The pizza box is an industry mainstay for transporting pizza, whether it’s take-n-bake, delivery, or leftovers. It’s so ubiquitous, in fact, that many pizzeria owners and operators overlook its potential—and power—as a marketing tool. Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity!
Think of it as pizza box innovation. What can you add to or re-invent in your design to get customers to engage with your brand instead of passively looking past your printed logo and location contact info? Here are some easy-to-implement ideas to get your thoughts flowing:
Bumping up your brand colors or using on-trend hues paired with bold graphics and punchy messages of wit or wisdom will get customers’ attention — and likely their mentions on social media.
Who doesn’t like to save a buck or two? A flyer with money-off-your-next-purchase coupons is perennially popular with customers. You could even use the offers to drive traffic to your website or social media platforms — just pop a savings code sticker on your box tops that, when entered online, provides users with a “mystery savings” discount good on a future order.
There’s something irresistible about old school pencil and paper games like Tic-Tac-Toe, a simple word search or hangman. Pre-print some pizza boxes with these puzzlers, or simply attach them to the box, and provide complementary markers or pencils branded with your logo and phone number with each purchase.
Pizza-related trivia is a great conversation sparker, not to mention a perfect tie-in to your business. Track down some little known or fun facts (like “Americans eat approximately 100 acres of pizza per day”) for your customers to chew on while they share a pie.
Read all about it! Create a flyer announcing updates about and events at your pizzeria to stick on the pizza box. A printed piece that’s separate from the pizza box is cost effective and makes it a snap to switch out as your news changes.
It’s an oldie but a goodie. Sell some ad space to other local businesses, particularly those that complement your pizza sale — think ice cream shop, movie theatre, bowling alley and the like.
How about a coloring contest? Print up simple outlines of a slice or whole pie and ask kids to draw on the toppings. Best entry during a certain time frame wins a pie at your restaurant. You win, too, as dropping off the little ones’ creations means more family traffic into your pizzeria, more temptation to have a meal—and more money in your till.
Magnets (ahem!) attract repeat business from customers. Anything to adorn the fridge—from a menu to a simple name, phone number and website address—keeps your business top of mind when the pizza urge strikes.
Pizza box design can be a real sales boost, but don’t forget to keep on pleasing your customers with the pizza they find inside! Alive & Kickin’ Pizza Crust dough balls, flatbreads, crusts, sauces and expert guidance are all part of the recipe for your success.
Make your pies delicious and profitable with the tips you’ll find in our infographic, Elements of a Profitable Pie. Click the button below to download your free copy.