The restaurant business faced some serious challenges in 2025. A recent report from the National Restaurant Association (NRA) shows that foot traffic was down for nine straight months this year. The report also says that while most owners and operators are optimistic about the state of their own businesses, they are anxious about the state of the broader economy.
The restaurant industry will likely face many of the same challenges in 2026. Consumers are still grappling with high prices and an uncertain economy. This will have an impact on restaurant foot traffic. On the bright side, in a recent OpenTable Dining Trends Report, 55 percent of surveyed diners said they hope to dine out more often in 2026.
So how can you encourage these hopeful diners to visit your restaurant? What can you do during the slow times to boost your business in the short and long term? Are there restaurant marketing strategies or smart restaurant promotions that can improve your operations during off-peak seasons?
To find out, we brought together our Back of House panel of experts.
Our Panel of Experts
- Nick Florek, Head of Back of House
- Hilary Young, Director of Marketing
- Ashley Dunn, Senior Marketing Coordinator
- Rachel Morgan, Industry Consultant and Operations Expert
- Spencer Michiel, Industry Consultant and Restaurant Tech Expert
5 Tips For Times When Business Is Slow
Obviously, we can’t control what happens in the economy at large. When consumers feel pinched by high prices, restaurant owners usually see lower foot traffic. The real secret to surviving the slow times is learning how to manage the things we can control. So what can we control even at a time when consumers are pulling back on spending?
Here’s what our in-house team of experts came up with.
1. Give People Special Reasons To Visit
We expect experiential dining to remain a top priority for consumers in the new year. According to OpenTable’s Dining Trends Report, 48 percent of American consumers say they’re more likely to dine somewhere that is hosting “a pop-up, collaboration, or special experience in 2026.”
One of the best ways to boost traffic during slow periods is to build restaurant promotions around these experiences. Rachel suggests, “Hosting events can be a great way to boost your numbers during these slower stretches. Things like trivia nights, chef-led demos, or themed dinners can keep people coming through the door.”
It’s not a bad idea to sweeten the pot with a few special deals. Rachel suggests “using limited-time offers to create a bit more urgency for your customers. Try adding new weekday specials or seasonal dishes.”
2. Stockpile Social Media and Marketing Content
When the going gets slow, take advantage of the downtime to build out your content. Hilary suggests that this is the perfect time “to re-evaluate your restaurant marketing efforts. Create a library of social media, blog, and video content for when business picks up and you no longer have as much time to devote to marketing your restaurant.”
“This is the time to make all the funny TikToks and clever content you keep putting off,” adds Ashley. “Stockpile as much as you can so you can continue to push out posts when business picks up again.”
3. Make Sure People Can Find You
Hilary points out that creating content “isn't just limited to social media. Creating content also includes managing your online reputation with great tools like Localyser and optimizing your website for organic search and easy online ordering.”
Nick agrees, and suggests that one of the best ways to prepare for slow times is to “be sure your ‘digital discoverability’ is in good shape. Are people aware of you and can they easily order online?”
If you’re not sure how to answer that question, Hilary suggests that you “check out Owner's free website grader tool as a starting point for optimizing the visibility of your restaurant’s website.”
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4. Tap Your Restaurant Loyalty Program
Your restaurant loyalty program is an incredibly valuable source for contact information and consumer data. Now is the time to use it. During seasonal slow-downs and off-peak periods, turn to your regulars. Nick recommends targeted marketing campaigns based on customer preferences.
“Use the data you’ve collected through your loyalty program to extend discounts on slow days or reach out to specific customer segments who are more likely to come visit with a nudge,” says Nick.
If your current loyalty program doesn’t include advanced customer data and options for personalization, you might want to consider a new provider. For instance, vendors like Como provide customizable reward programs, personalized gift cards, and AI-powered insight into your customer data.
5. Be Ready for the Slow Times
To an extent, slow periods are inevitable. The most important thing you can do is be ready.
“Dig into your historical data,” says Spencer. “Be prepared for it. If you're managing your costs properly, slow doesn't have to mean unprofitable.”
As Spencer points out, “your two main controllables are your cost of labor and your cost of goods, so you may need to increase prices or have fewer people on.”
The key, says Spencer, is leveraging your data in order to make these decisions with greater precision. “The good news,” says Spencer, “is that If you've implemented MarginEdge and 7shifts, you've got all of the tools available and you've got all the information right there to actually make good decisions. It’s just a matter of using it.”
Choosing the Right Tech for Your Operation
We’re all facing the same uncertain economy together. But the right solutions for your restaurant will depend on your own unique set of needs. We’re here to walk you through these needs and provide recommendations based on what’s best for you.
Schedule your free, personalized consultation with one of our in-house restaurant tech experts today and be ready for the next seasonal slow down.
