Plan for a Big Day on Monday, April 8, 2024 — Total Solar Eclipse
On Monday, April 8, a Total Solar Eclipse will cross parts of the U.S., giving communities in the Path of Totality an economic boost. A recent Forbes article indicated that the U.S. could see $1 billion boost from the Total Solar Eclipse from hotels, flights and rental cars to food, gas, special events and souvenirs.
Where and what is the Total Solar Eclipse?
Parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine will experience the Total Solar Eclipse. Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan will also experience the total solar eclipse, according to NASA.
During a total solar eclipse, the Moon completely blocks the Sun while it passes between the Sun and Earth. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk and those standing in the path of totality may see the Sun’s outer atmosphere (the corona) if weather permits, NASA says.
NASA has a chart that pinpoints exactly when locations are in partial, totality, max totality, and ending times. See when exactly your area will be in totality.
The April event carries significance because the next time the United States will experience a total solar eclipse will be in August of 2044, 20 years from now.
What can my business do for the Total Solar Eclipse?
By Josh Keown
If your pizzeria falls into the Path of Totality, your community may be bursting at the seams with locals and out-of-town visitors looking to experience the once-in-a-lifetime eclipse. How are you capitalizing on the opportunity to crush Monday sales?
Communities have been planning for the influx of thousands traveling to be in the Path of Totality for several months. Last year, Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement created a 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Planning Toolkit available to help community leaders in the state plan for the event.
The toolkit advised Indiana to expect between 145,000 and 581,000 eclipse visitors, noting that 3,947,000 people already living inside the path of totality. The guide encouraged communities to create unique eclipse viewing opportunities, including festival, downtown and main street event, viewing parties, science demonstrations as well as local businesses to think creatively.
Hopefully your community has planned a large-scale event that you are participating in or that you are hosting your own eclipse watch party. If you are closed Mondays, it may be worth it to open or participate in your community’s event.
Tips for your business to capitalize on the Total Solar Eclipse
It’s not too late to take part in Total Solar Eclipse festivities. Here are a few ideas:
- Contact your local tourism bureau, chamber of commerce, neighborhood business association and other community organizations so see if you can set up a tent or your mobile pizza oven in their festivity.
- Throw a viewing party. Be aware that you can not look directly at the eclipse. It will require special viewing glasses. Your community may have a bulk supply of these available so check locally first. Go to NASA’s Total Solar Eclipse Safety to learn more about what you need to know about safety and types of solar viewers to look for.
- Create an eclipse-themed Limited Time Offer. Go classic or get creative. Think Pie in the Sky, Moon Pies, Milky Way, Space Junk (food) — you get the idea.
- Create a Picnic package (offer apps, pizza, dessert and drinks) for people to take to the solar viewing parks. Allow them to reserve ahead.
- Police departments have issued statements advising drivers to plan ahead and expect long traffic delays. Think outside of the box with “The Drive Home” carryout specials or give them an option to avoid the traffic with a post eclipse party.
- If you are close to or in the mix of the eclipse festivities, don’t forget to have your grab-and-go items and merchandise front and center. You can even offer Eclipse-themed specialty items.
- Do you have a patio with open sky views? Host a ticketed viewing lunch event with food, drinks, festivities, solar viewers, etc. People will pay a premium for a unique experience.
- Provide some entertainment or special festivities to encourage visitors to come in.
For pizzerias closed on Monday, here are a couple ideas for you:
- Open for Special Hours from 2 hours before your eclipse to 2 hour past the eclipse time.
- Rent out your parking lot as event parking. We’ve seen businesses charge anywhere from $10 to $50 per space for parking and up to $125 for RV parking.
- Offer your business for private catering for another business, organization or group.
Now let’s talk about some business operational logistics on April 8’s Total Solar Eclipse
In communities that have marketing themselves as THE DESTINATION to view the Total Solar Eclipse, it will not be business as usual. With such an influx of people, you’ll need to plan ahead for a number of business operations tasks. Here are a few things you may need to adjust:
- Plan for alternate delivery routes. Talk to local agencies about their traffic plan.
- Change the times of when staff arrive and leave so you can ensure they are not stuck in the traffic.
- You may need to pick alternate times or days for your supplier deliveries. Or may have to change delivery locations.
- Have a plan for limited or slow cellular and internet connections, along with payment/ordering process slowdowns.
- You may want to increase your food and drinks supply.
- Have a plan for unsold food if the weather decreases the expected turnout.
- Avoid meetings and routine maintenance on April 8, if possible.
Lastly, if you have a great event or specials planned for the Total Solar Eclipse, we want to hear about it and add it here as an example. Tag @PizzaToday on Instagram.
Weather Forecast for the Path of Totality During the Total Solar Eclipse
We’re getting a first look at the forecast for the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8. Weather will impact the crowds of eclipse viewers. Check out what the forecast looks like in Illinois and Indiana areas of totality. Type in your zip code and see what the cloud cover will be like in your area.
