The restaurant industry isn’t the most technical, nor is it the most confusing when it comes to the verbiage that is used, however I get the sense that there are instances when people on the other end of the phone are left scratching their heads when I use certain terms. To help curb some of the confusion, I have created an A to Z list of menu board terms that I often use. As you make your way through the list you’ll notice that they aren’t all exactly “technical terms.” Some refer to feelings you may have along the menu board process. And to be frank, coming up with terms for some letters was tough!
Menu Board Terms From A to Z
October 25, 2012 By Origin Display Group
Filed Under: Digital Menu Boards, Menu Boards
Sometimes ‘Less is More’ When it Comes to Menu Boards
October 18, 2012 By Origin Display Group
When it comes time to buy your menu boards or to revisit your existing ones a lot of thought has to be given to how you set your menu boards up and what is actually going to go on to the panels. As far as how to set the boards up, a lot depends on your location and how you can make things work in the most effective way. Different footprints and different concepts should lead you in the appropriate direction. As for what goes on the menu boards, that is a different story. We live in a world where it is becoming more and more difficult to carve out a niche in the restaurant industry. I see Chinese restaurants now offering sushi, Italian restaurants with burgers on the menu, convenience stores with fried chicken and the list goes on. As a result these types of restaurants are ending up with enormous menus in an attempt to be “everything to everyone” and are spending way more than they should on their menu board system. In an attempt to minimize this, you should entertain the following 5 suggestions.
Filed Under: Menu Boards
Your Menu Board Questions Answered!
October 12, 2012 By Origin Display Group
As the days go by, and conversations are had, I have taken notice of some of the common questions that I get asked. I thought it may be useful to address some of them this week. The reason is two-fold. For one, they are more eloquently answered in written form and two, it can provide as a soundboard for questions that others are asking but what you may have yet to think about. A couple of notes to consider before reading the Q&A:
- For the most part, the questions are written in a formal way than how they are actually asked.
- Some of the questions aren’t actually stated, but insinuated through conversations. Put another way, they are questions that people are asking themselves.
Filed Under: Digital Menu Boards, Display Fixtures, Drive-thru Menu Boards, Menu Boards
How Digital Menu Boards Differ From Digital Signage
September 28, 2012 By Origin Display Group
I should probably start off this blog by stating that I am going to be using some generalities when speaking about what is needed in each scenario. The truth is, only you would know what would work best for your given situation. With that said, the price is important but should not be the determining factor unless it is absolutely necessary. When it comes to digital menu boards, we have spelled out what makes a true solution in the past. As far as digital signage, typically this is made up of one of the two main components of digital menu boards. For the most part this is the main difference between the two; however there are other instances where one make more sense than the other.
Filed Under: Digital Menu Boards, Menu Boards
Menu Board Companies Versus Sign Companies
September 20, 2012 By Origin Display Group
So it happened again, and it won’t be the last time. I shared a couple of conversations with an individual who was looking for menu boards. She did a search on Google, and BAM, there we were. Similar to most chats, we talked about different options and of course, price. Personally, my objective is always to get an idea of how they are currently doing it, how they have handled it in the past and why they are looking for a change at this time. Further, budget is always an important factor so that we do not waste each other’s time discussing ideas and options that are not feasible. I also tend to briefly delve in to what we do in the way of more “consultative” services to make sure we are creating something that will have an impact.
Filed Under: Digital Menu Boards, Menu Boards
Your Quick-Service Restaurant – Do it the Right Way!
September 17, 2012 By Origin Display Group
Another week is upon us which means it is time for another blog. As for this week, I thought I would talk about something that donned on me after I strolled in to a couple of new quick-service places for lunch last week. Being that I come from the industry you are reading about, I tend to micro-focus on how different places do different things. As is with any new business, there is this age-old saying from “Field of Dreams” that people tend to agree or disagree with:
If you build it, they will come.
Some would argue that in business, “If they come, then you build it.” I personally think that the right approach lies somewhere in the middle.
Filed Under: Display Fixtures, Industry News, Menu Boards
How to Know It’s Time for New Menu Boards
September 7, 2012 By Origin Display Group
There comes a time when you have to replace almost everything in life; your couch, your job, your bed, your girlfriend (just kidding – my wife will kill me when she sees that), and on and on and on. There are a variety of reasons as to why these changes have to be made – some you can control, and some you cannot. Now next time you find yourself replacing something, ask yourself, did I do what I could to get the most life out of it? Chances are you didn’t; a replacement was on sale, or it cost less, or it was a gift. The point I am trying to make is that at the end of the day you have the ability to take preventative measures to maximize the lifetime of your products. Do your due diligence, talk to people, look it up online, check out consumer reports, do whatever you can. Look, I understand that everyone leads busy lives and that time is money – exactly, time is money. So do you spend more time to spend the appropriate money for a quality product, or do you spend less time and spend more money for a lesser product? The choice is yours.
Filed Under: Menu Boards
Can I Take Your Order?
August 22, 2012 By Origin Display Group
So you have decided to open your very own quick-service restaurant (QSR)? Or, you have decided to rethink the way you are currently doing things. Well, besides the no-brainers like your menu offerings, staff, interior design and all the red tape you need to rip down before opening, I would recommend that you put some thought in to how you make people order. The operative word in QSR is quick and choosing the right approach for your restaurant can and will go a long way in determining your overall turnaround time, customer satisfaction and profitability. Each style has its own unique advantages for a given environment, so… choose wisely!
Filed Under: Digital Menu Boards, Display Fixtures, Industry News, Menu Boards
5 Tips to Make Your Menu Board Approval Process Go Smoothly
August 15, 2012 By Origin Display Group
It seems like a simple concept. You receive your menu board layout, and you send back the changes you want made as well as what you like and don’t like. For the most part that is accurate. However, there are areas and ways to go about it that will minimize the amount of revisions and the time it takes to get your menu boards in hand.
Filed Under: Digital Menu Boards, Drive-thru Menu Boards, Menu Boards
Menu Board Story Time
July 26, 2012 By Origin Display Group
A wise man once told me, “Awareness is curative.” Specifically in business, there has been no other saying that has resonated with me more. On paper it is a simple concept. It is a glorified way of saying “learn from your mistakes.” However put in another light, awareness is also something you can arm yourself with. You gather enough information so that you can make an intelligent decision while knowing what the potential snags could be. You may be wondering what I am getting at. Well, as a business we have grown to notice that in both scenarios the main problem is the fact that people cannot get out of the way of themselves. They will not admit that they made a mistake and instead play the blame game, or they hear what they want to hear and discredit the information they were given. With this in mind, I have identified three instances that have occurred in the last year. I have selected one from each area that we do the most business.
So grab your morning Joe, make yourself comfortable and get ready, because today is story time.
Filed Under: Digital Menu Boards, Drive-thru Menu Boards, Menu Boards
