Opening a Restaurant in Phuket? Your Complete Printing Checklist

Opening a restaurant, café or bar means hundreds of decisions in a few weeks. Print is easy to leave until the last minute, and that is exactly when it goes wrong: menus with last week's prices, a banner that arrives the day after opening, labels that peel off in the fridge. This checklist covers everything a new venue typically needs, in the order guests actually meet it, plus a timeline so nothing is printed in a rush.

Think in guest moments, not products

The easiest way to plan your print is to follow a guest from the street to their home. Every step is a chance to tell them who you are, and every step should look like the same brand.

1. On the street: be seen from a distance

Before anyone reads your menu, they need to notice you. Outdoor print for a new venue usually means:

• Vinyl banners for "Opening soon" and "Now open" messages, or a temporary sign while your permanent signage is being made. Choose hemmed edges with eyelets for hanging, or pole pockets for a pole.
• Feather and teardrop flags to add movement along a busy road or a beach path. We print the flag itself; if you need a pole or base, ask us in a quote request.
• Posters on photo satin or gloss paper for display behind glass, and backlit film if you have a light box.

Keep outdoor messages short: your name, what you serve and one reason to come in. People read signs while walking or riding past.

2. In the window: explain what you are

Window decals are the hardest-working print in many restaurants. Use them for your logo, opening hours, "Dine in · Takeaway · Delivery", a QR code to your menu or LINE, and the delivery apps you are on.

• Decals applied inside the glass read through the window and are protected from rain and cleaning.
• Clear film lets your glass and interior show around the design.
• One-way vision film covers a large window with an image while guests inside can still see out.

We can also install window decals for you: add Decal Installation to your order, priced by size and area. Our business signage guide covers window graphics in more detail.

3. At the table: menus that survive service

Your menu is the most-handled thing in the building. Decide three things:

1. Format. A single A4 or A3 sheet for short menus; a bi-fold or tri-fold for longer ones; a narrow DL card for drinks, desserts or specials.
2. Protection. Unlaminated 300 gsm card is fine for menus you will reprint often. Gloss or matte lamination adds a film that makes menus easier to wipe clean, which is the better choice for busy service, outdoor seating, beach tables and poolside menus.
3. Quantity. Order a few more than your number of seats per service, and plan to reprint when prices change rather than crossing items out.

Next to the menu, table tents sell what the menu can't: today's special, happy hour, a cocktail, your Wi-Fi or a "Review us" QR code. For a more permanent table sign, acrylic table signs are a premium option.

4. At the counter: make it easy to come back

• Business cards for the owner and manager, plus a stack at the till for guests who want to book a table for a group. Uncoated card is easiest to write on, so it also works as a simple stamp card for a loyalty scheme.
• Gift vouchers sell well to locals and hotel concierges. Kraft card gives them a natural, premium feel.
• Custom stickers with your logo for cups, boxes and bags, and a few to give away. Die-cut shapes look the most like a "real" brand.

5. Takeaway and delivery: the part guests take home

Every takeaway order leaves your restaurant, which makes packaging the cheapest advertising you have.

• Seal stickers across the top of delivery bags keep them closed and put your logo in the customer's hands.
• Product labels for sauces, dressings, cold brew or bottled drinks. White or clear vinyl handles the fridge and ice better than paper, and label sheets are practical for smaller batches.
• Flyers or DL-size takeaway menus in every bag, with your LINE or WhatsApp number for direct orders.

The complete opening checklist

Item	Where it works	Tip
Vinyl banner	Facade, fence, "Opening soon"	Short message, big letters, fixed at every eyelet
Flags	Roadside, beach path, entrance	Order early: made-to-order products take longer
Window decals	Glass front and door	Opening hours, QR code, delivery apps
Menus	Tables, bar, poolside	Lamination for heavy use
Table tents	Tables, bar counter	Specials, Wi-Fi, reviews
Business cards	Owner, manager, till	Uncoated card doubles as a stamp card
Gift vouchers	Counter, hotel partners	Number them by hand to track sales
Stickers	Cups, boxes, bags	Die-cut logo stickers
Labels	Sauces, drinks, retail jars	Vinyl for the fridge
Takeaway flyers	Every delivery bag	Add your direct-order chat link

A print timeline for your opening

Production times depend on the product, and each product page shows its own. As a general guide: products printed in our shop take 72 hours as standard (with Express on selected products), while specialty and made-to-order products such as flags, acrylic signs and foil finishes usually take 7–10 days. Sundays are not counted. Work backwards from your opening day:

• 3–4 weeks before: finalise your logo, colours and fonts. Everything else depends on them.
• 2–3 weeks before: order made-to-order items such as flags and acrylic signs.
• 2 weeks before: put up an "Opening soon" banner and book any window decal installation.
• 1 week before: final menu prices, then order menus, table tents, flyers and stickers.
• Opening week: keep your artwork files ready for quick reprints of menus and flyers.

Keep it consistent

A guest might see your banner, your window, your menu and your sticker within ten minutes. Use the same logo file, the same two or three colours and the same fonts on every item. If your artwork isn't ready, our designers can create a menu or adapt your logo for every format, and you approve a proof before anything is printed.