Father's Day Marketing & Promotion Ideas

publication date: May 12, 2008

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author/source: Miriam Silverberg

So, how did you do on Mother's Day? Not so well? Well, don't panic, there's Father's Day coming up.

Fathers like to be pampered, too. Here's a few ideas...

• Think about buying up tickets for a minor league baseball game. Give two tickets to each gentleman. This would work with any sports game.

   

• Is your restaurant rather feminine in appearance? Try getting rid of some of the froufrou and replacing it with something more masculine.

   

• Stock up on beer, bourbon and scotch. When someone makes a reservation for the day, ask if they would like a special bottle of wine with dinner.

   

• Prepare a special Father's Day dinner with heartier foods than usual. Meat and potatoes. Many men have a sweet tooth so prepare special desserts with names like The Best Dad, King of Dads, A Sweet Dad and the like.

   

• You might even prepare several different menus prix fixe, of course, and give each a different name.

   

• If he's a brand new dad, he's probably feeling proud so why not make a big deal about his special day? Contact local hospitals for the names of women who just gave birth and contact them about celebrating Father's Day at home. Deliver a basket with a bowtie and food and drink. When you call the hospital try to find out whether a woman had a baby boy or girl. In the basket, place a tiny blue bowtie for a boy or a pink ribbon for a girl.

   

• Find a gift to give each man on Father's Day. It could be a small bottle of aftershave, cologne, the aforementioned bowtie or tickets to a game.

   

• Advertise what you're doing by placing an ad in the paper and putting a sign in your window. If there's a famous radio or television personality, anchor or weatherman, invite him to dine with his family as your guest. He might mention it on the air.

Make this Father's Day a happy one for you and your customers.

Miriam Silverberg is the founder and president of Miriam Silverberg Associates, a boutique publicity firm in Manhattan specializing in restaurants. She may be reached at silverbergm@mindspring.com.