Happy Hour, Promotions: How to Optimize Them with Data
- Claire Brunaud
- May 15
- 2 min read
Updated: May 16
Happy hours and promotions are powerful tools to attract crowds, boost sales, and fill your restaurant during slower times. But when used poorly, they can eat away at your margins—or worse, cannibalize your regular sales.
The good news?
Data can turn your promotions into real profitability boosters. Here's how.
Target the right products
Instead of discounting blindly, data allows you to identify:
Popular items that could perform even better with a little push.
High-margin products that preserve profitability even when discounted.
“Dead weight” on your menu that might need a spotlight—or a strategic exit.
With Fyre, you can instantly see the profitability and frequency of each item sold.
Choose the right timing
Running a happy hour at 6 PM when your customers arrive at 8? Not ideal.
By analyzing receipt data, you can:
Identify your actual slow hours (by day, by service...).
Measure the impact of happy hour on average spend or foot traffic.
Adapt your offers based on the day of the week or even the weather.
Data helps you be in the right place, at the right time.
Test (and measure) your offers
Discounts, duo deals, free add-ons, exclusive items... Not all promotions are created equal.
Without data, it's hard to know what really works. With Fyre:
You compare performance before and after a promotion.
You see whether an offer drives extra sales or replaces existing orders.
You can A/B test multiple mechanics and choose the winner.
Drive loyalty instead of just cutting prices
The goal of promotions isn’t to sell at a loss, but to:
Attract new guests and turn them into regulars.
Create buzz (new menu launch, themed night...) that boosts your image.
Highlight key products or new additions.
The secret: targeted, time-bound, data-driven offers.
In short
Happy hours and promotions are amazing tools… when used strategically.
With the right insights, you can:
✅ Drive sales at the right moments
✅ Protect (or even grow) your margins
✅ Strengthen your positioning—without cheapening your brand
Want to get smarter with your promotions?
Discover how Fyre helps you turn data into profitable decisions.
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