Maintaining Brand Consistency Across your Restaurant Franchise Through Print

As marketers, print buyers, and keepers of brand integrity for your QSR/Fast Casual restaurant, you need tools and processes that streamline your print program while ensuring quality and consistency.

We know about the high stakes involved with running a time-sensitive promotion or trying to hit a grand opening date. Keeping your restaurant brand and message consistent from location to location, time after time, is a challenge.

Here are a few insights into maintaining brand consistency across your restaurant franchise through print:

1. Give ordering access to key personnel.

From menu boards to POS signage to small items like beverage wraps—put the power into the hands of those who need to place print orders on a deadline. Using online ordering and giving others access to order on-demand will save you time and money in the long run. You'll also get your marketing collateral out to any location in a more timely manner. Read on to learn more about how you can accomplish that while simultaneously maintaining brand integrity.

2. Use templates for controlled customization.

It's important for your team to customize and order print pieces quickly, but maintaining a consistent brand style is critical. Your process should account for customizable templates that safeguard against error.

For example, your template may have pre-defined text areas that can be adjusted to change sale prices or dates. Those areas can have rules, like character limits and text/numerical input, spell checking, and layout definitions, to ensure quality and consistency. You should also set up an image library that gives users options for selecting and inserting approved images.

3. Establish a streamlined proofing and approval process.

Your system should automatically alert the person(s) responsible for proofing and approving the work. This could be an automated email alert that notifies someone that they have work to approve, and prevents others from finalizing/ordering the work if they are not authorized. A streamlined system results in fewer print snafus and errors.

4. Control for color consistency.

Besides correct logo usage, consistent color is one of the most important elements of your brand. A good system will make it virtually impossible to order print pieces that are off-brand, and that includes color quality and consistency. Your printer should offer effective quality control, expertise, and equipment to ensure that your colors are correct, no matter the material, application, or design.

5. Automate.

From editable templates, instant proofing, automated email communication and production, and print-on-demand and delivery capabilities—automation is key to maintaining a consistent brand across your print program. When you can automate steps, you reduce the risk of human error and empower users to feel confident when ordering print materials.

In the end, automated or online ordering will save franchisees money by cutting down on waste and overages, and reduce the amount of time creating print pieces and getting proofs/approvals.

6. Don't forget about data security.

We can't forget about data encryption when it comes to secure ordering. It's important to make sure your sensitive data is encrypted and that you use secure communications over SSL. Online ordering systems must include handling data with the highest security standards.

about Online Storefront

We offer online tools that make it easier to do all of the above. Our online storefront simplifies the process by providing the right graphic products for the right location, 24/7. Your branded storefront gives users instant access to edit templates, get instant proofs, automate approval alerts, and order approved print on-demand. It is mobile-friendly, as well. Want a demonstration of our Online Storefront? Contact us.