A perfect ribeye might bring them in once, but what keeps customers coming back week after week? Word of mouth and excellent products aren’t enough for many butcher shops to drive steady foot traffic, especially during slow weeks.
Targeted deals — from freezer bundles to holiday preorders — help move inventory, increase order size, and build customer habits. And when you pair these promotions with a point of sale (POS) system that tracks performance, you can fine-tune what works — and skip what doesn’t.
Try these six butcher shop promotions to increase profits, speed up sell-through, and keep your counter busy year-round.
Why the Right Sales Strategies Matter
Meat doesn’t sit on the shelf forever. Promotions help you sell perishable inventory before it spoils, while making your prep, staffing, and production easier.
Here’s how tailored butcher shop promotions support operations:
-
Move product before quality drops: Focus on fresh ground meats, sausage, or poultry that only stay peak for up to one week.
-
Balance out high- and low-margin cuts: Group premium steaks with slower-moving items like stew meat, soup bones, or pork shoulder to move full primals.
-
Reduce excess trimming and portioning: Promote specific cuts ahead of time so your team only processes what they need for the day or week.
-
Free up walk-in and freezer space: Clear large or bulky inventory with multipack or meal prep bundles before your next big order arrives.
-
Predict labor needs more accurately: Base staffing and prep on planned promotions instead of guessing which cuts will sell.
Promotions can help you make sales, but they also bring structure to your workflow, protect your margins, and make inventory easier to manage.
6 Butcher Shop Promos To Boost Activity in Your Store
Not sure which sales strategies work for a butcher shop? Try these pricing tactics you can tailor to your layout, volume, and product focus — whether you’re selling fresh cuts, house-made specialties, or bulk freezer packs.
1. BOGO for Slower-Moving Cuts
Buy one, get one (BOGO) deals are a practical way to sell through cuts that don’t move as quickly without slashing prices across the board. They work best for prepped and ready items that don’t move fast on their own.
To put this into practice:
-
Pick slower-moving cuts with decent shelf life, such as pork chops, drumsticks, or smoked sausage.
-
Run the offer midweek to increase slower traffic days.
-
Bundle by weight or pack size to keep pricing simple.
-
Prompt counter staff to mention the deal when ringing up qualifying items.
This kind of promotion keeps slower-moving inventory moving without cutting into your profits — and gives customers an easy, low-risk way to try something new.
2. Themed Meat Bundles for Weekly Meal Planning
Many customers shop at the start of the week with dinner in mind. Bundles built around specific meals make it easier for them to buy everything they need at once, and push more volume through your counter in fewer transactions.
Drive interest with these steps:
-
Sell a “Weeknight Dinner Pack” with quick-cook staples like thin-cut pork chops, turkey cutlets, and beef stir-fry strips.
-
Create a “Family Roast Kit” with a chuck roast and broth to stretch across multiple meals.
-
Package cuts by prep style — like a “Grill & Smoke” set with ribs, brats, and kebab-ready steak.
-
Launch new bundles every Sunday or Monday to match how people plan the week.
Market the bundle as a weekly subscription — turn one-time purchases into a standing order that customers can pick up each week.
3. Flash Sales and Daily Specials
Quick-turn specials allow you to clear inventory before it reaches the sell-by date. They also motivate frequent shoppers to stop in regularly to see what’s new or on sale.
Here’s how to run these butcher shop promotions:
-
Discount a single cut for one day, like turkey thigh on Mondays or lamb chops on Thursdays.
-
Write the deal on a countertop sign near the register so customers see it while they wait.
-
Post the special on Facebook or Instagram by mid-morning to reach your lunch and after-work crowd.
-
Schedule flash sales on quieter weekdays to increase traffic between weekend rushes.
If you sell meat online, feature the daily special on your homepage and add a countdown timer to create urgency.
4. “Buy More, Save More” Bulk Discounts
Roughly 75% of consumers say they buy products in bulk. Whether filling a freezer or feeding a crowd, tiered pricing gives them a reason to add more to the order. Even a small price break per pound can turn a two-pack into five.
Structure the offer like this:
-
Set tiered pricing, such as $9/lb for one to two pork chops, $8.50/lb for three to four, and $8/lb for five or more.
-
Apply the deal to versatile cuts with steady demand, like boneless chicken breasts, ground pork, or beef stew meat.
-
Place signage at the counter or service window where customers finalize the quantity.
-
Review POS data regularly to adjust pricing tiers and swap in cuts based on sales trends and available margin.
Bulk discounts help you move larger quantities, reduce overstock, and keep your case turning without constant discounting.
5. Loyalty Programs or Digital Rewards
Returning customers are 60% to 70% more likely to make a purchase than new ones, and they typically spend 67% more per visit. A loyalty program turns that behavior into something you can build on week after week.
Use your POS system to set it up and track customer perks:
-
Create a product-specific reward, like “Buy 10 packs of house sausage, get one free,” so the program stays simple and easy to follow.
-
Pair loyalty milestones with slower-moving items — for example, offer a free jar of marinade or dry rub on the fifth visit.
-
Apply rewards automatically during checkout so staff don’t need to track visits or manage customer information manually.
-
Display progress on receipts so customers know how many visits remain until their next reward.
Let customers join at checkout or through your website, so it’s easy for them to opt in regardless of how they shop.
6. Seasonal or Holiday Preorders
Americans spent over $9 billion on food for July 4th in 2024 — and that’s just one holiday! Family gatherings mean large orders (and more revenue), but only if you give customers a way to reserve what they need in advance.
Plan ahead with these tips:
-
Feature limited-run items like bone-in hams, holiday roasts, or brisket packs that require early prep and inventory.
-
Take deposits up front to lock in orders and prevent last-minute cancellations.
-
Assign pickup windows to stagger traffic and ease pressure on your prep and counter staff.
-
Advertise the order window with bold signage near your case, printed inserts in bags, and scheduled reminder emails.
Preorders give you control over labor, inventory, and timing, turning peak seasons into organized, high-volume wins.
Increase Repeat Business With Targeted Butcher Shop Promotions
Great butcher shop promotions sell meat, push repeat visits, and keep margins healthy — but they only work if you’ve got the right tools in place. From bulk discounts to holiday preorders, every promotion needs accurate pricing, reliable stock data, and a quick way to check customers out.
Markt POS helps you offer regular, attractive butcher shop promotions. It tracks inventory live, alerts you to low stock, and syncs directly with your scale for accurate pricing. You can view sales reports to see trends, plan bundles, and keep your displays fresh. Plus, mobile app, credit card, and contactless payments speed up checkout and keep lines moving.
Use the Markt POS Build and Price tool to customize a system that fits your butcher shop and supports your promotional strategy.
