High-Quality Cheap Menu Covers

Sep 112010

You are a restaurant manager or owner in charge of budgeting for the direct operational costs of your dining institution, there are many different facets you must consider. From the pricing of utensils, stemware, and china to the costs of linens and decor, there are a number of different items and services that must be considered. While direct operating expenses make up quite a bit of the overhead costs associated with your restaurant, you must also consider the monthly occupancy fees, utilities, administration costs, marketing, and the costs that are caused by unforeseen repairs. Owning a restaurant, while it is a dream come true for many, can be a stressful and draining business if budgeting is not taken seriously. With all of the larger expenses spoken for, many managers fail to recognize the importance of budgeting for plastic or vinyl menu covers. While your choice of cover will speak volumes about your establishment to your patrons, it is important to know how to save money on cheap menu covers, without them looking inexpensive or unprofessional.

Most restaurant operators on a budget understand the importance of the look and contents of their menu. While the food they serve and the environment they serve it in is ultimately the reason a patron will visit your establishment, the design and look of your menu will speak about your business as a whole. While some businesses are fortunate to order case-bound padded menus that are customized and add elegance to any dining experience, in this economic state even commercial consumers are looking to save costs in every possible avenue of running their business. In order to save money, restaurant operation managers are browsing the Internet for more practical vinyl and plastic menu covers that will provide the protection paper menus need with the exorbitant price tag associated with other Pajco or De-Lite covers.

Think In Terms of Discount Menu Covers

If you are looking to trim costs, consider investing in bulk vinyl menu covers sold online for as low as $15 per dozen. Calculating at just about one dollar per menu cover, these alternatives are heat-sealed for maximum menu protection. Coming in a number of different styles from the single pocket 2-view, to the more versatile quad pocket booklet design for added versatility, restaurant owners will save thousands per year on their menu cover investment. The very versatile vinyl material can withstand high-traffic exposures, smudging, liquid spills, and heat, keeping your paper menus looking new and protected. With the added protection you will also cut down on additional printing costs caused by damaged paper menus. With the heat-edges you can achieve the laminated look you desire without paying for lamination.

Even menu cover manufacturers are struggling to maintain their businesses. With a number of different restaurants and dining institutions going out of business, the sales of padded covers has dropped significantly. Because of this cover manufacturers are adjusting prices and focusing on more affordable menu cover materials in order to keep up with the low cost demand of economy plastic covers. Manufacturers such as ClearGuard Products have even launched their own economy brand of plastic and heat-sealed covers and are committed to gaining loyal customers with their high-quality low-priced covers. Browse various inventories online and find those cheap menu covers that will live up to your quality expectations.

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Table Top Menu Holders: Styles, Uses and Pricing

Mar 182010

There are a variety of reasons why you might want menu holders to use for specific purposes in your restaurant.  If you are a manager or owner of the restaurant, there are specials and other items that you want highlighted.  Maybe you have a daily special or a monthly item that you are promoting; these holders make great table top ways to present those.  There is only a certain amount of time that your servers or yourself will have face-to-face with each customer.  Because of this, there is only a limited time to talk with them about these various ongoing promotions or specials.

As discussed, probably the best known of these is the table top menu holder.  This item comes in a variety of designs, styles and prices.  For a more thorough understanding of what is available and for more pictures and descriptions, you can search through the many listings online or find some here on our site.  Only the larger companies typically have the budget for advertising their products, so those are the ones that you will likely run in to.  However, if you have something a bit more custom in mind, there are great possibilities for those as well.  Just like with custom menu covers, there are always ways to make your unique stamp on things.  This is what the restaurant business is all about!  If you are just a franchise owner, then your decisions are basically crafted for you.  You don’t even have much flexibility with where you buy your products or for how much.  In most cases, the franchise dictates these terms and has the suppliers in line for you.  One benefit of this is that the items are typically offered at a fair price because of the large volume that the franchise likely orders.

Menu Holder Styles

This is a different kind of menu holder than what we are talking about.

The most basic table top style is a simple theme, often an acrylic or basic wire product.  These do the job, but are a bit boring.  For a more discerning crowd, you might opt for a more hand-crafted style of metal-edged holder or other custom design.  You can have your designer get really creative incorporating some aspects of your restaurant’s décor into this frame as well.  This is similar to how your menu cover might reflect the feel and style of your establishment as well.

Pricing for these types of menu holders range from $2 – 20 plus USD.  The higher price is for those fancier holders.  If you order a specialty, custom holder, you could spend $25 USD or more each.  You always get some type of volume pricing as well.  If your restaurant does a volume business, then the odds are that you are looking for something in the lower end of that price spectrum.  The logic here is that those restaurant menu holders are likely to be handled a lot and need to be easy to wipe clean.  Also, there is less impact if they are damaged because the replacements are quite inexpensive.  If you run many promotions or specials in your establishment, you will definitely see a return on your investment with some style of these menu holders.

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Menu Cover Ideas

Sep 242009

The search for the perfect match between menu and cover for that menu can seem daunting at first.  After all, you’d like for your guests to experience the best that your restaurant has to offer and feel good about what they see.  Your menu cover will be their first chance to get a sense of the style and consistency with your decor and food choices.  When we talk about topics like these, we are really getting into the nitty gritty of what gives a restaurant or niche café staying power – these menu cover ideas do make a difference.

An old menu in need of some new menu cover ideas.

An old menu in need of some new menu cover ideas.

What you will notice of dining establishments that stick around long enough to be profitable for long periods of time is that they are consistent.  You’ve probably heard the saying that a huge part of success is just showing up.  In our case, this means showing up and being reliable and consistent.  Being reliable in many respects means that your restaurant’s design is consistent with your guest’s expectations.  Notice we haven’t even talked about food yet.  When your menu covers reflect a certain personality that is also present in the food choices, you’ve just achieved another level of consistency.  What you will notice is that over time, maintaining this level of consistency breeds loyalty from your guests as well.

When people know what to expect from you – or your restaurant – they can be more free to recommend it to others.  If your style, service, food and other aspects are inconsistent, people get uncomfortable.  This can even mean changes that are designed to improve your establishment.  This doesn’t mean don’t improve, it means change with feedback and notice.  Allow your loyal guests to participate in the process where possible.

Have A Custom Menu Cover Contest

This is an example of something that can get your guests involved and also earn you some free press in the local media.  In this case, you could put the word out that your restaurant is holding a contest to design their new menu covers.  The winner of the custom menu cover contest will win a free dinner for four or something like that.  You could set the parameters such as material choices or even just have a place on the cover where the winning logo or text would appear.  This way, you could still maintain control over the main aspects of your design.

This is important because if you are set on getting leather menu covers with an elegant looking embossed image, you will not be inundated with metal designs or inserts for those simple plastic menu cover styles.  Something that has worked for some is to have a metal menu cover with a circle, oval or square space cut out of the center of the cover itself.  While certainly not a cheap menu cover choice, it will give you a considerably unique appearance.  This can then be fitted with a holder on the rear aspect of the main cover and can be made to hold an image or some sort of logo, shape or other design.

In the end, it is really a matter of choice as to how you will keep the covers for your menu consistent with the overall theme of your restaurant and food choices.  This is one of those things that seems very trivial to someone who has a hard time visualizing the details.  However, when all the little things work properly, it is much easier to work on larger aspects such as service and public relations.  After all, if the guests aren’t coming or returning, more importantly, then you don’t need any type of menu cover in the first place.

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Custom Menu Cover Choices

Aug 142009

You can find that sometimes in the restaurant business that being unique has its benefits.  I hope you could read through my subtly there:  being unique in the restaurant business is all you have!  If you are just like everything else that is out there, then there is really no need for people to come to your place is there.  The thing about us weird humans is that we are creatures of habit.  We like new and exciting things, but more than anything else, what we prefer en masse is consistency.  Now, don’t think that your simple menu cover is going to save you if your food is terrible.  This would be a very silly assumption, one I know you don’t share.

The point is this.  A reliable place to dine out is one of the reasons that many people give as to why they choose their favorite place.  Now, the food has to be good too, but not spectacular.  Did you get that?  Good or even great food is what is expected of your restaurant.  Unless you are going for a brand image like one of the larger chains or fast food places, your food better be the best or at least unique and exciting.  We get excited by very little things.  It could just be that the drinks have a little extra something about them, an umbrella, colored glasses, cool bar top, etc, etc.  Could your menu covers bring people into your restaurant?  Probably not, you get that one.  However, do you think they might be able to turn people away or at the least not wow them. Absolutely.

You see, it is up to you to entertain your guests with whatever means possible.  Since this site is about all the

A raised metal menu cover design.

different types of covers for menus, that is what area we focus on here.  This can be an area where you create that subtle but effective congruent and consistent message to your guests.  Think about it. What attracts people to certain dining establishments?  Most often, when a restaurant is new, it has the buzz factor.  You know, it is the new kid on the block.  It gets the write-ups, the free press, has the special offers and all the excitement that the staff have over their new ‘baby’.

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Over time, some of the glitter can fade.  What will never change is how the food tastes and, probably just as important, is how they feel about their experience in your restaurant.  Your service is a big part of this equation.  Another big part is the small things that all add up.  The cleanliness, décor, table appearances, staff appearances, promptness, food consistency from visit to visit and, yes, your menu cover choices.  As much as you will never know how it affects the experience someone has, it does.

When you are playing at a higher level, the level where you even consider custom menu covers, then you get this.  You get that having a specially treated copper menu cover will definitely wow your guests.  The beautiful colors, the logo or artistic expression it makes.  It is a nice touch.  When you can wow people before they even try your food, this is a good thing.  In marketing, this is referred to as a ‘continuous yes’.  At each step of their experience in your restaurant, your guest is having an internal dialogue.  You want that internal dialogue to be answering, “yes, I like this place”.

A wood and fabric menu cover can also make a strong statement of individuality in a sea of like restaurants.  Think about it like a woman wears her jewelry.  Sure, there are other rings and necklaces like hers.  But, how about wearing handmade jewelry?  That’s even more appealing.  It is the same concept with your menu covers.  There are other styles, you just want yours to feel unique and special.  The truth is, if you open a place in a city where there is little competition, then you can probably write your menu on a napkin or chalkboard and people will still flock to your place.  However, as more and more restaurants come to town, the details are what will impress your guests.  Imagine presenting your guests with a menu that has a wooden cover, complete with your restaurant name or logo embossed in gold or silver.  You can also get a wood menu cover that has various patterns to it.

The same could be said for custom designed metal menu covers. These could be in the form of wood and metal combinations.  Or, like most custom metal designs, have a logo, image or text cut into the cover itself.  This marks these covers as yours.  They are unique, no other place in town has them.  It is like a brand for your menus.  How do you think someone senses that level of commitment and attention to individuality?  They like it, that’s how.  It makes them feel like there are in a special place, which means they must be special in some way too.  Did you ever

think that this much could be played into your ‘simple’ menu cover choices?  If you don’t think this is true, then you are literally handing over what could be very loyal and regular guests over to the other guy’s place.

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Cafe and Restaurant Menu Covers

Aug 042009

So, you are looking for menu covers for your restaurant’s menus and you are wondering what options are available.  Considering what to use for your cover choices is a step that will pay big dividends for you in the way that your guests enjoy their food and time in your restaurant.  You don’t want to spend too much on the menu cover, but spending wisely is a smart move.

The one thing you should keep in mind, then, is what image and sense you want to portray to your guests.  A simple no-frills menu cover is an option and it portrays a certain feeling to your guests.  Something with more substance and presence about it will convey a very different feeling to your guests.  Again, these are some subtle distinctions that ultimately will affect their experience in your establishment.

Whether you own or manage a restaurant or cafe, your menu cover matters.

Whether you own or manage a restaurant or cafe, your menu cover matters.

Think about it from a dining experience.  When you go out to eat, you notice the little things.  This is partly because you are either intimately involved in the industry or have been and you know how these things matter.  Well, they matter to all of your guests too, they just don’t have the same level of conscious attention or awareness about such things.  But, one thing they will know is how they feel.  If their first impression is one of elegance or comfort, then they will be more inclined to carry this attitude with them regarding your restaurant.

Now, let’s not get carried away and think that the food has less importance than the cover that tells your guests what is available.  That would be silly to assume or try to suggest such a thing.  When we go out to dinner or a nice lunch, we are looking for both a quality meal but also great service.  Part of great service involves helping a guest have a more pleasant experience in your establishment.  They are partly there to be entertained.  Not entertained in a dance around and sing sort of way, but by the way they are treated.  Being greeted by a less than present young server with a plastic menu cover is one way to set a tone, it just isn’t the one I would recommend.  Age has little to do with how well someone feels treated.  A quite young person could deliver superb service and quite honestly wow your guests.  In fact, this would be a great way to make an even greater first impression.  Many people will be making all sorts of judgments about your restaurant, the food, the decor, etc.  If you wow them by surprise, they will remember you.

So, we’ve discussed how restaurant menu covers are part of the picture and a bit about how to make your guests get a great first impression with them.  But, what if you have more of a café style dining establishment?

Cafe Menu Covers

There are only some slight modifications from the restaurant menu cover with a cafe menu cover.  Mostly, these differences have to do with size.  With a traditional menu cover for a dinner establishment, the menu will usually measure like a standard sheet of paper (8 ½ x 11”) or slightly larger.  With the cafe menu, the size is typically made to be thinner and sometimes the same height, but can be taller than a regular menu.  This makes the menu options stand out differently and gives one the impression that they are there for a lighter meal.

Cafe menu covers come in essentially the same types of materials.  One thing we haven’t really discussed is fabrics.  Often, with a larger menu, it isn’t as conceivable to use a fabric that has a burlap-type texture or silky feel to it.  With use, these will simply wear out and break down.  Also, a dinner restaurant is not really the best place to utilize such fabrics.  However, they can still be used.  They would work great in a themed restaurant where you want a bamboo covered menu at that Asian restaurant.  For a cafe menu, you can get away with more playful ideas and use more single sided covers.  It is also possible to utilize the more costly metal menu covers because you don’t need as large a surface area to cover.  They may or may not be a different price due to this, but you can always inquire.   In the end, think about the message you are trying to portray.  Whether you own or manage a cafe or a more formal restaurant, the types of covers you utilize will make a difference, so choose wisely.

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