Halloween Tricks & Treats
With just over 2 weeks until Halloween, we’re seeing fun Halloween marketing ideas all over the place! Here are a few that caught our eye over the years! How will you be celebrating with your customers?
Pumpkin Beers & Actual Pumpkins
McNulty’s Bier Markt in Cleveland, OH hosted their annual Pumpkin Carving Contest on October 29. By purchasing a pumpkin beer, customers get a free pumpkin to carve! All entries were displayed in the bar throughout the weekend, and after customer votes were tallied up, the winner received a gift certificate to their sister restaurant Bar Centro. This idea brought customers in the door (to carve pumpkins and to come back and vote on their favorites) and invited the winner to try their sister restaurant! Perfect mix of holiday fun and marketing strategy.
Festive Fundraiser
On October 31, Chipotle featured their much-loved “Boorito” fundraiser. The fast-casual Mexican restaurant offered $3 burritos, bowls, salads, tacos, or kids meals on Halloween to customers dressed in costume. Proceeds from the fund-raiser benefit the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation. What a great way to raise money for your charity partner, and to have fun with your customers!
Fuel for Trick or Treating
Before heading out to trick or treat, The Loop Pizza Grill in Jacksonville, FL offered free kids’ meals and treats to all children, ages 12 and under, who came in on Halloween in costume between 4 and 7 p.m. One kid’s meal is free for each adult entrée that is purchased. This promotion is great because it drives traffic to the restaurant during a slower day part, and encourages adults to purchase multiple entrees to “cover” their multiple kids!
Dogs, Donations, and Drinks
Boneyard Drinkery in Houston is a dog park/wine bar. Now, THAT concept is a great idea in and of itself, but it gets even better! On October 30, they are host their annual Boneyard Boo Bash – a dog party and costume contest, benefiting The Houston Humane Society. It includes treats, awards, and photos for all dogs and their owners. What a fun way to include dogs in the Halloween fun and benefit a good cause.
Spooky Spirits
On October 22, Total Wine customers in Alexandria, VA were taught how to make 5 wine cocktails for their Halloween soirees at the location’s Wine Cocktail Event. What a great way to showcase certain wines, promote purchase of the wine and any other mixers, and get into the Halloween spirit!
We hope these ideas help you with your Halloween planning and promotions.
