The figures and scenarios in this article are illustrative: adapt them to your margins and your own data. They are not EasyFid customer results. See how to measure your results.
Every shop has its slow hours. Tuesday afternoons at the hair salon. Between 2 and 4 p.m. at the bakery. 3 p.m. at the restaurant. These empty hours cost you: the shop is open, salaries are running, but revenue isn't coming in. How can you fill these gaps with your loyal customers without cutting your prices?
Loyalty isn't just a retention tool. It can also even out your traffic across the week and month. Your best customers—those who come back regularly—are exactly the ones you can gently nudge to shift their habits. No pressure, just small incentives.
Table of contents
Identify your real slow hours
Before you act, know exactly when you're selling little. Not vague feelings: look at your last three months of sales history, day by day, hour by hour if you can. Is a gap from 1 to 2 p.m. a real loss? Or do a few customers still buy?
Some shops have multiple slow periods: before 10 a.m., between 3 and 5 p.m., and all day Monday. Others have a seasonal dip (summer for some, November–December too quiet). Identify your three or four worst time slots, and focus first on the two most painful.
Which customers to target
Don't try to shift customers who come at the same time every week. Mrs. Dupont on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.—that's her ritual. Pushing her to come Tuesday afternoon risks losing her. Focus on customers who visit one to three times a month, at varying times.
These flexible customers are your best candidates. They have no ingrained habit, and a small incentive can get them to visit in slow hours. Ask your best regulars too, but don't push hard. Some will love coming at a different time; others prefer to keep their slot.
The right incentives
Here's what works for loyal customers, in order of effectiveness:
A personal mention. "I've noticed you come in often. Would you try coming on Tuesday next? We'd have more time for you." It's free, takes two seconds, and many customers love being recognized. The service doesn't have to cost you anything.
A points bonus on that day. "Tuesdays and Thursdays after 3 p.m.: double points for all our regulars." It's a clear, temporary incentive that creates momentum without much cost. It's mainly a loyalty program tool.
A small surprise. A free cookie, a free coffee, ten minutes of consultation instead of five. It's tangible, feels good, and costs little. Offer it once a week during slow hours, to one or two customers.
Example: the double-points mechanic
Say a loyal customer spends €20 on average per visit and comes twice a month. You make €40 on them monthly. If you offer double points on Tuesday and they come one extra time that month, you make €60 instead of €40. Your margin stays the same. The only "cost" is the value of those points they'll accumulate faster, but that's a few euros over several months.
Skip price cuts. Cutting your price attracts bargain hunters, not your loyal customers. Loyal customers buy at your full price because they trust you and value your quality. Dropping the price confuses them and pushes them away.
How to pitch the idea
Start at the counter. Look your regular customers in the eye and say: "I've noticed you mostly come on Saturdays. How about trying a Wednesday? I can give you more time that day." Simple, honest, no marketing jargon.
A quiet sign can help too: "Tuesdays and Thursdays after 3 p.m.: double points for our regulars." Nothing more. No flashy poster that scares people off. Your best customers will see it and understand. The idea works best when it comes from you, face to face.
With your loyalty database, you also have a way to target precisely. Your customer file shows who visits often and who's becoming irregular. Start with the irregular ones: they're your best candidates to break their habits.
Measure the effect
After two or three weeks of incentives, check your sales during that time slot. Did you get three more customers on Tuesday after 3 p.m.? That's a win. None? Try a different approach or day. Don't force it if it's not working.
Listen to what customers say too. "I liked coming Tuesday, it's quieter." That's a signal a real habit could form. "It's not the right time for me"—that's fine too. Respect it.
Filling your slow hours is like watering a garden.
Not with a blast of water, but with care. Your loyal customers are the key. Recognize their habits, invite them gently to shift them slightly, and reward them lightly. That's what builds real regularity and steadies your days.
📱 App Store 🤖 Google PlayFAQ
What are slow hours in a shop?
Slow hours vary by type. For a hair salon, it's weekday afternoons. For a bakery, it's around 5 p.m. after the morning rush. For a restaurant, it's between lunch and dinner service. What matters is spotting your real gaps.
How do you get customers to come during slow hours?
Offer light, targeted incentives: a reward bonus that day, extra points, a small gift, or simply your time and attention. Loyal customers often value service more than a discount.
Will customers change their habits?
Very regular customers have fixed schedules and don't like to change them. Those who visit one to three times a month are more flexible. Start with them, and never push your most rigid regulars to come at hours that don't suit them.
Should you cut prices to fill slow hours?
No. Price cuts attract deal-seekers, not loyal customers. Loyal customers value your attention, a points bonus, or a small extra. The goal is to fill the void without hurting your profit.