Summer’s in full swing—your patio’s buzzing, drinks are flowing, and customers are loving the sunny dining vibe. And the best part? This seasonal energy creates the perfect opportunity to build lasting connections that keep customers coming back, no matter the time of year.
With the right loyalty tools and data strategy, you can easily turn those summer diners into year-round regulars.
Let’s explore how to harness your summer momentum and get set up for your most successful off-season yet.
Why Patio Season Is Your Perfect Springboard
Patios are a powerful way to attract new faces—casual visitors, friend groups, and first-time customers. In fact, 54% of people say they’re more likely to choose a restaurant with outdoor dining.
Patio guests give you the perfect chance to turn a great seasonal visit into year-round loyalty. By capturing their contact info, you can stay connected long after patio season ends.
How capturing customer info helps:
- Create a direct line to your customers: Collecting emails or phone numbers lets you market specials and new seasonal menu items year-round.
- Build a loyal base that orders online: Research shows that online ordering for pick-up and delivery grew by 20% in 2024, and having direct customer contacts allows you to tap into this growing trend.
- Boost repeat visits and sales: A small boost in customer retention can make a huge difference—increasing customer retention by 5% can increase profits up to 95%!
So, how can you turn those sunny-day guests into loyal customers who stay connected long after patio season ends? The good news is, with a few smart strategies, you can build on that great first impression and inspire repeat visits—whether guests are dining in, grabbing takeout, or ordering ahead.
Let’s dive into some easy ways to make your patio traffic work for you all year long!
7 Ways to Turn Patio Patrons Into Pick-Up Regulars
1. Convert First-Time Diners into Regulars with the Right Rewards
Summer visitors offer more potential than many restaurant owners realize. With the right loyalty system in place, you can turn seasonal guests into repeat customers. Whether you’re in a tourist hub or a college town, every visit is a chance to make your restaurant part of someone’s regular rotation.
Ideas to try:
- Reward takeout and delivery too: Make sure loyalty points apply no matter how they order. A free dessert or $5 off after a few takeout orders can tip the scales in your favour when they’re deciding where to order from next.
- Digital punch cards : Simple but effective, especially for locals or commuters (“5 orders = free app” or “10 takeouts = $15 off”). No paper cards needed—just a quick scan at pick-up.
- Referral rewards: Turn loyal fans into brand advocates. “Bring a friend = free appetizer” or “Get $10 off when your friend places their first order” helps you grow your customer base.
- Sign-up perks: Offer an easy win to join your program, like 10% off their first delivery or a free side with their next order.
- Social sharing incentives: Give customers extra points or perks when they tag, post, or review your brand online (e.g., using DataCandy’s Social Rewards to turn mentions into loyalty points).
At checkout or when taking orders, invite customers to join your loyalty program or mailing list in exchange for perks like:
- A free appetizer on their next pick-up order
- A discount on their first delivery
- Points toward a future reward
Simple incentives create a win-win and grow your contact list. Want inspiration? Check out these restaurant loyalty programs that are doing it right.
Plus, with DataCandy’s loyalty program, you can easily set up digital punch cards, run referral programs, and offer sign-up incentives—all managed seamlessly in one simple platform.
2. Use Data to Spot Your Fall All-Stars
Want to know which guests are worth re-engaging when the cooler months hit? Or which menu items are driving repeat visits? Your loyalty platform should tell you.
With the right data, you can:
- Spot your seasonal stars—and build buzz around them: Look at which menu items customers love most each season, then turn them into a reason to come back. Think McDonald’s McRib or Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte—limited-time favorites that keep fans watching the calendar and coming back year after year.
- See which campaigns are bringing guests back: Track which offers and promos drive repeat visits (e.g., holiday specials, weekend discounts) so you can double down on what works.
- Identify your most engaged customers and reward them: Surprise your biggest fans with perks like bonus points or early access to new items.
- Learn what dishes drive loyalty and order frequency: Find out which meals inspire repeat orders (e.g., popular takeout combos or seasonal soups) and build your promotions around them.
Having this insight gives you a clear roadmap for marketing and ops planning—not just for this year, but for every season ahead.
3. Offer Gift Cards + Promo Card Bonuses
Gift cards aren’t just a holiday play—they’re one of the most powerful tools for driving revenue and building customer loyalty year-round.
59% of gift cards are never fully redeemed, which means higher profitability for your business with minimal added cost.
And here’s where it gets really exciting: customers who use gift cards don’t just spend the card’s value—on average, they spend up to 500% more than the original gift card amount during their visit. That makes gift cards a win-win: they bring people back and encourage bigger orders. (Editor’s Note: our editor would sooner trek out in snow and -20C than let her $10 promo card go to waste).
When you combine gift card sales with smart promotions, you create immediate revenue plus guaranteed future visits during slower seasons.
Effective gift card promotions to try:
- “Buy $50 in gift cards, get a $10 promo card”: This not only increases the size of gift card purchases, but also ensures customers return to redeem their bonus.
- “Earn a $25 promo card when you spend $100 on gift cards” : Ideal for holiday gifting, teacher thank-yous, or corporate incentives.
- “Get a $10 bonus when you reload your gift card online” : A low-cost way to keep customers coming back.
Pro tip: With DataCandy’s integrated gift card and loyalty tools, it’s easy to track both redemptions and earned bonuses, send reminders, and create limited-time campaigns that fit your seasonal strategy. You can learn more in our guide to restaurant gift card programs.
4. Personalize the Off-Patio Experience
Once the weather turns, guests are more likely to order in. But that doesn’t mean you lose your connection. With the right CRM and segmentation tools, you can tailor your fall campaigns to feel just as personal as a patio chat.
Examples of personalization you could offer to loyalty members:
- Send tailored emails that feel personal: “We miss seeing you! Your favorite patio mojito may be gone, but our spiced cider is perfect for cozy takeout nights—order now!” This approach shows guests you remember them and offers seasonal alternatives.
- Recommend new dishes based on past orders: If a customer often ordered summer salads, suggest a hearty fall grain bowl or seasonal special that fits their taste. Personalized suggestions make guests feel valued and encourage repeat orders.
- Create exclusive members-only perks: For instance, give loyalty members early access to new menu items or special off-season bundles only available through pick-up.
- Send personalized birthday or anniversary offers: Celebrate your customers with a special discount or free item around their special day to strengthen your connection.
Restaurants that personalize loyalty emails see a 29% higher open rate and a 41% higher click-through rate.
It’s worth repeating, so we’ll say it again: restaurants that personalize loyalty emails see a 29% higher open rate and a 41% higher click-through rate.
Use DataCandy’s built-in insights to:
- Segment offers based on location, last order, or favorite dish
- Trigger reminders (“Hey Jess, your patio mojito days are over—but our mulled cider is waiting for you!”)
- Suggest new menu items based on past behavior
By making your fall communications personal and relevant, you keep your guests excited and engaged long after patio season ends.
6. Tease Fall Perks While You Have Their Attention
Summer guests are already fans—capitalize on that goodwill to create buzz and excitement for your upcoming fall offerings. This is your chance to keep customers engaged and eager to return, even before the leaves start to change.
How to build anticipation for the next season:
- Tease upcoming fall menu launches and cozy seasonal specials that tap into customers’ cravings for comfort and warmth. Use mouthwatering visuals and sneak peeks to create FOMO (fear of missing out).
- Launch a seasonal loyalty challenge like “Order 3 times before Labour Day and unlock a $10 reward to redeem in Spooky Season” to motivate repeat visits and build lasting habits before the slower months hit.
- Offer exclusive early access or members-only perks for loyalty program participants—making them feel valued and part of an insider community (e.g., first dibs on limited-time fall drinks or VIP invites to a menu tasting event).
By planting the seeds now, you turn summer enthusiasm into sustained fall momentum, keeping your brand top of mind all season long.
7. Promote Your Pick-Up and Delivery Options Actively
Don’t assume everyone knows how easy it is to get your food without dining in. Around 31% of Canadians order takeout or delivery at least once a week—that’s a big chunk of restaurant sales! People love takeout because it’s convenient, but high delivery fees can turn them off.
Here’s how to promote your pick-up and delivery options:
- Table Tents and QR Codes: Put table tents or QR codes on your menus so folks can quickly order takeout or delivery right from their table.
- Social Media and Email: Share the convenience on your socials and in emails—remind them you’re just a few clicks away, especially if you offer low delivery fees or pick-up perks.
- Easy Online Ordering Links: Always include simple, direct links to order online in every message you send.
- Offer a week of free delivery for first-time customers: Give new customers an extra reason to try delivery, so they experience just how easy and tasty it can be.
By making it super easy to order, you’ll keep customers coming back even when they’re not dining on the patio.
TL;DR: Make Pick-Up Season Your New Growth Opportunity
Patio season can be just the beginning of your year-round success. With a few smart strategies, you can strengthen customer relationships and drive pick-up sales well into the cooler months.
Gather feedback through quick questions, reviews, or short surveys—small actions that help you fine-tune what keeps customers coming back.
Think of patio season as a powerful launchpad—a perfect opportunity to connect with new guests, gather valuable insights, and build loyalty that keeps paying off long after the outdoor tables are stored away.
If you’re ready to take your loyalty and customer communication to the next level, tools like DataCandy make it simple to manage rewards, automate marketing, and track your results—all in one place.
Ready to turn patio season fans into pick-up regulars?
See how ZIBO! Restaurant Bars used loyalty rewards and gift cards to grow their customer base
Elaine Pu
Elaine is a content marketer at DataCandy. She likes thrifting, animals and photography.
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