It’s been an ever-changing world for restaurants in the summer of 2020. Closings, re-openings, and reductions to usable space have become the norm. Restaurants need to adapt to stay operating.
With these frequent changes comes a greater need to keep customers informed and safe. Here’s the dish on how paper and other techniques can play an important role in the operation of food & drink establishments.
Menus
Menus pass through many sets of hands throughout the day, and plastic menus in particular are among the most unclean areas in a restaurant. It has been estimated that plastic menus can have bacteria counts as high as 185,000 per square centimeter. Yuk. That’s more than a toilet seat.
Single-use paper menus help control further spread of viruses as they do not require sterilization. Restaurants can also use paper as placemats, wine lists and drink menus.
Printing menus digitally on paper also gives restaurants a cost-efficient and real-time way to update materials due to seasonal availability, discontinuations or new additions.
For businesses that want to reuse menus safely multiple times, there are options. One durable restaurant menu option is to print on Yupo Synthetic Papers. This product eliminates the need for lamination. It’s also tear-proof and made to withstand the toughest conditions including chemicals, wetness, and rough handling. It can also be disinfected with cleansers without impact to image quality.
Touchless Menus
And for those who want to supplement paper with touchless menus, some restaurants are employing QR codes where the menu can be presented to diners on their phones.
Signage
Signage should be used to message safety precautions or updates to operating practices. Signage is a great way to communicate changes in how orders are placed or the flow of business as your restaurant adjusts its order and serving flow. Well-designed signs are not only important in building customer confidence – they are also important in supporting a firm’s brand.
Brand Identity
With more and more restaurants offering delivery or carry-out services, it’s important that orders bear a restaurant’s branding. Items like food packaging (paper bags and boxes) and take-out menus should be professionally printed branded and accompany every order. Customers need to be reassured that they can expect the same level of quality and service, no matter if they are taking out or eating in.
Direct Mail
Restaurants should also take advantage of direct mail to build awareness and traffic. Many of us are at home ALL the time in front of screens; we are suffering from digital fatigue. Because of this, direct mail has an advantage over other traditional sources, especially digital. Direct mail also provides the opportunity to promote discounts, coupons or specials to loyal patrons.
For more information on how Heeter can support your restaurant’s reopening, please contact us at 724-746-5000.
