What Restaurants and Dining Establishments Can Do
Some activities you can consider offering:
Do a raffle for a donated item to give out at the end of the night.
Have table games available and/or tie it in with an activity that keeps people busy and helps them forget about their phones (Trivia, Game or Craft night).
Display a little inspiration - people can respond to a prompt and then have it displayed creatively.
Create a Kindness Rocks Garden
Decorate Inspirational Lanterns that can decorate your restaurant and/or then be taken home.
Hide a stuffed animal or character in a different spot each night and offer clues to kids coming in.
Become an Ember Member - Support the GDU awareness campaign by becoming an annual Ember Member ($120 donation). With membership, you will get:
25 Smartphone Nap-Sacks to hand out to customers and ability to buy more
Your business mentioned on the GDU website
Custom “Unplugged Village” badge + announcement media kit
Program brainstorming sessions with GDU Team
Plan a gathering at home or at a venue. Host a group of friends at your table or find a restaurant, winery/brewery without TVs that plays quiet music. Approach the manager to see if they would offer an incentive to diners who come in and place their cell phones in a basket or box for the duration of their meal.
Ways that businesses can support GDU and encourage customer participation:
Offer discounts (10%, 20% or 30% off, free cookie or BOGO) when you mention code “UNPLUG”.
Encourage customers to stash their phone during a meal for a discount or offer an incentive that gets repeat customers (2 for 1 drink coupon etc).
Use signage around the restaurant. Here are Signs - you can download and print. Use with table stands or place inside old cigar boxes or other containers. Add downloadable games or small board or table games as well.
Offer a special drink or meal item (ie - “The Unplugged Latte”) for the day.