Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday of May, which means that it will be on May 11 in 2025. Whether you own a casual eatery or a fine dining establishment, this holiday will probably be one of the busiest of the year.
Follow these strategies to maximize your chances of success, while you help your customers treat the special women in their lives like queens.
1. Super-charge your payments infrastructure
You already know that you can look forward to a lively crowd on this special day, so be sure that your behind-the-scenes operations are ready. Review your systems to ensure that everything is up-to-date, and that your credit card readers and other hardware are in good working order.
Since payment processing for restaurants requires specialized features for taking reservations, splitting tips and tableside ordering and paying, be sure that your current system fits the bill.
2. Ramp up your digital presence
Customers have many choices when it comes to deciding where to take Mom. Be sure that your establishment is at the top of their minds by mounting an aggressive promotional campaign on the platforms your patrons use the most.
Your job is to create buzz about any special or favorite menu items you plan to feature. Use images and videos to showcase your offerings, and consider linking to a reservations website that people can click on while they are interested and intrigued.
3. Don’t forget about email
With all the fuss today about platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, it’s easy to underestimate the power of old, reliable email. It remains a powerful marketing vehicle you should not overlook.
To make the most of it, start two to three weeks early with a reminder of the upcoming holiday, and a teaser about what you will be doing to help everyone to celebrate.
Every few days, nudge your loyal patrons, incentivizing them to make reservations early with a discount coupon.
4. Offer a special surprise
Who doesn’t respond positively to a gift? Moms and the people who love them are no exception.
To celebrate spring and this annual event, give every mom a free flower. Because you will pre-order them in bulk, this won’t break the bank.
What’s more, it will help to create the personal touch that can often be missing in a busy, crowded restaurant.
5. Encourage return visits
It’s wonderful to have full tables throughout this Sunday, but wouldn’t it be even better if a high percentage of the same people came back for another meal over the next few weeks? You can make this happen by giving every mother a coupon for a free dinner.
Chances are excellent that she won’t come alone. If she liked the meal she had with you on her special day, she just might bring a few potential loyal patrons with her next time. That will make up for any money you lose on her comp.
Mother’s Day is a rite of spring and an excellent reason to go out for a meal, be it low-key or fancy. With some advance research and planning, you can fill your seats and your cash register, while delighting loyal customers and making new ones.
North is a leading financial technology company that builds innovative, frictionless end-to-end payment solutions designed to simplify and grow businesses of all sizes. From the front door, to the back office, the developer world, and partnerships that expand the payments landscape, North offers proactive, comprehensive merchant services, in-house processing, and more.
