Offers keeping business in mind

Delhi is witnessing the second phase of odd-even scheme. This time it’s not only commuters who have prepared in advance to make these 15 days convenient for them, but service providers like restaurants, cabs and bike taxis are also offering interesting offers to keep up the momentum of their business and attract customers.

Last time, when the first phase of odd-even rule was implemented in January on an experimental basis, the Food and Beverage (FnB) industry was affected by less footfall, says Himanshu from Barcelos, Hauz Khas Village.

To ensure that they don’t face loss in this phase of odd-even, hotels and restaurants are giving out special offers and discounts to attract customers. For example: If you go to the South African restaurant Barcelos on an even number day and if your cab bill is more than Rs 500, you will get a free black burger and if it’s an odd number day, a red burger is free for you. Likewise, Cafe High5 is giving 15 per cent discount on odd days and 16 per cent discount on even days. The Frat House is deducting exact amount of your cab bill from your
food bill.

“It is important to give interesting offers during the odd and even phase to encourage people to dine out. This initiative of FnB industry will help both — us and the customers. It will help us in getting more customers. By doing something extra ordinary we make more customers. During this odd and even rule days, it’s difficult for people to come out and dine. No one wants to take the pain of hiring a cab. So if we offer them something extra, they will get to know and this will help us build the brand,” Prashant Karan, owner of The Frat House tells Metrolife.

Not just these eateries, but cabs and bike taxis are also encashing on the opportunity to boost their marketing by introducing new features in services, special packages and lining up free rides. Rapido, a bike taxi company, will be offering free rides to Delhiites from 8 am to 9 pm, which they see as a “long-time” investment.

Aravind Sanka, co-founder, Rapido, says, “In India, bike taxi or bike sharing or pooling needs awareness as it’s in a nascent stage and we see this as an opportunity to increase awareness on easy commute service and get some visibility as well. One of our major marketing strategies is word of mouth publicity. We also hope that with this initiative our brand becomes visible among the people in Delhi and we get registered in their mind. So that we come across as a trusted brand and they come forward to choose our services to ride solo.”