Theme Nights for Businesses
Encourage Repeat Customers with Special Themes
For many types of small businesses, a themed event can be a great way to draw in new customers and to encourage repeat business. Ideally, the business should be located in an area with a strong sense of community, but, if not, a business that has good promotional practices in place can draw customers from outside the surrounding area.
Mystery Themes
A bed and breakfast, a train and a restaurant -- these businesses really have very little in common. However, there is one thing that all four of them do. They offer mystery themed events where guests try to solve a mystery acted out by several actors.
These mystery packages are ideal for restaurants, inns and bed and breakfasts, but can be effectively used by many other types of businesses, too. When a local library held a mystery themed night set in the roaring twenties, patrons packed the building in their flapper gowns and snappy suits. Museums, bowling alleys and other locations may want to give mystery events a try on traditionally slow nights to see if they can increase the number of customers who visit on these nights.
Holiday or Cultural Themes
An Italian food night, a Luau event, or a Valentine's Day romance package are all options that a local restaurant uses to increase revenue. Customers seem to respond well and the restaurant is a bit busier than many other local restaurants, even in today's slow economy.
Putting together a package based on a specific theme is something almost any other business can do, too. For example, handymen can offer a "Honey Do" package for Valentine's Day. Grocery stores can decorate the building with a Hawaiian theme and put together Luau food packages for summer parties.
Setting up a Theme Night
A successful theme night needs customers. Customers need to know that an event is happening ahead of time so that they can fit it into their schedules. A business owner who wants to make sure the event will be well attended will choose a theme and then immediately start advertising the event as heavily as possible. Once the advertising is in place, he or she can concentrate on all the details that will help the event turn out to be a fun experience for the customers.
- Encourage employees to dress the part. Seeing the staff in costume will help customers really get into the theme.
- Be creative with decorations. Look for DIY ideas that employees can implement instead of buying expensive pre-made items. This can help keep costs down and can help employees get more involved in theme nights.
- Hold several themed events before deciding whether they are successful. Sometimes, customers need several chances to come to an event.
Once the first theme night is over, don't be surprised if customers come back asking for more. Theme nights are a great way to increase business and get people excited about a company.
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