Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Memorial Day isn’t a holiday that was created to revolve around food. But that doesn’t mean Americans don’t love to grab a mouthwatering meal on this special day! Over 60% of Americans typically attend Memorial Day weekend barbecues, and spend a whopping $1.5 billion on meat and seafood for the holiday.

As a food truck owner, you may be wondering how to grab a piece of those food-laden Memorial Day celebrations. Here are five creative tips for getting your food truck Memorial Day business.

1. Add Summer-Inspired Dishes to the Menu

Small menu changes can be a great way to boost business. Advertise seasonal offerings that take advantage of summer fruits and veggies. These could be refreshing salads and entrees as well as cooling cocktails.

Barbecued and grilled dishes are always popular this time of year. Consider tweaking a go-to menu item for warm-weather flair. If you want to go the extra mile, consider taking this part of your menu outdoors with a visible grill to attract more attention.

2. Add Memorial Day Decor

Let loose your patriotic spirit with a host of red, white, and blue! From American flags to balloons to fresh flowers, the right decor can attract passing gazes.

3. Start a Fun Campaign

Everyone loves a freebie or deal, and Memorial Day is when they expect them. Decide on an incentive you’d like to offer, such as a buy one, get one free deal, and tack on a special campaign for extra fun.

For example, perhaps your brand’s food truck promotions are only open to people wearing red, white, or blue. Whatever you decide, make sure customers feel like they’re getting secret specials!

4. Offer Special Service to Veterans

To honor the holiday, and to attract more visitors, consider offering Memorial Day food truck deals to military veterans. Alternately, you can offer a percentage off of their total payment as a discount, or spread the word that you’re donating a certain percentage of your revenue to a veterans’ charity.

5. Attract the Kids

Because kids are off of school for Memorial Day, it’s safe to say that if you can make your business attractive to kids, you’ll be able to rein in their parents. Consider partnering with other local food trucks or vendors to host fun events for the family, like face-painting for kids, a special storytime, coloring or art contests, or music performances.

Work on Getting Your Food Trucks Memorial Day Business

When it comes to getting your food trucks Memorial Day business, these strategies can be a great way to attract customers’ attention. Make sure to invest the time and money to promote them a little in advance for best results, and prepare to reap the benefits of your hard work!

Whether you’re hopping into your first truck or upgrading to a new one, we can help you get up and running! No matter what type of food truck you run, we cater to a range of preferences, so contact us to learn more.

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 Getting Your Food Trucks Memorial Day Business: 5 Creative Tips appeared first on Custom Concessions.

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.

Photo: Freepik

Wear your heart on your sleeve, or in this case, your truck’s bumper.

Owning and operating a food truck is the perfect way to combine flexibility in your work schedule and your love for food. Add a little bit of strategic marketing, and you’ll be a few miles ahead of your competition.

When it comes to specialty marketing, there is a fine line between fun and cheesy. Knowing the difference can make all the difference. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, making your mobile food truck love ready doesn’t have to be overwhelming. 

Here are a few ways to combine the love for each other with the love for food.

1. Set the Tune

Adding just a bit of music can set the mood.

Consider playing Valentine’s themed music in the background while customers order. Studies show that romantic music can encourage singles to want to mingle. What better place to meet and have a first date than your mobile food truck.

Here are a few apps that allow you to create a personalized playlist:

• Spotify
• Amazon Music
• Pandora
• iHeart
• SoundCloud

Grab your Smartphone. Grab a Bluetooth speaker. Set the tune.

2. Dim the Lights

Lights. Food. Magic.

Outdoor lighting can set a perfect mood in seconds. Simply stringing lower wattage lights around your mobile food truck can help create a relaxed and romantic vibe.

3. Dazzle with Dessert

Do you do dessert?

Valentine’s Day is the day to offer something sweet and sultry. You don’t have to actually make the dessert, though, if sweet treats aren’t your food focus.

A great way to boost sales and network could be to collaborate with another food truck. If you offer delicious meals, consider finding another food truck vendor that offers delicious desserts.

Make it a food truck date night for customers to remember.

4. Meal for Two

An easy way to market your food truck is to offer specialized Valentine’s Day food truck promotions like a meal for two.

Creating a larger portion for two can be an easy option when it comes to effective mobile food truck marketing ideas. You could also consider renaming food choices with Valentine’s Day inspired themes.

5. Specialized Menu

This is a great marketing option to pair with a meal for two.

You don’t have to go overboard with special recipes to make your menu Valentine’s Day ready. Simply choose some sweet and sassy flavors, or choose some recipes that use red/pink hues like marinara or tomato creams.

6. Add Some Decor

There is a fine balance between too much and just enough.

There is no need to be cheesy when adding Valentine’s Day decor. Adding a few sweet signs or marquees can do the trick.

7. Social Media for the Win

Social media may be your best marketing tool.

Post your menu, post your theme, post your specials. Make sure your customers, new and existing, know about your Valentine’s Day plans.

That’s Amore

Valentine’s Day marketing ideas can be a great way to make the day of love memorable for your customers.

Add some new flavors. Add a splash of romantic color and decor, plus some romantic music. Setting a Valentine’s Day mood doesn’t have to take a ton of time or money.

Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to bring the food and fun.

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 7 Valentine’s Day Marketing Ideas for Your Mobile Food Truck appeared first on Custom Concessions.

Food trucks tend to be very busy and profitable during the summer. But there are slower periods—and winter is one of these times.

During summer, foot traffic is higher, which means more customers. When it’s cold out, you need to put in extra effort to draw people to your truck.

Do you know what to do when the nights are closing in and sales drop?

Luckily, we do. Ready to find out what kind of holiday marketing you need to do to keep your customer base healthy? Then check out our list of holiday marketing tips and keep on truckin’!

Offer Seasonal Variations of Your Food and Drinks

One surefire way to keep customers hooked is by changing your menu for the holidays. If you’re the only food truck offering that must-have food or drink, customers will come regardless of the weather.

In the UK, food trucks often carry a full roast dinner in a Yorkshire Pudding wrap, complete with gravy, at Christmas. It’s been a huge success over there, and that kind of creative thinking plays just as well this side of the pond.

We’re not only talking about putting pumpkin spice in your coffee, either. Come up with some fun holiday promo ideas, like eggnog lattes, or Christmas-themed burritos. Fit a pizza oven in your truck, and offer holiday-themed topping choices.

Use Ideas Associated with the Holidays in Your Ads

Don’t just stick with the same ads that you use for the rest of the year. Run special holiday ads in your area. Get some photos of your truck in snow, or even add some digital snowflakes to your ad.

Create a cozy atmosphere and get on Google or Facebook Ads and target your local following. Let your customers know where you’re going to be and when, and tell them about your holiday specials.

You should also consider offering coupons. While these bite into your profit margins, creating holiday-themed offers will help attract customers.

You could give customers a two-for-one deal on certain days, letting them share their food with friends and loved ones for free. Market this as promoting seasonal goodwill to all.

Create a Loyalty Program

This is fantastic all year round, but during the holidays, it can really help you out. Give your customers points for every sale, and give them a free dish once they’ve hit a certain number of points. 

When customers sign up for the program, ask for their email. When you’ve got a list of customer emails, create a regular newsletter. Promote your new foods, run contests, and offer exclusive discounts. 

You could also offer customers access to a VIP event if they hit a certain number of points. Organize a seasonal party a few days before Christmas, invite your most loyal customers, and give them free food. You’ll make a bit of cash from drink sales, but most importantly, you’ll increase customer loyalty.

Offer Catering

Your food truck doesn’t have to be out on the sidewalk. Is there a big event coming up, or a wedding? Lots of corporate holiday parties are going on during this time of year. Start offering your services for these celebrations.

During the Christmas season, focus on running holiday campaigns. Let customers know that you can cater to their office Christmas party, or set up shop at a local Christmas market. 

Sure, you’ll have to take a day out of your normal business, but you should make just as much profit, if not more.

Everyone is celebrating during this period. Events offer a steady stream of business.

Keep Your Instagram Profile On Point

You shouldn’t upload the same images to Instagram all year round. Keep it friendly, relatable, and most of all, fun. 

Looking for holiday marketing ideas for your Instagram? It could be as simple as having your crew dress up in ugly Christmas sweaters. If you’ve got a pet dog, upload a picture of them with some antlers on.

Got special packaging for the holidays? Upload a picture of it when you have the stock. Essentially, get people in the mood for two things: the holidays and your food.

Segment Your Customers

Customer segmentation is a key skill. While you should be using it all year round, it’s especially effective during the holidays. 

Facebook and Google both let you segment your customers, and target a certain age group or profession with your messaging. 

Think of what is involved in finding, getting to, and ordering from your truck, and who finds it especially tiring. For example, consider targeting older people who are more likely to be grandparents. Park near the hot spots for holiday shopping and encourage them to come by your food truck while they’re out shopping for their grandchildren’s gifts.

Give a Percentage of Profits to Charity

The holidays are a season of giving, and that applies to businesses too. Think of a cause that you’re passionate about. 

Maybe you’d like to help homeless people stay warm and fed this winter. Maybe you care profoundly about animals or helping the hungry get some extra food in their bellies.

Take a small percentage of your profits and donate them to charity. This is great for a number of reasons:

1. You’ll getting more involved in your community and helping others.
2. Customers will prefer buying from you, knowing that you’re helping out the less fortunate.
3. Featuring your donations in your holiday marketing will help spread word of mouth about your food truck.

Final Thoughts on Holiday Marketing

Holiday marketing is essential. You want to make sure that your content is relatable and fun. Share in the holiday spirit, and offer additional incentives to get customers to your food truck. 

You’ll have to get creative if you want to hit summer customer numbers, but it’s possible!

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 Best Holiday Marketing Ideas for Your Food Truck appeared first on Custom Concessions.