How Jimmy Sardines sells pizza with pigskin
Before each Patrick Henry Patriots High School (Virginia) football game, Jimmy Sardines sends the team a pre-game pizza snack. In exchange, his restaurant receives mentions over the PA every game.
If that were the end of it, it would be no big deal. But Jimmy Sardines has found a way to make its relationship with the football program a real business opportunity.
After each home game, the coaching staff comes to the restaurant for dinner and to hang out with fans. The little restaurant is packed after each home game and both the pizza area and bar enjoy a bustling business as fans recount the game, glad-hand the coaches and eat pizza. In an area with a couple dozen eateries, it makes Jimmy’s the pick for Patriot fans.
The restaurant further underscores its involvement with the school by distributing magnetic sports schedules.
Can your pizza parlor benefit from employing a similar strategy? Probably. Keep in mind where you are (are you in basketball crazy Indiana or hockey haven Maine?). Don’t overlook a sport that may not generate big buzz in the newspaper but has a big following locally such as Girls’ Soccer, volleyball or lacrosse. The key is getting linked in with the boosters and the coaches. With schools in need of funding, that often only takes a couple of phone calls. It can result in hundreds of dollars in revenue for each home game and residual benefits as fans start to think of your place as “their place.”
Magnets USA can help you with promotional magnetic schedules, Businessmarks, coupon calendars, punch cards, promotional magnets and more. And that can help you reach out to more customers as you be true to your school.
