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.

Photo credit

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.

Photo by firstyearta

© 2012 Menu Cover Info Suffusion theme by Sayontan Sinha