How CPM Helped a venue without any foot traffic become a must-visit destination! The Vintage Secret Garden story
THE VINTAGE SECRET GARDEN
The Challenge
When we started working with Vintage Secret Garden in 2022, the owner faced a major challenge—filling a large 500-seat venue tucked away in the rural part of the Hills District that was not near any transport or foot traffic. While the space was stunning, with indoor and outdoor dining, lush garden areas, and picture-perfect spots, its hidden location and lack of nearby public transport made it difficult to attract customers. As there was no foot or passing by traffic so everything had to rely on good digital marketing campaigns to drive customers and business to the venue.
Apart from regular dining, Vintage Secret Garden also hosted small and intimate events, along with a high tea and high cheese offering. With the venue open for breakfast and lunch 7 days a week and dinner on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, online marketing had to work hard to bring in a steady flow of customers, as it was the only engine driving traffic to the venue.
The owner had used previous marketing agencies but was looking for one to bring in real results especially wanting to bounce back strongly after the COVID lockdowns.
The Strategy
We used our main hospitality marketing package and designed a targeted marketing campaign that highlighted all aspects of the business and focused on the areas where they could increase their revenues such as events and specialised days.
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These are the areas we focused on:
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Maximising event bookings – We focused on high-impact promotions for key dates like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Valentine’s Day, driving strong online inquiries that converted into sold-out, 500-seat events.
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Showcasing the venue’s beauty – We leveraged stunning visuals and social media strategies to attract visitors looking for a unique dining and event experience.
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Boosting weekday traffic – With a focus on high tea, high cheese, and lunch specials, we helped drive bookings beyond just peak weekend periods.
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Strengthening brand awareness – Since the venue was off the beaten track, we ensured it remained top of mind for potential customers, using consistent digital marketing efforts to maintain strong visibility.
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Building up a regular marketing strategy that would ensure that they remained in the limelight and become the go-to destination in the area. CPM also had to make sure the strategy covered the colder winter periods and could boost up sales then, in a predominantly outdoor-focused venue.
Results
Through a combination of strategic marketing, strong event promotions, and ongoing brand awareness, Vintage Secret Garden has successfully filled its expansive venue—even without a high-foot-traffic location.
They have most special event days booked out and solid consistent bookings through the regular periods as well. We are still working with VSG after 3 years and have established their name, reputation and awareness as a must-visit place and destination venue. They are well recognised now, especially in the area and have a steady and loyal customer base even if they don’t have any passing by foot or vehicle traffic. Their online presence and our focus on retargeting and remarketing to existing customers have helped to establish them as a go-to destination.
Over the years we’ve worked closely with the passionate owner and team to maintain and grow revenue year after year, proving that with the right online marketing strategy, even a hidden gem off the beaten path can become a success and destination venue that customers come to seek out!
