Case Study - Full-Service Restaurant Rebrand: From Design to Grand Reopening in 3 Weeks

Challenge

Verde Coastal Bistro, a family-owned restaurant in Laguna Beach, had operated for 15 years with the same dated branding—faded menus, mismatched signage, and generic business cards. After the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to rethink their business model, owner Sofia Martinez decided a complete visual refresh was needed to:

• Attract younger diners (millennials and Gen Z) who value Instagram-worthy aesthetics
• Reposition as "coastal-modern" vs. the old "traditional Italian" vibe
• Support new offerings: expanded wine list, seasonal small plates, weekend brunch
• Reopen with buzz: Grand reopening event in exactly 3 weeks

Sofia's challenges:

• Tight deadline: 21 days from concept to installation
• No in-house design expertise: Previous menus were DIY in Microsoft Word
• Limited budget: $12,000 all-in for design + printing
• Coordination complexity: Needed menus, signage, business cards, table tents, gift cards, loyalty cards, window graphics, and promotional flyers

She contacted three vendors:

1. National design agency ($18K for design alone, 6-8 week timeline)
2. Freelance designer ($5K design, but recommended outsourcing printing to VistaPrint—no control over quality/timing)
3. Forest Printing (quoted $11,500 for integrated design + printing, 3-week guarantee)

Forest Printing's full-service model—design, pre-press, and production under one roof—won the contract.

Solution

We structured the project as a phased sprint:

Phase 1: Brand Discovery & Design (Week 1)

Kickoff Meeting (Day 1)

• Sofia shared her vision: "Fresh, light, California coastal—think Malibu Farm meets Nobu"
• Color palette: Ocean blues, sandy beige, crisp white
• Typography: Modern sans-serif for headings, elegant serif for body text
• Imagery: Bright food photography, natural textures (wood, linen, stone)

Design Deliverables (Days 2-7) Our in-house designer created:

1. New logo: Stylized wave + fork icon with "Verde Coastal Bistro" in custom lettering
2. Menu templates: Dinner, brunch, wine list, dessert menu (4 formats)
3. Business card: Textured linen cardstock with foil stamp logo
4. Signage system: Front door decal, exterior A-frame, interior chalkboard headers
5. Promotional materials: Grand reopening postcards, loyalty punch cards, gift cards

Client Revisions

• Round 1 (Day 5): Sofia requested brighter blues ("more Pacific, less navy")
• Round 2 (Day 7): Final approval on all designs

Phase 2: Production & Printing (Week 2-3)

Once Sofia approved designs, we moved into production:

Menus (Priority #1)

• Format: 11x17 tri-fold, full-color both sides
• Stock: 100lb gloss cover with UV coating (durable, wipe-clean)
• Quantity: 50 dinner menus, 50 brunch menus, 25 wine lists
• Special touch: Custom die-cut rounded corners for modern aesthetic
• Turnaround: 3 days (printed on our Xerox digital press)

Business Cards

• Stock: 16pt linen cardstock (tactile, premium feel)
• Finish: Gold foil stamp on logo (adds luxury)
• Quantity: 500 cards
• Turnaround: 4 days (foil stamping requires specialized setup)

Signage

• Front door decal: 24x36 frosted vinyl with hours + logo
• Window graphics: 6 pieces (specials, happy hour, "locally sourced" badges)
• A-frame sidewalk sign: Double-sided coroplast with UV lamination
• Interior chalkboard headers: Printed vinyl applied to existing boards
• Turnaround: 5 days (large-format printing + installation)

Promotional Materials

• Grand reopening postcards: 5,000 pieces, 4x6 full-color, mailed via EDDM to local zip codes
• Gift cards: 200 plastic cards with magnetic stripe (for POS system)
• Loyalty punch cards: 1,000 cards, 2x3.5, recycled cardstock (eco-friendly)
• Table tents: 20 acrylic stands with printed inserts (seasonal specials)
• Turnaround: 7 days (postcards required USPS processing time)

Bonus Items (Added Mid-Project)

Sofia loved the new branding so much, she requested:

• Takeout menus: Simplified 8.5x11 flyer version (2,000 copies)
• Branded napkins: Custom-printed cocktail napkins with logo (5,000 units)
• We accommodated both with no delay to main timeline

Phase 3: Installation & Delivery (Day 19-21)

• Day 19: Delivered all printed materials to restaurant
• Day 20: Our team installed window graphics and door decals (included in price)
• Day 21: Grand reopening event—everything in place

Results

Verde's rebrand exceeded expectations:

Customer Response

• Instagram engagement: Rebranded menu photos gained 1,200 likes (vs. typical 100-150)
• Influencer attention: 3 local food bloggers featured Verde in roundup posts
• Grand reopening turnout: 200+ guests (capacity 80)—had to turn away walk-ins

Business Impact

• Takeout orders: 40% increase in first month (attributed to new branded menus/packaging)
• Average check: +12% (upscale branding justified higher price points)
• Gift card sales: Sold $8,500 in gift cards in first 2 weeks (previous record: $2,000/month)

Operational Efficiency

• Menu updates: New template system allows Sofia to refresh seasonal items in-house—she just emails us new text, we print updated inserts
• Consistency: All collateral shares unified look (vs. previous "patchwork" of DIY pieces)
• Longevity: UV-coated menus withstand daily wipe-downs; still pristine after 6 months

Client Testimonial

Sofia's feedback:

"I interviewed three vendors and almost went with the agency that wanted $18K just for design. Thank God I chose Forest Printing. Not only did they save me $6,500, but they delivered in 3 weeks when the agency said 8. Their designer nailed our vision on the first try—no endless revisions. And when I added napkins and takeout menus mid-project, they didn't blink. That's the kind of flexibility you don't get from online vendors."

Long-Term Partnership

Verde continues to work with us:

• Monthly: New table tent inserts for seasonal specials
• Quarterly: Updated wine lists as selections rotate
• Events: Custom invitations for wine dinners, private parties

Key Takeaways

This project demonstrates Forest Printing's design-build advantage:

1. Speed through integration: Single vendor managing design + production eliminates handoff delays
2. Cost efficiency: $11,500 all-in (vs. $18K design + $5K printing elsewhere)
3. Quality control: Our designer knows our printers' capabilities—designs are optimized for our equipment
4. Flexibility: When Sofia added 2 items mid-project, we absorbed them into the timeline
5. Local service: We installed signage ourselves (vs. shipping boxes and hoping for the best)

Restaurant Printing Portfolio

We've partnered with 30+ OC restaurants on:

• Menu design & printing (laminated, bound, single-sheet)
• Signage (storefronts, A-frames, window decals)
• Promotional materials (flyers, postcards, direct mail)
• Branded collateral (business cards, gift cards, loyalty programs)
• Event materials (private party invitations, wine pairing menus)

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Services Featured

• Graphic Design & Branding
• Menu Printing
• Business Cards
• Large Format Signage
• Direct Mail

Ready to Refresh Your Restaurant's Look?

Whether you're planning a full rebrand or just need updated menus, Forest Printing's design-to-delivery model ensures consistent, high-quality results—fast.

Request a Quote or call (949) 951-7000 to discuss your project.