Fall is a triple witching time for a restaurant’s takeout and delivery business.  Summer travel schedules are mostly done, allowing for more routine dining.  Takeout and delivery gets a boost in business from the double punch of college and professional football games. Then add October for playoff baseball and the World Series.  Some people love ordering in and enjoying the game at home, rather than visiting their local watering hole.

What sells during game time?  Wings see a 45% increase in takeout orders during football season, while orders for beef and broccoli see a 26% jump in the Chinese food category.  Pizza, of course, is off the charts during sporting events.

What can you do to draw that online takeout business to your restaurant?  Here are some tips:

•    Promote specials to customers ordering online.  Order an appetizer for a game and get 50% off a second appetizer.
•    Craft entree and combos that are particularly applicable because they work well for takeout.  These online combos should be “guy-oriented” – like pizza, wings, sandwiches, chips and guacamole - things that go well with sporting events and groups of enthusiastic spectators.

It's no surprise that major restaurant chains in the U.S. were lobbying the NFL and the NFL Players Association to end the lockout that threatened the football season this fall and winter.  Restaurants popular with the football clientele were anticipating same month sales to be off a minimum of 10% to 15%. Some were predicting as high as 40%. 

But with the season starting this month, it's time for restaurants to gear up to attract the football crowd, and remind customers that ordering online through NetWaiter means a minimum of time away from their big screen television.

You can do this a number of ways:

1. Work with your employees and start a narrative with customers.  Football fans love to talk about game day plans.  Make sure they get the message from the wait staff that NetWaiter can make their pickup or delivery that much easier.
2. Brag about your online ordering site in signage and other point-of-purchase opportunities – table tents, signage at the cash register, your website, and even in the restrooms.  Make sure that everywhere your customers are, they know about your online ordering site.
3. Promote online ordering specials.  What are the offerings you have that are especially suited for football viewing?  Hot chicken wings, stuffed potato peels and pizza are all popular this time of year.  Can you offer a complimentary appetizer with each order of $40 or more?  Get creative!
4. Update your advertising.  Do you run regular ads?  Do you have a billboard around the corner?  How about radio spots during football programing or sports shows?  Make sure all these messages include online ordering for the football season.

Football season is a great business opportunity for many restaurants, and also a time to increase customer awareness about online ordering.  Long after the season is over, customers will still be bringing in extra sales with the click of their mouse and your NetWaiter site.