Case Study
Holy Basil Thai
500 +
direct orders in the first month generating over 30k in sales
$11,000
savings from third-party fees in less than 4 weeks
$835,000
in revenue over time
How Holy Basil Thai Drove $30,000 in Sales and Saved $120K in Fees
In Croydon, Victoria, Holy Basil Thai has long been a local favourite. Owners Duncan and Julia built their reputation on fresh, sustainably sourced seafood, innovative, vegan, vegetarian and a modern approach to Thai cooking. Their warm service and welcoming dining room made the restaurant a true community hub.The Challenge: Lockdowns Threatened Everything
When COVID-19 restrictions hit Victoria, everything changed overnight. Suddenly, Holy Basil Thai could no longer welcome diners in-house. With no delivery or takeaway system in place, Duncan and Julia faced the risk of losing not only revenue but also the strong connection they had built with their loyal customer base.
The Strategy: Going Direct and Cutting Out Middlemen
To protect their business and pivot quickly, Holy Basil Thai worked with Extreme Marketing, we are Melbourne-based digital marketing agency specialising in restaurant growth strategies, to develop a commission-free approach to increasing revenue and customer loyalty. Our tailored restaurant marketing plan focused on:
- Promoting Direct Ordering – Encouraging customers to place orders directly through the restaurant’s own channels, rather than relying on high-commission third-party delivery apps.
The Results: From Survival to Growth
- In the first month alone, Holy Basil Thai received 500+ direct orders, worth over $30,000 in sales.
- With an average order value above $70, each delivery was sustainable and profitable.
- Avoiding third-party platforms saved $11,000 in fees in just four weeks.
- Over time, direct online orders generated more than $835,000 in revenue, keeping money in the business rather than lost to commissions.
- Had they relied on external apps, they would have lost $120,000 in fees.