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Restaurants Love This Program   

So, you might be asking yourself, why would a restaurant want to reward our donors? There’s a simple answer – it’s just good business. This isn’t a new idea. There have been very popular coupon books around for decades – maybe you’ve bought one in the past to support a nonprofit group? Maybe you’ve sold them.

Restaurants like these books because, for one, it doesn’t cost them anything to be in them. And secondly, the books allow them to offer valuable coupons. In order to distribute a coupon so valuable, they have to be assured that the distribution method will be restrictive – the recipient should only be able to use one coupon. If they put a “free dinner with purchase of a second dinner” coupon in the paper, the coupon clippers would collect them. It doesn’t do a restaurant any good to offer a free dinner to someone if that same person can keep coming back with the same coupon.

Offering a free dinner is good business for restaurants. It’s a cost-effective way to bring in new customers. People love to try new restaurants and if they can get a free dinner, they’re very likely to try that one. Restaurants either break even on the coupon or they can even make a small profit (quite often “free dinner” coupon users will splurge and order a bottle of wine with dinner). The restaurant wants you to try their fare in hopes you’ll become a regular customer. And since the coupon books don’t charge them, it’s a much better deal all around than placing a coupon in the paper or paying a high price for the coupon mailers.

The other reason restaurants like this type of offer is that they’re supporting charity. They get calls everyday from groups asking for donations and gift certificates. Restaurants are, on average, very generous in this regard. Most owners like to support their community. However, they all have a budget and giving out gift certificates directly affects their bottom line. Reward Certificates, on the other hand, save them money. It’s a free promotion for them and they bring in new customers. And they’re helping out your organization at the same time!

If you’ve ever called a restaurant asking for a gift certificate for your auction, ask yourself how much easier it would be to sell a restaurant owner on this idea! You’re not even asking them for something – you’re offering them something! Something that will bring them new customers, support charity, and doesn’t cost them anything...