Geja’s Cafe: Melting Away Seasonal Slumps with Groupon
“I look forward to working with Groupon for many years to come.”
Jeff Lawler, owner of Geja’s Cafe
About Geja's Cafe
Geja’s Cafe, open since 1965, is a fine dining restaurant specializing in fondue and a staple in Chicago’s dining scene.
Voted America’s most romantic restaurant in 2015 for its fine wines, candlelit decor, and live classical flamenco guitars, it's been the site of over 137,000 first dates and 16,000 engagements and is well-known as a romantic hotspot that melts hearts along with fondue.
According to Jeff Lawler, owner of Geja's Cafe, the specialty of the house is their premier dinner, offering an “entrée fondue of beef tenderloin, chicken, lobster, shrimp, and scallops, assorted vegetables, eight gourmet sauces, and Geja’s Cafe Belgian chocolate fondue”.
The Challenge
Despite its reputation for romantic dining and excellent service, Geja's Cafe faced a significant challenge: slow sales during the summer months.
Historically, June, July, and August saw a dip in customer traffic, which affected the overall revenue of the establishment.
To address this seasonal slump, Geja's Cafe needed a strategic approach to boost its visibility and attract more patrons during the summer.
The Results
After considering different options to promote his restaurant, Jeff decided that Groupon would be the right platform to offer a selection of summertime deals.
This choice proved to be the right one, and Jeff saw a noticeable change in the restaurant’s performance.
“I've been working with Groupon for nine years now. There have been about 30,000 new customers since we started running on Groupon, and our sales have increased by 25%,” Jeff noted.
Remarkably, the summer months, which were traditionally slow, became the busiest period for the restaurant that year.
“Summertime at Geja’s Cafe can be pretty slow historically, but we found by structuring our Groupon deals the right way that our June, July, and August were our busiest months that year, thanks to Groupon.”
Top Tips for Working with Groupon
👉Create Seasonal Promotions: “Having special deals for the times of the year when your business typically slows down will help you attract more customers.”
👉Highlight Your Unique Offerings: “Make sure to showcase what makes your business special. In Geja's Cafe’s case, its romantic atmosphere and unique fondue experience were key selling points that made it stand out on Groupon.”
👉Build Long-Term Relationships: “Establishing long-term relationships with promotional platforms and customers alike, like we did with Groupon, will help you ensure sustained growth and success for your business.”
Where Special Moments Take Place
Jeff Lawler, Geja’s Cafe owner, shares his passion for the restaurant's role in creating unforgettable moments.
"When you're dipping together, roasting together, and cooking together, this is what makes Geja’s Cafe such a special place for family, friends, and love.“
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