It happens all the time when you go to buy something online, over the phone or from something you see on TV. You know, when “you can get all this for $99.99.” Well then tack on taxes, surcharges, shipping and handling (S&H) and next thing you know it is almost double. Then there are those “deals” that require credit checks. I probably don’t have to tell you but if your report doesn’t come back sparkling you won’t be getting that car for a “low monthly payment of $199.” [Read more...]
Avoid Sticker Shock When Buying Menu Boards
Menu Boards, Etc: Uncommon Questions That Should Be Asked
What I am about to talk about isn’t unique to the menu board industry; it is done time after time when making purchasing decisions. Assumptions are made based on things you have read, seen or heard, but the personal experiences aren’t known until the process is complete. Unlike buying a loaf of bread or a new pair of shoes, buying a menu board, drive-thru, communications, or digital signage system is either a first-time occurrence or something done rather infrequently. [Read more...]
Menu Board Examples & Their Lack of Purpose
The title that you read above may be a little too aggressive. To be clear, I am not suggesting that menu board examples serve NO purpose. In fact they can be helpful when trying to get the creative juices going and for you to envision how something would look in your location. After all, how else would you be able to see if something will work for you other than by ordering a system sight-unseen? The instances that I am referring to are those where the consumer has seen examples but want more; usually by going to see something in person or through additional layouts that are specific to their niche (i.e. Pizza, Ice Cream, etc). [Read more...]
Random Menu Board Thoughts II
Every so often something dawns on me and I think to myself, “I need to write a blog about that.” Then I get to thinking that there isn’t enough substance to talk about on the one topic. So for the second time I am going to touch on a couple of random menu board thoughts. Some may be redundant from blogs past but they have come up again recently and I feel that they should be reinforced. [Read more...]
5 Items That Will Increase Your QSR Sales
It is the nature of the SEO beast that companies like ourselves are quite often found online for menu boards, drive-thrus, and digital signage. As a result, the conversations and the emails that are sent back and forth are often centered around one of those items. Make no mistake about it, when it comes to quick-service-restaurant signage these are of the greatest importance. They are the hub from which you can directly affect purchasing decisions in a way that meets your preference. [Read more...]
Menu Board Costs Defined
Not too long ago I was approached by a gentleman who was interested in some custom menu boards. Each panel would have been larger then what most would consider a standard size. We have a wood frame option but he wanted double the width on it, the stain was to be different from what our stock options would be, he wanted lug-ons for headers and a tilted wall mount. For the record, all of this is VERY doable. After taking this all in to consideration, I gave him a ballpark idea on price. His budget was almost half of the price I provided. [Read more...]
Recent Goings-On in the QSR Industry
In order to help you stay up-to-date on what’s going on in the restaurant industry, we have dedicated this week’s blog to scouring the QSR Magazine, Fast Casual Magazine and Digital Signage Today’s of the world to provide you with what we see as some of the most interesting and recent industry news. A lot of times, reading articles like the ones below can help take your mind to areas you had never considered for your own concept. Take a read, our hope is that you’ll get some takeaways. [Read more...]
Menu Boards: Functionality Versus Budget
For a moment, imagine drawing a graph with “Functionality” on the Y axis and “Budget” on the X axis. From the bottom heading north on the Y would be a list of menu board capabilities and functions that continues to grow. Clumped within would be a series of menu board systems that could accommodate the capabilities. Along the X would be dollar amounts starting at say $250 (per panel) that increases as you venture right. The “Functionality-Budget” line would be drawn on a 45 degree angle from the corner of the Y and X axis point. [Read more...]
Custom Menu Boards Becoming New Standard
Over time, menu board companies have designed and produced systems that they felt the market was looking for. A lot of times the “next big thing” was simply an iteration on something that previously existed and if something stuck it became a member of the standard product line. In some of these instances we have actually seen blatant re-engineering of products that were flourishing; Stainless steel panels with magnetic graphics come to mind. These panels were all the rage between 2005-2008. However, like many other systems they slid back in to “just another option” territory as time passed.
Menu Boards & the Lost Art of Loyalty
You may have read the title and thought to yourself, “this guy is about to unload some sour grapes on us.” Well you’d be incorrect, in fact it’s quite the contrary. [Read more...]