There’s just no stopping the madness. From Hooters restaurants to businesses selling books for homeschooled children to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, everyone seems to be pursuing a marketing tie-in to March Madness, a.k.a. the NCAA basketball tournament.
Outback
Big Chain Restaurant Trends: Hot Menu Items, Hot Marketing Strategies
In recent years, the rise of better burger franchises and fast-casual chains such as Panera Bread and Chipotle has put pressure on sit-down chain restaurants and classic fast food joints alike. As the competition for diner …
It’s Gift Card Season! 10 Springtime Bonuses That Are Like Free Money
Spring is now a hot season for gift cards. Why? It’s when consumers are compelled to buy gifts for Mother’s Day, as well as graduations, weddings, First Communions, Father’s Day, and more. That’s a lot of gifts to buy, and chances are you won’t know exactly what each recipient really wants.
Why Retailers and Restaurants Love Giving Away Gift Cards
It’s that time of year again. To drum up holiday sales, retailers are once again taking creative license with the term “Black Friday”, and national chains are dishing out bonuses to fuel gift card purchases (think $5 bonus card when you buy a $25 card) that’ll wind up in stockings and awkward Secret Santa office parties. Why is putting …
Cheaper Coffins and Happier Hours
In a tough economy, the casket-making business is getting buried, and the restaurant business is trying to get more appetizing.
Ten Ways the Mall Has Changed During the Recession
The shopping mall, that wonderfully iconic, most American of places, is changing, and the economic downturn bears a lot of the responsibility. Store names that were once ubiquitous have disappeared. Vacancy rates are seriously high. And just about everybody is discounting merchandise and looking for new ways to connect to consumers.
Happier Hours: At Restaurants, Cheaper Drinks and More Hours in Happy Hour
To attract customers at a time when many are inclined to eat at home, restaurants are offering big happy hour discounts (and adding more happy hours period), slashing the prices of margaritas and wine, and introducing new drinks priced especially for the recession—like Benihana’s Scorpion punch, a mix of vodka, sake, and Southern …
