking of social media, June 30th is Social Media Day. Try running a promotion or contest to get a buzz going around your social pages! For example, have your customers post a picture of their favorite meal from your establishment on Instagram. If the post gets 100 likes, they'll receive a free drink on you!
• There are plenty of foodie holidays coming up in June that we're looking forward to; National Cheese Day, National Lobster Day, & National Martini Day to name a few! Get an early look at the full list from Foodimentary here, and start planning your specials for the month!