Popcorn, nachos, and a Twizzlers chaser just hits different when you’re having them in the bleachers while watching the high school team on a Friday night.
There’s more magic in the air than usual and fans definitely don’t want to spend any more time than you have to fishing around for cash and waiting in line.
If you’re part of the booster club that’s responsible for running the concession stand, those Friday nights are jam-packed trying to give your customers everything they need to enjoy the game.
As you gear up for another season, here are a few ways you can take your concession stand from ordinary to extraordinary.
The concession stand is a vital source of fundraising for your booster club, so you definitely want it to score big. That means you’ll need to use some all-star strategies that not only satisfy the fans, but also help your booster club meet your fundraising goals.
Money raised from concession stand sales can be the difference maker that lets your booster club fund programs, update equipment, and run other important activities and initiatives.
Running a successful concession stand takes lots of planning, coordination, volunteers, and expertise. Plus, you need to draw on various skills including marketing and finance to food preparation and customer service.
Before you start thinking about opening your doors, you have to outline your concession stand’s operating plan, goals, and strategies. Be sure to include details around:
The biggest frustration for fans at a game is having to wait a long time at the concession stand. They want to get what they need and be back in their seat quickly so they don’t miss a moment of action.
That means your booster club concession stand needs to be extra organized to run efficiently and smoothly. How do you check those boxes?
It requires a winning combination of a staff of amazing volunteers, plenty of inventory so you don’t run out of fan favorites, a super-fast payment system that allows for cashless transactions, and fun offers and incentives that maximize sales.
Providing a cashless payment option for customers not only benefits them by giving an alternative to bills and coins, but it’s a huge win for your concession stand because it cuts down transaction time significantly. That lets you move the line faster and get people back to the game.
Creative promotions will help you maximize your concession stand sales and meet your sales goals. Consider special offers that encourage the purchase of multiple items like a meal deal bundle or give size upgrades for a discounted amount with the purchase of an accompanying item.
Your customers and supporters want to know that the funds they give to your booster club are being managed properly and with plenty of attention.
So, as a booster club leader responsible for running the concession stand, you want to make sure you’re bringing your A-game to inventory and financial management.
That’s where a cashless payment system for your concession stand can bring you big benefits. Look for one that also offers a storefront feature with an inventory management system, so when people make a cashless payment, their items are automatically deducted from your inventory. You’ll save tons of time not having to keep a manual inventory count.
Equally important is good financial management of your concession stand. Reducing your reliance on cash helps decrease risk of fraud, theft, or loss. Plus, having transactions tracked digitally makes reconciliation much faster and easier.
Running a successful booster club concession stand takes tons of planning, effort, and teamwork, but it can be a massive fundraiser that allows your booster club to support your team in huge ways.
As you gear up for a new school, take the time to find new tools that make running your concession stand easier, including a cashless payment system, so you can score big and be the ultimate concession stand champions!
