Valentine’s Day Ideas for Your Restaurant: Getting Your Restaurant Ready for February 14th

February is finally here, and as candies and other goodies line the shelves, many of us are reminded of the holiday that is right around the corner- Valentine’s Day. Additionally, as a restaurant owner, you’re most likely excited for the amount of business this holiday brings in. Of course, before the crowd rushes in on February 14th, make sure you use these restaurant Valentine’s Day ideas.

Invest in classy decor.

Valentine’s Day is about romance and love for many people, so spread the holiday feeling with a touch of themed decor in your restaurant.

Now, you don’t have to go over the top for Valentine’s Day, but with a little preparation you can completely transform the mood for your guests.

For example, low light or dimmed areas provide your customers a level of intimacy they’re looking for this time of year. Additionally, a romantic centerpiece can make all the difference on tables. Flowers and candles can add a nice touch, but real flowers can cause allergies to sensitive customers and candles can cause a fire if knocked over- therefore, opt for fake ones instead. They can look just as nice, without the expense of causing problems in your restaurant.

Provide specials on the big day.

Couples around the country will be dining out during this day, in fact about one-quarter of Americans will be partaking in this traditional custom. That’s why it’s a perfect time to offer a deal for any one dining in on February 14th.

Some specials you can offer in honor of Valentine’s Day include:

A discount for two dinnersA special menu with meals you can only get during Valentine’s DaySecluded or window seating for couples who reserve seats in advanceFree dessert with one mealFree glass of wine with one mealFree chocolate for every couple that dines in on Valentine’s DayA free bouquet of roses

The discounts could go on, but these specials should be relevant to your restaurant’s brand and help you bring in new business. Everyone loves a great deal, so offer your guests an incentive to dine at your establishment this Valentine’s Day.

Advertise in advance.

If you plan to hold something special at your restaurant for Valentine’s Day, many customers would like to know about it in advance. So, make sure to prepare and get the word out.

First, distribute themed flyers in your local community with coupons before Valentine’s Day. Whether you mail them out or post them around town- let people in your area know what is going on.

Secondly, don’t forget to utilize social media and push digital coupons or events that are being hosted for Valentine’s Day. In fact, Facebook allows you to create free public events for anyone to see, share, and join, so if you plan to have live music on February 14th, let the world know about it.

Finally, don’t forget to update your website with a new landing page, and include specials and events your guests can expect on Valentine’s Day. Of course, how you advertise is up to you as a business owner, just make sure your customers are aware of any deals during this day.

Prepare for the crowds.

Before you open the doors, your restaurant should be prepared for the big day- and this means safety inspections. Take time to thoroughly check your restaurant for issues that could be a potential hazard to yourself, your staff, and your customers.

Of course, as a restaurant owner you should always be checking these things regularly, but with an influx of guests dining out this time of year, it’s imperative you take the safety of everyone into consideration.

Fire Safety- Smoke detectors can save lives, so make sure they’re working properly. Additionally, make sure your fire extinguishers are to code and functioning– in the event that something happens and you cannot use the extinguisher, this could create a disaster for your restaurant.  Food Safety- Make sure your freezer and other food storage areas are working efficiently. Improperly stored food can spoil and cause your guests to get extremely sick. Kitchen Safety- Thoroughly, check your restaurant’s kitchen for any damage. Even if it’s well maintained, years of use can cause equipment to become faulty. Additionally, faulty kitchen equipment can cause injury to your staff and cause property damage to the building, so be sure to check everything from the gas lines to the microwave.

Finally, don’t forget to review your insurance before the big night. This is extremely important because if an incident like food spoilage or bodily injury occurs, and you aren’t properly covered, you will become liable for damages. That’s where our insurance agency comes in. We make sure your restaurant insurance policy provides protection under any circumstance.

Get digital.

Lastly, these restaurant Valentine’s Day ideas can help you get your restaurant’s name known in the digital world. Having a website is great, however, if you want to stand out and become accessible to a greater number of people, you’ll need to become active online outside of your own business website.

In fact, popular review websites like Zomato, OpenTable, Foursquare, and Yelp are great resources for owners to claim their business and share it with the users who want to find restaurants to eat at in their area. Not only will this help boost your restaurant’s reputation, but customers will appreciate the convenience and ease of finding your restaurant online.

Restaurant preparation for any holiday can be challenging, however, with a bit of hard work and focus, you can quickly turn Valentine’s Day into your biggest profit margin yet.