Food display and merchandising are powerful ways for pizzerias and restaurants to attract more customers, increase sales, and create a unique and dynamic eating experience. 

The spring season is a golden opportunity to revitalize your operation and maximize your revenue. To market your pizza products effectively, you must keep them super fresh, merchandise them consistently and with visual appeal, and price them competitively. Here are seven quick ways to show off your products and boost sales.

1. Stimulate and engage all senses right at the door

The moment your customers walk into your pizzeria, it’s wise to stimulate all five senses to heighten their experience. Naturally, customers immediately react to what they see – and what they smell (or don’t) is not far behind. A pleasant, inviting aroma can evoke positive emotions and memories. The smell of fresh pizza baking in the oven can make your customer feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Visual appeal is essential for creating a welcoming and comfortable restaurant environment. Displays can be more effective if they stimulate more than just the eyes. Consider not only what your pizza looks like but also the smell coming from the kitchen, the sounds, and the different flavours and textures customers can experience. By activating these senses, you help build enthusiasm for what your customers are about to taste. 

2. Start huge in spring

Highlight fresh seasonal products. Consider offering freshly baked pizza made with local spring vegetables to set your business apart and build loyalty. People want to know where their food is grown. Draw attention to your local Canadian growing regions and mention their reputation for particular vegetables. Entice customers with special promotions and discounts tailored to the spring season. Don’t forget to launch major events centred on key holidays like Easter and Mother’s Day.   

3. Stand out from your competitors by highlighting seasonal products

As seasonal products become available, draw attention to Canadian farmers to tell a story and mention their reputation for rare and unusual vegetables. Fresh seasonal products properly presented can set your pizza operation apart from competitors. Fully stocked displays convey healthy abundance. By offering uniquely fresh seasonal products, your pizzeria can position itself as a go-to place for customers looking for a unique experience. Seasonal merchandising is a powerful tool for boosting sales, engaging customers and staying competitive.

4. Embrace spring décor to refresh your pizzeria

Spring symbolizes renewal. Before embarking on your spring decor seasonal refresh, take the time to declutter and clean your entire space from top to bottom. Organize storage areas, clean food display units, purge items you no longer need or use, and thoroughly clean your restaurant. Starting with a clean slate will set the stage for a successful and transformative spring d<1>cor seasonal refresh. 

Celebrate the arrival of spring by bringing elements from nature into your spring restaurant d<1>cor. Arrange freshly cut flowers in beautiful vases throughout your restaurant. Display potted plants on shelves, counters and windowsills. Refresh your pizzeria’s atmosphere with vibrant colours that match your d<1>cor and brand. Use cheerful decorations and attractive displays that convey the essence of spring. Highlight fresh vegetable displays, branded colours and natural textures to create an inviting and sophisticated ambiance that will resonate with your customers. 

5. Increase impulse purchases with engaging and strategic visual displays

Well-executed seasonal displays can lead to a surge in impulse buys. Did you know that more than 50 per cent of purchases are made on impulse? Incorporating visually unique and attractive displays will capture customers’ attention and inspire them to buy products they hadn’t planned to buy. Captivate customers with visually appealing displays that creatively showcase your spring merchandise. Experiment with unique window displays, table arrangements and floor layouts that tell a story about your pizzeria and spark curiosity. While keeping your food displays fully stocked is essential, just be mindful of possible overstocking. Pizza displays, jars, cans and boxes should be well-merchandised, neat and orderly. Don’t forget to keep your display cases, shelves and bins clean and fresh, and rotate them regularly. Choose display cases that match your d<1>cor, brand and budget. Use bulbs that cast a warm light on your products to make them look as good as they taste. Remerchandise throughout the day to make your displays look full and your products fresh. 

6. Use your menu as a merchandising power tool 

Your menu is your greatest marketing tool and should do more than simply list the products you serve and their prices. The average customer will spend two to three minutes looking at your menu, so it must entice them to not only order your most profitable items but also want to order more than just one. Even better, your menu should entice your customers to return to try other products.

Use your menu to encourage customers to order certain profitable items or seasonal specials. Focus on strategic presentation, highlighting specials and high-margin items, and design your menu for optimal customer engagement to increase sales and profitability. Strategically design and present your products on the menu, highlighting specific items with enticing descriptions, visuals and proper placement to influence customer choices and maximize sales. 

7. Provide food demos and samples

It’s no secret that in-store food demos correlate directly to increased sales. When deciding on a merchandising strategy or store layout, consider leaving plenty of room for customers to taste free samples. This will give your first-time customers a chance to try your products and ask questions, encouraging them to spend more time in your restaurant. Pass out small samples of your signature pizzas and products to customers waiting at the counter or sitting at a table. Sampling is one of the most cost-effective ways to show customers your food tastes great and how easily they can order your products. 

Diane Chiasson, FCSI, president of Chiasson Consultants Inc., has been helping foodservice, hospitality, and retail operators increase sales for more than 35 years by providing innovative and revenue-increasing foodservice and retail merchandising programs, interior design, branding, menu engineering, marketing and promotional campaigns. Contact her at 416-926-1338, send her an email at chiasson@chiassonconsultlants.com or visit chiassonconsultants.com.