Finding holiday gifts for friends, relatives and co-workers usually isn’t too difficult. But there’s always “that person” on your list. You know the one. The guy or gal who seemingly has everything.
Well, here’s an idea for something that every person needs: food. And it’s is easily giveable in the form of restaurant gift certificates.
Gift certificates — or, increasingly, computerized gift cards — are big business for restaurants, especially those locally owned.
The National Restaurant Association estimates many non-chain restaurants ring up as much as 25 percent of their annual sales between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“When I first started 15 years ago, someone walked up and said, ‘Do you sell gift certificates?’ And I said, ‘What’s that?’ says Mark Russell, founder of Scottsdale-based Oregano’s Pizza Bistro. “They turned out to be huge — we sold a lot. And since then it’s just gone nuts.”
Russell (pictured above) doesn’t want to reveal sales figures for his eight Oregano’s, including five in the East Valley, but says each will sell “tens of thousands of dollars worth” of gift cards during the holidays.
And unlike, say, a pair of sneakers made in China for a company headquartered in Oregon, money spent at a locally owned restaurant stays in the Valley.
Like most restaurants, Oregano’s offers gift cards in almost any denomination, although Russell says the average is around $25. They’re sold at all Oregano’s and can be used at any location.
Despite the economic recession, Russell expects to sell more gift cards than last December, mirroring the increased sales his restaurants have enjoyed all year.
“We concentrate on giving value — a good meal, good service at a good price,” he says. “It’s only been a few days (into the holiday season), but the trend this year is moving really nice.”
Sam Fox, a Scottsdale-based restaurateur who has 28 restaurants in four states, including 11 in the East Valley, also is seeing increased sales of gift cards.
“Right now, gift card sales are up over last year,” he says.
Fox’s cards, available on the company’s web site as well as all locations, can be redeemed at any of his restaurants, a diverse roster that includes Sauce, Olive & Ivy, Blanco Tacos + Tequila, North, Bloom and Wildflower.
“We think we have a great product to offer and believe guests get a great value, particularly since we offer so many different dining experiences here in the Valley,” he says.
Many restaurants are even adding gift-card incentives this season. Fox, for example, is offering an extra $15 card for every $100 worth purchased.
“Our gift card redemption rate is very high — about 93 percent — which is great because we want every guest who purchases our cards to use them,” he says.
At Oregano’s, Russell says the redemption is nearly 100 percent. And he expects even more gift-card sales next year.
“I see the trend continuing to grow,” he says.
GIFT CARD SUGGESTIONS
Looking for a gift for a difficult-to-please person on your holiday shopping list? Here are some suggestions for restaurant gift cards:
Pizza lovers
Humble Pie, 6149 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, (480) 556-9900, humblepieusa.com.
Classic Italian Pizzeria, 1030 E. Baseline Road, Tempe, (480) 345-4221.
Nello’s Pizza, several East Valley locations, nellospizza.com.
Oenophiles
Caffe Boa, 398 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, (480) 968-9112, cafeboa.com.
Fine’s Cellar, 7051 E. Fifth Ave., Scottsdale, (480) 994-3463, finescellar.com.
Cork, 4991 S. Alma School Road, Chandler, (480) 883-3773, corkrestaurant.net.
Locavores
Fresh From the Farm, 24810 S. Rittenhouse Road, Queen Creek, (480) 987-3100, schnepffarms.com.
Joe’s Farm Grill, 3000 E. Ray Road, Gilbert, (480) 563-4745, joesfarmgrill.com.
The Deli, 18914 E. San Tan Blvd., Queen Creek, (480) 279-3546, thedeliqc.com.
Carnivores
Joe’s Real BBQ, 301 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert, (480) 503-3805, joesrealbbq.com.
Don & Charlie’s, 7501 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale, (480) 990-0900, donandcharlies.com.
Chompie’s, several East Valley locations, chompies.com.
Herbivores
Green, 2240 N. Scottsdale Road, Tempe, (480) 941-9003, greenvegetarian.com.
Arcadia Farms, 7014 E. First Ave., Scottsdale, (480) 941-5665, arcadiafarmscafe.com.
Pita Jungle, several East Valley locations, pitajungle.com.
Gastronomes
Kai, 5594 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler, (602) 225-0100, wildhorsepass.com.
Binkley’s, 6920 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, (480) 437-1072, binkleysrestaurant.com.
Seasaw, 7133 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale, (480) 481-9463, seasaw.net.
World travelers
Latitude Eight, 11 W. Boston St., Chandler, (480) 722-0560, latitude-eight.com.
The Mission, 3815 N. Brown Ave., Scottsdale, (480) 636-5005, themissionaz.com.
Cornish Pasty Co., 960 W. University Drive, Tempe, (480) 894-6261, cornishpastyco.com.
Hipsters
Casey Moore’s Oyster House, 850 S. Ash Ave., Tempe, (480) 968-9935, caseymoores.com.
Digestif, 7114 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale, (480) 425-9463, digestifscottsdale.com.
Dooby’s Grill Café, 2909 S. Dobson Road, Mesa, (480) 756-0469, doobysgrillcafe.com.
Beer & burgers
Four Peaks Brewing Co., 1340 E. Eighth St., Tempe, (480) 303-9967, fourpeaks.com.
SanTan Brewing Co., 8 S. San Marcos Place, Chandler, (480) 917-8700, santanbrewing.com.
Teakwoods Tavern, several East Valley locations, teakwoodstavern.com.
South of the border
Los Sombreros Café & Cantina, 2534 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, (480) 994-1799, lossombreros.com.
Rancho de Tia Rosa, 3129 E. McKellips Road, Mesa, (480) 659-8787, ranchodetiarosa.com.
Someburros, several East Valley locations, someburros.com.
Sweet tooths
Aunt Lena’s Creamery, 4040 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler, (480) 802-1100, auntlena.net.
Better Than Sex Cake Café, 241 S. Oregon St., Chandler, (480) 722-1220, betterthansexcake.com.
Scratch Pastries, 7620 E. Indian School Road, Scottsdale, (480) 947-0057, scratchpastries.com.
Retail shops
Queen Creek Olive Mill, 25062 S. Meridian Road, Queen Creek, (480) 888-9290, queencreekolivemill.com.
The Pork Shop, 3359 E. Combs Road, Queen Creek, (480) 987-0101
Pop the Soda Shop, 1649 N. 74th St., Scottsdale, (480) 994-4505, popsoda.com.
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