subject: The Changing Business of Menu Printing [print this page] The Changing Business of Menu Printing The Changing Business of Menu Printing
Menu printing has changed as a business due to the evolution of on-line ordering and the popularity of take-out dining. Despite the technological advances available to the restaurant industry, menu printing is still a vital piece to the success and accessibility of an establishment. Furthermore, for special events, meetings or conferences, menu printing is the most effective way to communicate a meal plan or options to a large group of people. Menu printing is an investment that should be handled with the advice of a professional so that the client ends up with a functional, attractive product that supports their message and product.
Just as the sales of paperback and hard cover books have declined with an increase in the number of digital reader users, paper menu printing options are not as popular for take-out ordering as they once were. Companies offering incentives for ordering on-line are furthering the transition from paper menus to webpage layouts that serve the same purpose. Smart phones and other personal electronic applications to find dining, peruse menus and place orders all work against the menu printing business for casual dining. Although these changes are taking place and appear to be progressing all the time, paper menus still have their place in culture as a tangible, functional accessory with visceral qualities no on-line presentation can duplicate. Placing a take-out magnet or menu on the refrigerator, for instance, is still considered by many the most convenient method of finding and using contact information in the future.
Menu printing that is intended to serve marketing purposes cannot be replicated through on-line means. Menus that are printed and placed in high traffic areas in a corporate park or college campus are far more likely to drive abundant new business than an advertisement on a web page. The marketing potential of a menu printing job performed with tangible materials far exceeds on-line advertising sections that are widely considered a burden of internet browsing. Consumers who are searching on-line are likely to close out or ignore web advertisements that get in the way of their search, considering such pop-ups and special sections to be a nuisance and not worth additional research.
Promoting specials and offering coupons through menu printing and marketing gives customers an incentive to contact the establishment in question after they have handled and read the flyer. Posters, promotional brochures and coupon pamphlets are a good source of new and repeat business for establishments using menu printing to increase revenue. Ultimately, the desires of consumers will benefit menu printers by supporting their value through changes in the industry.
