In hospitality, tangible details create the complete experience that keeps guests returning.

1. Menus: Your Most Important Sales Tool

Your menu is more than a list of offerings—it’s your primary sales driver and a critical brand touchpoint.

Main Dining Menus

Design Considerations:

Material Options:

Pro Tip: Use menu engineering principles. Box or highlight high-profit signature dishes, use strategic descriptions that increase perceived value, and avoid dollar signs (studies show “$12” reduces spending vs “12”).

Drink Menus

Types to Consider:

Bar Menu Best Practices:

Specialty Menus

Update Strategy: Plan for menu updates every 3-6 months. Print in quantities that align with this schedule to maintain freshness while managing costs.

2. Table Tents: Silent Salespeople

Table tents are your opportunity to upsell without interrupting the dining experience.

Effective Uses:

Design Tips:

Specifications:

ROI Example: A table tent promoting a $9 appetizer that converts just 20% of 100 daily tables generates an additional $180/day or $5,400/month—for a print investment under $100.

3. Coasters: Functional Branding

Custom coasters serve dual purposes: protecting surfaces and reinforcing your brand with every drink.

Types:

Design Strategies:

Distribution: Every drink served should have a branded coaster—that’s hundreds of brand impressions daily.

4. Window Graphics and Signage

Your windows are prime marketing real estate visible 24/7 to street traffic.

Essential Window Signage:

Hour Signs:

Promotional Graphics:

Permanent Branding:

Material Options:

Pro Tip: Use the “rule of 3 seconds”—passersby should grasp your message in 3 seconds or less.

5. Promotional Materials

Gift Certificates:

Loyalty Cards:

Event Flyers:

6. Outdoor Signage

A-Frame Sidewalk Signs:

Banners:

Yard Signs/Coroplast Signs:

7. Takeout and Delivery Materials

With takeout representing 60% of restaurant sales post-pandemic, these materials are critical:

To-Go Menus:

Business Cards:

Stickers and Labels:

Packaging Inserts:

8. Staff Materials

Name Tags:

Uniforms with Printed Elements:

Training Materials:

9. Napkins: Underrated Brand Touchpoint

Custom printed napkins elevate the guest experience and provide constant brand exposure.

Types:

Printing Options:

Material Choices:

10. Restroom Marketing

Captive audiences provide unique marketing opportunities:

Framed Posters:

Mirror Clings:

Consideration: Keep it tasteful and relevant—restroom marketing should enhance the experience, not feel intrusive.

Seasonal and Holiday Materials

Rotate these throughout the year:

Materials Needed:

Cohesive Branding Across All Materials

Consistency builds recognition and professionalism:

Brand Elements to Maintain:

Create a Brand Guide: Document your standards for in-house reference and to provide to your print vendor for consistency across all orders.

Budgeting for Restaurant Print Materials

Allocate 2-4% of gross revenue to marketing, with approximately 40-60% dedicated to print materials.

Initial Startup Print Budget:

Ongoing Monthly:

Print Material Best Practices

1. Quality Over Quantity: Cheap-looking materials undermine your brand. Invest in professional design and quality printing.

2. Update Regularly: Stale promotions and outdated materials signal inattention. Schedule regular refreshes.

3. Test and Measure: Try different table tent promotions and track which items sell. Optimize based on results.

4. Professional Photography: Invest in food photography that makes items irresistible. Amateur photos hurt sales.

5. Durability Matters: Restaurant environments are tough on printed materials. Choose appropriate coatings and materials.

6. Proofread Everything: Typos on menus look unprofessional and can confuse orders. Triple-check before printing.

Working with a Print Partner

Choose a print provider who understands hospitality:

What to Look For:

Questions to Ask:

Measuring Print Marketing Success

Track These Metrics:

ROI Calculation: Compare the cost of print materials to the incremental revenue they generate. Well-executed table tents routinely return 10:1 or better.

Conclusion

Print materials are the unsung heroes of restaurant and bar marketing. They work silently in the background, shaping atmosphere, guiding decisions, and reinforcing your brand with every guest interaction.

From the menu that drives sales to the coaster that protects the table while promoting your brand, each printed element plays a role in the complete guest experience. Invest in quality materials, maintain brand consistency, and update regularly to keep your establishment fresh and engaging.

The restaurants and bars that thrive are those that pay attention to every detail—and that includes the print materials that surround their guests from arrival to departure.

Ready to elevate your restaurant or bar with professional print materials? Our team specializes in hospitality printing with quick turnarounds, durable materials, and designs that drive sales.