Birthday Coupons and Win-Back Campaigns for Restaurants

A guest who visited your restaurant three times and then disappeared isn't lost. They're dormant. The right offer at the right time brings them back. Targeted coupons are the most cost-effective way to reactivate these guests because you're not spending money on strangers — you're investing in people who already know and liked your food.

Birthday coupons — personal and effective

Everyone eats out on their birthday. A coupon that arrives in their inbox a week before makes your restaurant the obvious choice. "Happy Birthday! Enjoy a free dessert on us this month." It costs you EUR 5-8 in food cost and brings back a table of 2-4 guests spending EUR 80-150.

In Plattr, you create a birthday coupon rule once. The system checks guest birthdays and sends the coupon automatically. You need the guest's date of birth, which is collected during loyalty program enrollment.

Win-back campaigns — reactivating dormant guests

A win-back campaign targets guests who haven't visited in a defined period — typically 30, 60, or 90 days. The offer is usually stronger than a birthday coupon: 20% off, a free appetizer, or a credit toward their next visit. The goal is to break the inertia of not visiting.

The timing matters. At 30 days, the guest still remembers you. At 90 days, they've probably replaced you with another regular spot. The sooner you reach out, the higher the response rate.

Seasonal and event promotions

Beyond birthdays and win-backs, coupons work for seasonal promotions. New menu launch? Send a coupon to all loyalty members. Slow Tuesday nights? Target weekday visitors with a Tuesday special. Holiday season approaching? A Christmastime offer drives traffic during your busiest period.

How coupons work in Plattr

Coupons in Plattr are part of the loyalty system. You define the coupon (what the offer is), set targeting rules (birthday, days since last visit, number of visits), and the system handles distribution. Guests receive coupons on their loyalty card and can redeem them by showing the QR code to your staff.

All coupon types are available starting on the Small plan (EUR 59/month). Basic campaigns (scheduling and segmentation) are available on Plus (EUR 139/month). Advanced campaigns with full automation are on Pro (EUR 249/month).

Measuring what works

The Insights Hub tracks coupon redemption rates, revenue from reactivated guests, and ROI per campaign. You see which campaigns bring guests back and which don't, so you can optimize over time.

Combine coupons with other loyalty programs for maximum effect. A guest on a stamp card who gets a birthday coupon is engaging with your restaurant through two channels simultaneously.

Getting started

1. Set up a loyalty program to build your member list. 2. Collect birthdates during enrollment. 3. Create a birthday coupon rule and a 30-day win-back rule. 4. Let the system run. You can also create one-off coupons for specific promotions.

Start with the Small plan (EUR 59/month) for coupon creation and loyalty. Upgrade to Plus (EUR 139/month) for campaign scheduling and the Insights Hub. List your restaurant on the Plattr Guide for free to start building your guest base. See all plans on the pricing page.

Designing effective coupon offers

The offer matters. A 5% discount on the total bill doesn't move anyone. A free specific item (dessert, appetizer, glass of prosecco) feels more personal and has a defined cost for you. Some restaurants find that experience-based offers outperform discounts: "Complimentary chef's tasting appetizer" beats "10% off" every time.

For win-back campaigns, the offer needs to be strong enough to break inertia. A guest who hasn't visited in 60 days has found alternatives. A "we miss you — enjoy a free appetizer on your next visit" message with a defined expiry date (2 weeks) creates urgency. The expiry is important: without a deadline, the coupon sits in their wallet and never gets used.

Timing and frequency

Don't send coupons too often. A guest receiving weekly offers starts ignoring them. A birthday coupon once a year is expected. A win-back offer every 45-60 days for lapsed members is appropriate. A seasonal promotion 4 times a year is reasonable. More than that, and you train guests to wait for discounts instead of paying full price.

Turn dormant guests into regulars again. Sign up for Plattr and set up your first campaign.