14 Effective Restaurant Promotion & Merchandise Ideas
published
October 3, 2025
With 30% of restaurateurs citing dwindling sales volumes as their number-one challenge, promotional marketing and outreach are more important than ever. But what does restaurant promotion involve in 2025, and is it worth investing in?
Keep reading because we’ll cover 14 of the best restaurant promotion ideas to date. We’ll also give you insights about the must-have branded merch you’ll need to attract new diners and keep your existing customers hungry for more.
What Does Restaurant Promotion Involve?
In today’s digital world, restaurant owners have unlimited potential to promote their establishments via multiple channels. From websites to social media, pay-per-click (PPC) ads, in-person events, and more, creating a promotional strategy for your restaurant is key to reaching a wider audience. Every restaurant is unique, though, and will require a customized action plan.
So, consider incorporating these popular restaurant promotion ideas into your marketing playbook:
- Assess and then update (if necessary) your logo and mission statement.
- Study your competition.
- Create and regularly maintain a professional website.
- Leverage online and in-person promotional events.
- Keep your online menus up-to-date.
- Invest in branded restaurant merchandise that diners will love.
- Recruit social media influencers to spread the word.
- Incentivize diners to share their meal pics and dining experiences on social media.
Why Should I Promote My Restaurant?
You should promote your restaurant to increase brand awareness and reach new customers. Besides, let’s face it, competition is stiff. Even though diners may love your cuisine and establishment, they always have a choice to eat out elsewhere. Add to this the rising cost of ingredients and supplies, and how inflation is affecting dining establishments across the country.
Therefore, promoting your restaurant to expand your customer base and keep them coming back for more will translate into higher (and more predictable) sales volumes. Consider 14 of the best restaurant merchandise ideas and promotional strategies to get more customers through the door.
1. Don’t Rely on Outdated Restaurant Promotional Strategies
Bland fliers and taking out a newspaper ad for your restaurant are promotional strategies that are as enticing as plain rice. Instead, you’ll need to upgrade your promotional strategy to a digital one to reach new and existing customers. Here’s how:
- Create an appetizing website with professional photos of your cuisine, establishment, and customer reviews.
- Maintain active social media accounts and encourage photo sharing and reviews.
- Go live on social media with your nightly specials.
- Host a chef demo or wine tasting event for your loyal diners.
- Take a trade approach with influencers—a free meal in exchange for a review.
- Analyze customer feedback and implement necessary changes to the menu, decor, service, etc.
- Give away customized restaurant swag to every diner.
2. Serve up a Diner Loyalty Program
What better way to show your customers how much you appreciate their business than with a diner loyalty program? Such an incentive is a win-win for them and you. Not only will they look forward to dining with you, but they’ll enjoy working towards an exclusive, personalized reward when they achieve specific milestones.
What are the best rewards for your patrons in exchange for their loyalty? The world is your oyster! Several options include free appetizers or meals, drinks, gift cards, or access to exclusive events.
We recommend personalizing the reward, giving them what they really want. You won’t go wrong with branded restaurant merchandise, such as:
3. Spice Up Your Promotional Giveaways
Planning a menu-taster event? Perhaps a chef demo to draw in a crowd? Keeping promotional giveaways on hand will make the event even more memorable. The key is to choose among the best restaurant swag ideas to find the best options for your customers, such as:
4. Tempt Their Tastebuds with a Special Promotional Menu
Give potential customers a taste of what they’ve been missing (and your loyal patrons a bold new concept by creating a limited-edition promotional menu. Leaning on seasonal ingredients and the expertise of your chef, an exclusive menu du jour will create a buzz in the community.
Consider elevating the experience by:
- Offering a limited number of seats/tickets to promote its exclusivity and stir interest
- Including a wine-pairing option
- Allowing the chef to explain the rationale for the dish and answer diners’ questions
- Giving each attendee a memorable, customized giveaway at the event
- Make it prix fix. One low price including all courses takes the guesswork out of your diners’ budgets.
5. Promote Your Events with Pre-Launch Freebies
Creating a buzz around a promotional event for your restaurant takes more than a few social media posts or balloons floating outside your front door. Spread the word with pre-launch, branded freebies. Choose options that are practical but also represent your establishment.
Here are some of the most popular, affordable giveaways for restaurants:
6. Upgrade the Staff Dress Code with Classic Branded Apparel
Servers and other staff members are any restaurant’s best brand ambassadors. On or off the clock, they represent your establishment. So, aiming for cohesion (even when it comes to attire) is key.
Whether you require short-sleeved branded dress shirts, chic, customized uniforms, embroidered polos, matching t-shirts, or other personalized apparel, opt for comfortable workwear that they’ll enjoy wearing any time.
7. Invest in Promotional Barware and Accessories
A single beer or a simple cocktail can turn a new customer into a long-term one. Serving them in promotional barware that they can take home will remind them of an outing well spent.
8. Host an Outdoor Promotional Event
Dealing with limited indoor space? Simply want to enjoy the warmer months? Consider hosting a promotional event outdoors. Such a soiree may require extra planning and even a contingency plan.
Consider the following tips to accommodate your guests:
- Anticipate rain or foul weather by setting up branded tents for maximum coverage/protection of your cooking and serving area.
- Strategically place personalized event flags directing guests towards the event.
- Keep it fun for all ages with branded outdoor games.
- Provide disposable or souvenir party accessories like napkins, cups, and plates.
9. Spread the Word with Local & Remote Influencers
Influencer marketing is an effective restaurant promotional tool to drive foot traffic and make potential customers hungry to wine and dine at your venue. Scour your social media accounts or brainstorm with your staff to find the best influencers to promote or review your restaurant.
Plus, don’t forget to sweeten the brand deal by offering your chosen influencer a free meal, gift card, or customized merch they can share or give to their followers.
10. Reinforce Patrons’ Loyalty with an Exclusive Promotional Event
They’ve dined with you time and time again. They even hype up your restaurant to anyone searching for a local recommendation. Give back to your regulars by holding an exclusive loyalty event. One where you pull out all the stops, including:
- New or upcoming menu selections
- Specialty cocktails or vintage wines
- Behind-the-scenes culinary demonstrations
- Incentives and rewards for ushering in new diners
- Custom restaurant giveaways they’ll use and love
11. Let Diners Spin the Prize Wheel for Branded Merch
No time to host a promotional event? Then keep it simple during your normal operating hours by giving your patrons an opportunity to win branded merch from their favorite restaurant.
A Winning Spins Prize Wheel is an effective promotional strategy for any restaurant. Dining patrons of all ages will enjoy spinning the wheel for a chance to win coveted customized giveaways such as:
- Restaurant gift cards
- Personalized tech accessories
- A percentage reduction from their bill
- Branded notebooks and journals
- BOGO entrees or desserts
- Customized wine glasses and tumblers
12. Branch out with Cooking Classes and Beer, Wine & Spirits Pairing Events
Serving two or three meals is what your customers (and even new diners) expect. But what if you’re missing out on reaching a new customer demographic?
Brainstorm with your chef, back-of-house staff, and solicit input from your regulars about exclusive events that would expand your reach. From solo or group cooking classes to wine-pairing events and themed soirees, shake up your usual routine with an experience they won’t forget. Team up with area craft breweries, distilleries, and wineries to offer a unique local menu that combines your fan bases.
13. Stock up on Customized Restaurant Merchandise Year-Round
Some of the best restaurant promotion ideas are simple. Keeping a supply of branded merchandise on hand that patrons can purchase is an effective way to make a lasting impression. Nice hats and caps, t-shirts, sweatshirts and drinkware items are classic choices.
14. Keep Kids Entertained & Parents Relaxed
If you want families to choose your establishment to spend their money and time in, you need to do everything you can to make it a fun, stress-free experience. Occupy kids attention with family friendly freebies so parents can focus on enjoying wining and dining. Pair crayons and colored pencils with coloring and activity placemats for a classic children’s pastime.
Ready to Put Crestline’s Restaurant Merchandise Ideas into Practice?
Crestline’s diverse selection of branded restaurant merchandise is practical and affordable, perfect for any promotional event for your establishment.
Contact Crestline today and discover how to reach new dining patrons and retain your existing client base with customized merchandise that will whet their appetite.
