6 Thanksgiving Strategies Every Coffee Shop Should Use to Lift Holiday Sales

TLDR

Thanksgiving week rises quickly, and if you run a coffee shop, you can feel the shift in the air. People hurry through grocery lines, prepare guest lists, clean their homes, and search for small comforts that keep the day moving. A study from last year shared that about 37% of people in the United States plan to order takeout or delivery for Thanksgiving dinner. Your shop has a chance to become a go-to pause point, to-go hub, and memory maker during the busy week ahead. Let’s walk through how you can make that happen, step by step.

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Seasonal Drinks That Spark Curiosity

When you create a seasonal drink for Thanksgiving week, you give your guests a little tradition to look forward to. People enjoy familiar tastes that remind them of warm kitchens and friendly moments. Maple, roasted pecans, spiced pear, or a soft cranberry blend can feel like gentle comfort during a long day. You do not need a large list; you just need one or two drinks that feel thoughtful and limited to the week. Your customers will notice when something is crafted with care, and they will often return before the season ends simply to taste it again.

After you decide on the drink, think about how you share it. One of the quickest ways to bring attention to a new item is through a push notification. Since people naturally open these short messages faster than email, your message reaches regular visitors at the right moment. This can guide them to your shop with intention instead of relying on foot traffic alone. Present the drink with a clear name in the app, a warm description, and a photo that captures the spirit of the holiday. When all of this comes together, your seasonal drink becomes their first choice. It becomes something people talk about and recommend.

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Treat Your Shop as a Place to Pause

Thanksgiving week brings long to-do lists and early mornings. You can help by shaping the cafe into a space that feels like a small rest before the next errand. Many guests come in looking for a moment where they can breathe, enjoy a warm drink and gather themselves before returning to busy streets. This is where your setting can do a lot of silent work. Soft lighting, clean counters, easy sight lines and uncluttered tables tell people that they have stepped into a calm place. When someone is dealing with holiday stress, that calm can matter more than they realize.

You can build on this feeling with tiny touches that add a quiet connection. A simple table with blank cards where guests can write something they feel thankful for can create a gentle sense of community without turning the space into an event. Visitors enjoy reading the notes others leave behind and it lifts the room in a natural way. Your baristas can also shape the experience by using warm greetings and short, friendly comments about the season. People remember these human moments, and they often return because of how your shop made them feel. In a week filled with rushing, your café can be the place where someone finally slows down.

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Plan for To-Go Orders and Thanksgiving Catering

During Thanksgiving week, you will notice more guests looking for items that travel well. People leave early for family visits, plan morning drives, or host small groups at home, and they often want fresh food and coffee that does not add more work to their day. This creates a strong opening for your shop to serve quick pickup breakfasts, pastry boxes or large containers of brewed coffee that help families begin their holiday smoothly. When you expect these needs and prepare your team ahead of time, the week becomes much more manageable for everyone.

Use Presells to Bring Calm and Structure

Presells in your ordering app give an organised way to handle this demand. Guests can place their orders in advance, and you can set clear order days and pickup days so your kitchen and baristas work with structure instead of guesswork. This lets you control the flow of preparation and avoid last-minute stress. Presells function like simple catering that fits the holiday rhythm and helps guests feel cared for. You can create pastry assortments, large coffee containers, or small gathering boxes that are ready the moment a customer arrives. These advance orders ease the pressure on your staff and give customers confidence that their holiday items will be fresh and waiting.

Offer Bundles That Make Choosing Easy

The bundles you offer should feel both helpful and easy to understand. A family breakfast set with warm pastries, a coffee collection with cups and a large brew container, or a small gathering kit that covers drinks and treats can all simplify the decision process for your customers. Choose clear names, simple photos and short descriptions that let guests grasp the options at a glance. When your packages look practical and thoughtful, people trust your shop with their holiday needs and that trust often turns into loyalty long after the season ends.

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Offer Simple but Delightful Promotions

Thanksgiving is a perfect moment to introduce small offers that feel joyful without lowering the value of your menu. Your guests are often juggling busy schedules, and a gentle treat can make their visit feel more special. Here are a few focused ideas that fit naturally into a coffee shop setting.

Create a holiday-only cookie or pastry BOGO that feels like a small celebration. Chip City Cookies in New York actively uses buy-one-get-one offers with Per Diem, and customers impatiently wait for its BOGOs every week.
Add a warm pastry pairing option for anyone ordering a latte or cappuccino. A friendly price can encourage people to treat themselves during a hectic week.
Surprise morning guests with a tiny complimentary cookie on the busiest day of the week. Small gestures like this often leave a deep impression.
Promote your offer through the app and in-store signs so people know they can catch a limited moment of holiday joy. Your baristas can naturally highlight it in conversation to make the experience feel warm, rather than sales-driven.

These kinds of lighthearted offers help you build a sense of care in your shop. When customers feel welcomed and appreciated, they carry that feeling with them and return even after the holiday rush fades.

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Create Limited Edition Takeaway Cups

Thanksgiving gives you a chance to introduce a small detail that feels instantly memorable, and a seasonal cup can do exactly that. When customers pick up a drink wrapped in a design that reflects the week, it adds a sense of delight to an ordinary order. A warm autumn pattern, a simple sketch, or even a soft color palette that feels tied to the season can give customers something they enjoy carrying through their day. It shows that your shop pays attention to the moment and wants to offer something a little extra during a busy time. Starbucks has used this idea for years with their Red Cup Day, and people look forward to it because it marks the start of the holiday feeling. You can create your own version that feels personal to your space and your community.

A seasonal cup can also encourage small but meaningful interactions. People love talking about special designs, sharing photos with friends, or keeping the cup as a tiny reminder of the season. Even if you choose a simple sticker rather than a fully printed cup, the effect is similar. It becomes a touchpoint that lifts the experience and creates a gentle spark of excitement. These cups help your shop stay top of mind as guests move through their errands and gatherings, and they add a little warmth that people will remember long after Thanksgiving week ends.

Make your coffee shop go viral this Thanksgiving season.

Prepare for the Holiday Rush

With just 10 days to go, your shop will likely see heavier foot traffic and quicker decision-making from guests who are in a hurry. Planning for that rush can protect your team from stress and help your customers feel cared for. Start by reviewing your staffing plan for the busiest days. Consider adding an extra person during peak hours to clear the line, restock pastries, or assist with cleaning. A well-supported team works with more patience and comfort, which your guests will feel the moment they walk through the door.

Your layout can also support the flow of the day. A clean and clearly marked area for grab-and-go pastries or ready-brewed coffee can shorten the time people spend waiting, especially for customers who only need a quick item before heading to their next stop. Preparing the most popular drinks in advance during peak hours can also help the line move faster. It is not about rushing guests. It is about providing a smooth and thoughtful experience so they can continue their day with ease.

The final step is to promote the convenience of preordering. Many customers want to skip the wait entirely, especially when they feel pressed for time during holiday errands. Encouraging them to place their orders through your mobile app can bring them comfort and reduce pressure on your team. When guests know they can walk in, pick up their items, and head out without delay, they view your shop as a reliable part of their routine. This reliability builds strong trust that can carry into the winter season and beyond.

Here’s how you can make smarter data-driven decisions during the holidays to manage staffing needs.

Final Thoughts

Holidays like this bring natural challenges, but they also open the door for your coffee shop to stand out with care, creativity, and structure. When you offer inviting seasonal drinks, shape your space into a calm resting point, use presells to manage demand, share thoughtful promotions, and prepare for the holiday rush, you show guests that your shop understands their needs. Every action you take helps build a relationship that feels genuine. When guests feel supported during the busiest week of the season, they remember you long after the holiday ends.