Case Study: Switching to a Cloud-Based POS For Increased Reliability, Lower Costs

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As a seasoned restaurateur, Steven Cook already knew that traditional hardware-based point-of-sale systems could be overly expensive and unreliable when he opened Federal Donuts — a shop that sells cake donuts and Korean style fried chicken — in late 2011. What he didn’t know at the time, however, was that there were alternative options for quick-service restaurants…

Case Study: Overcoming Obstacles When Redeeming Mobile Deals

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Digital offers have proven to be an effective driver for customer acquisition, but the infrastructure required to redeem mobile coupons is something that many businesses — and particularly local restaurants — still don’t have in place. Not having the mechanism to scan barcodes prevented Sea Island Restaurant Group from offering digital coupons at its eight Sea Island Shrimp House and Tiago’s Cabo Grille locations, until recently…

Case Study: Promoting Loyalty With Outrageous Rewards

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At Vino Vidi Vici, an Italian restaurant in Massena, N.Y., owner Crista Makdouli wanted to offer something extra to help her program stand out. “For 50 [purchases] you can get your name engraved on one of our tables, so you’ll have your own table,” said Makdouli. “For a million [purchases], we will deliver a free Ferrari with a large pizza.”

Case Study: Salon Increases Average Purchase Price With Card-Linked Offers

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Everyone wants a prize, and most people are willing to spend a little more to get one. At least that’s been the experience of Tiffany Amorosino. The co-owner of Bella Sante Spa uses a platform called OfferLink by Cartera to reward customers with free gift cards when they meet certain purchase price thresholds. Since opening her spa in 1996, Amorosino has seen a significant shift in the way SMB marketing is done…

5 Platforms Local Retailers Can Use to Connect With Online Shoppers

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Merchants with physical outposts are increasingly relying on hyperlocal solutions as a way to connect with consumers who prefer shopping online. These platforms give retailers a way to put their products in front of local shoppers, without actually requiring them to set up an online store or negotiate the logistics of shipping and delivery. Here are five platforms that merchants can use to get the job done…

Case Study: Roofer Uses Local Marketing Tools to Boost Call Volume

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Muth Roofing owner Chad Muth wasn’t convinced he should be relying solely on Angie’s List as a way to advertise and promote his roofing business. “At one point in time, Angie’s List was driving our business. Almost 40% of our call volume was coming from Angie’s List, which is great, but it’s also kind of scary because it’s like putting all your eggs in one basket,” said Muth…

Case Study: California Fitness Studio Drives Referrals With Digital Program

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Ninety-two percent of consumers trust “earned media” — like word-of-mouth referrals — above other forms of paid advertising. At b2be Sports & Wellness, a high-end fitness studio in Chula Vista, California, Emmanuel Corona is looking to capitalize on this trend, partnering with Perkville to reward customers for referring their friends…

6 Ways SMBs Can Turn Social Media Fans Into Actual Customers

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Although 36% of SMBs have said acquiring and engaging new customers was their primary goal in using social media, according to a recent survey, only 39% said they were seeing ROI from their online activities. In an effort to solve the mystery and find out how merchants can turn online followers into customers, we consulted with the experts…

Case Study: Steakhouse Takes a More-Is-More Approach to Marketing

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At Franklin Steakhouse, manager Frank Oliver is always on the lookout for ways to enmesh his restaurant with the local community. In addition to tried-and-true tactics like partnering with neighboring businesses and hosting fundraisers, Oliver is taking a hyperlocal approach to digital marketing through platforms like Facebook and Yelp…

Case Study: Bakery Relies on Hyperlocal Press, Yelp for New Customers

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When Donna Lawson first opened the doors at Stuffed Cakes, she ran a series of daily deal promotions through CBS Local and Urban Dealight to spread the word about her Seattle-based bakery. Now two years later, Lawson relies primarily on press mentions on hyperlocal sites like the West Seattle Blog, as well as positive reviews on Yelp, to get new customers coming through the door…

Case Study: Brooklyn Spa Uses Credit Card Data to Identify Consumer Trends

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At D’mai Urban Spa, owner Daniella Stromberg spends roughly $45,000 a year in credit card processing fees. Frustrated by the feeling that she wasn’t getting anything for her money, she turned to Swipely for help. Using the company’s payment marketing platform, Stromberg has been able to identify patterns and gain insight into how outside factors, like the weather, affect consumer behavior…

Case Study: Restaurant Focuses on Online Menus, Reservations

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Jen Ziskin, co-owner of the restaurant La Morra, in Brookline, Mass., says she relies on a combination of email marketing, OpenTable, and menu management platform Locu to spur interest long before customers walk through her doors…

Case Study: Pizza Chain Finds New Ways to Build Email Database

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As the director of marketing at Stone Hearth Pizza in Boston, Alex Chamberlain is always on the lookout for ways to grow her email database. She’s found that the best way to acquire new email addresses is by requiring customers to input their contact information when redeeming limited-time deals and promotions…

Case Study: Clothing Boutique Collects Customer Reviews

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Online reviews allow e-commerce retailers to establish themselves as authentic and trustworthy in the eyes of consumers, but getting customers to leave feedback when they purchase products online isn’t always an easy task. Reve Boutique owner Meital Benaroya says she uses Zuberance to identify and reward her biggest “brand advocates.”

Case Study: Restaurant Rewards Customers With Cash-Back Promos

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After being disappointed by the results of a yearlong advertising campaign with Yelp, The Range Kitchen & Cocktails general manager Edward Camarillo decided to partner with MOGL, a card-based loyalty platform that rewards customers with 10% cash back when they pay with registered credit and debit cards at participating restaurants…

Case Study: Pizza Place Favors Platforms With Low Upfront Costs

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When Lance Robinson is deciding which marketing platforms are worth trying out at Brothers’ Pies N’ Fries, the Pasadena pizza shop he opened with his two brothers last year, he considers cost before anything else. Robinson prefers pay-as-you-go platforms with low upfront pricing structures, but isn’t interested in daily deal companies that take a cut of his revenue…

Case Study: Restaurant Chain Uses MomentFeed to Track Instagram Contest

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Before he decided to run a contest that combined Instagram photos with Foursquare and Facebook check-ins, Barney’s Beanery regional manager AJ Sacher knew he needed to come up with a way to measure the results. By tying his campaign into the MomentFeed platform, Sacher was able to track how engagement in his promotion translated to increased foot traffic…

Case Study: Restaurant Uses Customer Data to Measure Marketing Success

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At Ping Pong Dim Sum in Washington, D.C., Myca Ferrer works hard to make sure every dollar spent on marketing is measured and tracked. By tying Venga’s loyalty platform into his restaurant’s POS system and email marketing database, Ferrer is able to track customer spending patterns and email click-through rates. He’s found that loyalty club members spend between 30% and 40% more per visit than non-loyalty club members…

Case Study: Boston Tattoo Shop Uses Deals to Build Email Database

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At Stingray Body Art in Boston, events and promotions manager Adam Femino takes a more-is-more approach to hyperlocal marketing. In the past few years, Femino has used digital platforms like Groupon, LevelUp, and Privy to acquire new customers, promote brand awareness, and grow his company’s email database…

Online Retailer Uses Daily Deals, Facebook Ads to Grow Business

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When Anthony Bronzo was brought on to manage marketing and advertising for Born to Run, a Seattle-based athletic shoe retailer with two physical locations and a popular online store, he was tasked with finding new ways to reach the company’s core customers—active trail runners and CrossFit devotees. In his few short months on the job, Bronzo has managed to reach those customers using a combination of targeted ads on Facebook and Google AdWords, and by running daily deals with companies like Group Commerce and CBS Local…