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With the right type of menus and signage, restaurants can effectively communicate their new safety measures, inspiring consumers to confidently enter their establishments.
According to Datassential’s recent report COVID-19 Temperature Check, diners expect restaurants to ensure a safe environment. Of those surveyed, 81% said they would be more careful to check if restaurants are enforcing safety precautions before deciding where to eat.
Whether for dine-in, carry-out or curbside pickup, some of the products restaurant operators are using most to convey safety measures and ensure customers comply include:
- Laminated or water-resistant paper menus that can be easily sanitized between uses. For example, at the start of the pandemic, one national casual-dining steakhouse chain pivoted to water-resistant paper for menus, so they can be cleaned in view of customers after each use and economically replaced each week or every couple of days.
- QR codes for contactless ordering. A fast-casual sandwich brand recently introduced QR code menus on signs outside its restaurants so customers can simply scan the sign and have their carryout order go straight into the checkout flow, same as if they were ordering inside.
- Adhesive surface graphics that convey safety messages on smooth or uneven surfaces. For example, in spring a family-dining chain opened for outdoor dining in its adjacent parking lots and is using social distancing stickers on the pavement to ensure customers keep their distance and provide guidance on the flow of customers and staff.
Sourcing signage, menus
At a time when everything is so uncertain, having the right materials to communicate safety measures can make or break a restaurant. As COVID-related safety guidelines and consumers’ expectations continue to evolve, the challenge for operators is finding a print vendor with the scalability and flexibility to produce and deliver the right materials quickly and easily.
With dine-in regulations varying state-by-state, one casual-dining bar and grill chain found it needed the ability to print a variety of different materials on-demand for its hundreds of franchisees across the country. The chain partnered with a printing company that could host its suite of collateral in an online portal, enabling each franchisee to log in and order menus and signage specific to their locations.
Additionally, the bar and grill chain’s franchisees were able to pick up completed orders at one of the printer’s local retail locations, saving time and money by avoiding shipping charges. In some cases, the printer delivered free of charge to franchisees located within a certain distance from a retail locations.
When looking for a printing collaborator, operators should consider these three tips:
- Seek out quality. First and foremost, operators need to trust that their materials will represent their brand well. While cost is always a consideration, especially now when every penny is being counted, it won’t matter if money is saved if the product doesn’t do its job.
- Make it fast. Given the pace at which change is happening during the pandemic, it’s important to choose a printer that can produce and replace materials quickly and easily, in a matter of days, not weeks.
- Opt for a one-stop shop. With many restaurants running on reduced staff, it’s not feasible for operators to deal with multiple vendors to produce their materials or to leave the premises to go pick them up. Instead, find a company that can build a solution that fits the brand’s needs, and can handle individual franchisees’ needs locally.
Choosing the right printing vendor that can meet a restaurant’s specific needs will ensure the business can demonstrate its commitment to protect customers as they begin to return to dining in — and long after the pandemic is behind us.
FedEx Office has the capabilities and experience to deliver printed materials that give customers the confidence they need to visit your restaurants. To learn more about FedEx Office print solutions or to discuss a print program with a sales representative, go to fedex.com/intheknow
