Photo by Gabby K from Pexels

Halloween is just around the corner. And while it might seem like a less-important holiday for food trucks compared to Christmas or the Fourth of July, it can be an equally profitable holiday if you know what you’re doing.

Keep reading to learn 6 simple ways food truck vendors can maximize sales during Halloween.

1. Add a Few Special Treats

Customers love getting into the mood of different holidays and seasons with special treats and drinks. Take for instance the famous pumpkin spice latte that pops up at nearly every coffee shop each fall.

Adding some Halloween food or seasonal treats to your menu is a great way to draw in sales.

You don’t even need to come up with any crazy new menu items. You can simply make tweaks to existing favorites to make them more appropriate for Halloween.

2. Theme Your Menu

While changing a few signature items to make them Halloween-themed is a great way to add some fun to your menu, it’s far from the only way.

If your food truck features a changeable menu that you use to list specials, you can also use it re-name some of your menu items for Halloween.

This doesn’t require any recipe changes; just some creativity. Macaroni and cheese can become “brains.” Hot dogs can become “mummies.” And any of your menu items can be described as “ghoulishly good.”

3. Decorate Your Truck

Wherever you set up your truck this Halloween, take a few minutes to add some decorations.

Decorating for the holidays is the perfect way to grab visitors’ eyes as they walk by, and get them in the mood for the holiday. Whether it’s adding some orange and purple string lights, draping spooky cobwebs, sticking on some scary (removable) decals, or going all out with multiple forms of décor, customers are sure to enjoy your take on the holiday.

4. Set up at Trunk-or-Treats

One great spot for local food truck vendors to set up this season is at trunk-or-treating events.

These fun gatherings draw a crowd because they offer a safe space for trick-or-treating. They are also a great option for families that may live too far from their neighbors.

All that walking around collecting candy, coupled with the time of day these events usually take place, means that families will be looking for some filling food, making it a great spot for your truck.

5. Give Out Candy

If you’re participating in a trunk-or-treat, don’t forget to bring your candy! When little ones get close for a treat, so will their parents.

One look at your menu might be all it takes to get them to hop in line and grab a snack. Having a few quick serve items that people can enjoy with one hand will play to your advantage—think donuts, sliders, egg rolls, etc. And be sure to include a few hot drinks, like spiced cider or hot chocolate, for when people are looking to warm up. 

6. Offer Discounts or Run a Costume Contest

Another great way to boost sales at a trunk-or-treat event (or anywhere else you might set up this Halloween) is to run your own costume contest. Pick a time, and have competitors—either just kids or kids and adults—line up for the judging.

If you aren’t setting up at Halloween events, you can offer a small discount for anyone who dresses up to visit you. Or, run a social media costume contest, with competitors submitting photos for you to judge. And of course, don’t forget to make the prize a gift card or free meal from your truck.

How Food Truck Vendors Can Take Advantage of Halloween

Whether you mix up your menu or run a costume contest, food truck vendors can take advantage of these tips to maximize sales this Halloween season.

For more tips on boosting sales, check out these social media tips next.

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The post 6 Ways To Maximize Sales During Halloween For Food Truck Vendors appeared first on Custom Concessions.

Autumn is waiting just around the corner… bringing colorful leaves, crisper temperatures, and fall-favorites for your food truck.

The fall season often gets used as an effective marketing tactic for businesses. Seasonal changes offer innovative ways for food truck owners to grow their customer base. They can even get an edge up on the competition with unique marketing ideas.  

Read on for a few key ways you can use the fall season to boost sales.  

Rethink Your Menu

Creating an inventive menu is one of the most exciting parts of owning a food truck. Autumn brings about new ingredients, like seasonal fruits and vegetables. This makes it easy to change up your menu to feature new fall offerings.  

Feature specials that use fresh ingredients from the local farmer’s market. These new recipes can include seasonal favorites like pumpkin, squash, apple, and fig.  

People also love local products and favor businesses that offer them. This is a great way to reach younger demographics, like millennials. Supporting farmers and other small businesses can help boost your sales with customers, and it can also help spread your food truck’s name in the community.

Certain flavors also appeal to customers during the fall season. Focus your sweets menu on maple, salted caramel, and spices, like cinnamon.  

People search for comfort foods during the autumn season. You can feature melty paninis, oven-roasted pizzas, and gourmet mac and cheese. The warm goodness of shepherd’s pie and chicken pot pie will appeal to your customers as autumn chill creeps into the air.

Serve Up Something Healthy 

Customers also appreciate a healthier option now and then, and these menu items can work well with fall flavors. More and more, people are beginning to have a preference for whole foods with organic ingredients.

Serve pizzas made with organic tomato sauce and fresh all-natural toppings. Sell salads with seasonal ingredients and homemade dressings. These could include apple slices, toasted pumpkin seeds, and a fall-inspired vinaigrette, like sweet maple balsamic.    

Be sure to use an attractive and easy-to-read menu design to appeal to customers. This will help alert them of your menu changes and your new featured offerings. 

Offer Up Some Autumn Warmth

Colder temperatures cause people to change their food preferences. This means you’ll want your food truck business to adapt to these changes.  

Offering warm beverages is a comforting way to appeal to customer needs. These are inexpensive to make, so profit margin is usually high on these types of items. 

Expand your beverage selection to include espresso, hot cider, or caramel hot cocoa. Seasonal coffees, with hints of pumpkin and spices, will also sell well. You could even add hot chai tea or mulled wine to the menu.  

Offering a daily soup special will help draw in customers. Rotate between homemade hearty soups, chilis, and stews.

Popular choices include chicken and wild rice soup or sausage and tortellini soup. Broccoli cheese and french onion are other favorites. Serve these soups with freshly baked bread from your truck or a local bakery.  

Soups also make it easy to appeal to different dietary needs. Try a vegan sweet potato chili or butternut squash bisque. 

When Fall Weather Stays Warm

Flavored ice creams may be more ideal for those operating in southern states. However, you can still use these same fall-inspired ingredients. Feature a pumpkin spice sundae or caramel apple frozen yogurt to boost sales.

If it’s not cold enough to make hot drinks, try iced versions of some fall favorites. You could make a frozen apple cider slush, or iced maple cinnamon lattes.

When hot soups and pot pies won’t work in your climate, try going for salads or sandwiches with fall-favorite flavors. You could experiment with adding fall ingredients like stuffing or cranberry vinaigrette to a turkey sandwich. Or make a fall-inspired chicken salad, with apples, cranberries and pecans.

Feature Seasonal Decorations 

Operating a food truck allows you to get creative with your truck’s branding and design. For fall, you can go with some cost-effective decorating options. This includes fall florals, pumpkins, and bales of hay.

You can also spruce up your menu design to feature fun fall graphics. This is as easy as using a chalkboard for your menu with drawings of fall leaves and pumpkins. 

Try switching up your paper products and cups to be more fall-focused. Serve food on fall-patterned or orange-hued napkins and plates. You could even create a custom design to advertise your brand further. 

If your fall decorations catch customers’ eyes, this can generate more business by word of mouth or online sharing. Customers will tell friends about your memorable presentation, and they may even share photos on their social media profiles.

Make a Smart Parking Plan 

Deciding where to park your truck is an essential part of any food truck business plan, but changing up your usual locations during the fall can be a good way to drum up new customers. 

Try new spots near popular fall activities. Park near festivals, hayrides, breweries, and wineries to attract new crowds. 

Other popular fall places are orchards that offer apple picking or farms that have a pumpkin patch. Fall-themed food truck festivals can also bring in new customers. Be sure, however, to get the right parking permits if trying out a new location.  

Amp Up Your Marketing Tactics 

Running a successful food truck takes an innovative and strategic marketing plan. A fall marketing push can help increase awareness of your new offerings. 

Use social media channels, like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to attract business. You can post timely updates and engage with customers. Be sure to post about your fall specials, and even include some photos of particularly attractive dishes.

It’s also helpful to get people to interact with your brand. Entice them to share pictures of your food and geotag your location. A website will help more customers find you and learn about your business year round—not just during the fall season.

It could be helpful to hire a professional photographer for fresh and unique image content for your website or social media platforms. They can capture some great images of your fall food truck display and menu items.   

Taking advantage of popular holidays like Halloween can be another good fall strategy. Offer a free meal from your food truck for the customer with the best costume. Advertise the contest on your social media channels and also use food truck signage to spread the word. 

Boosting Food Truck Sales All Season Long 

Making small yet smart seasonal changes can help your food truck business thrive this fall. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity for inventive menu changes and new marketing tactics.

Promote these menu changes and use local ingredients that change with the seasons. Have fun with festive decor that ties in with your branding. These ideas will help to attract new business and boost sales.

Who knows, you may even have customers who “fall” in love with your truck and continue to visit throughout the rest of the year!

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The post Fall into More Sales: A Food Truck Owner’s Guide to Selling in Autumn appeared first on Custom Concessions.