A restaurant includes many opportunities for brand marketing, from menus to placemats, coasters, and even flatware. You don’t have to stop there. Table surfaces are just as effective at carrying your brand message across; perhaps even more so.
However, your choice of custom tabletop branding should be consistent with your brand image, target audience, and restaurant theme. This calls for some extra care when choosing your branding methods for tabletops.
In this short guide to custom tabletop branding and visual appeal in restaurants, we examine the most common branding methods. We look at their unique advantages, as well as the general benefits that custom table surface branding offers.
What Is Custom Table Top Branding?
Custom tabletop branding entails displaying your restaurant name, your brand logo, and slogan, or other branding aspects, on your table surfaces.
So, how can one do so tastefully? There are numerous options. You could employ these printed branding efforts in your table covers, placemats, or permanent tabletop decor displays. Or you could implement them with enhancements in the table surfaces themselves, such as engravings on the wood.
If you have not yet considered custom tabletop branding, it may be time to do so. Branding your table surfaces offers many benefits.
Is Table Top Branding Important?
Ask anyone what makes the perfect restaurant, and decor usually ranks high on the list. The use of materials and their designs matter. However good the food may be, even your biggest fans will be more likely to refer you to their friends if the decor is appealing.
And this includes your branding efforts, especially when used on tabletops. This form of marketing can be highly effective, but you must get it right. The idea, here, is to get your message across without detracting from the dining experience.
Tabletop branding should never be an afterthought, nor should it be rushed into. It requires careful thought and planning to achieve maximum impact without sacrificing style.
The Benefits of Custom Table Top Branding & Engravings
When you customize your tabletops with branding and engravings, you can enjoy the following benefits.
Drive Brand Awareness
The obvious benefit of custom tabletop branding or customized engraved logos is the increased brand awareness it brings. It is an excellent tool for strengthening your brand identity, which, for new businesses, is especially important.
Many of the people who walk through your doors will be first-time patrons. Tabletop branding puts your brand message, slogan, or imagery right there in front of patrons’ eyes – a clever marketing tactic that drives brand awareness.
Boost Brand Recognition
Just as custom tabletop branding drives awareness, it boosts brand recognition amongst your loyal fan base too. Regardless of how long you’ve been in the hospitality industry, your brand could always do with some extra reinforcement.
Brand marketing involves not only attracting newcomers but also retaining regulars, and customized tabletop branding such as engraving is a valuable marketing tool.
Your regulars are the patrons who regularly visit your restaurant, and recommend you to their family, friends, and colleagues. Your custom branding will enhance their brand recognition. Newcomers, of course, are new to your restaurant. Custom tabletop branding helps them to become familiar with your brand.
Encourage Patron Interaction
What do patrons do while waiting for their food and drinks to arrive at the table? They chat. But no matter how engrossed they are in conversation, they look around. They take note of their surroundings.
Striking furniture treatments, especially on the table surface, will become a topic of conversation. Your tabletop branding efforts will not go unnoticed if you introduce your logo against a background of carefully planned design.
For example, your tabletops could incorporate other engravings (along the edges or at the corners) that complement your restaurant’s design theme. This will intrigue guests and encourage interaction, drawing their attention to the table surface, and thus noticing your branding too.
Add Visual Appeal
Custom table surface branding and engraving add a healthy dose of visual interest to your design that elevates the dining experience. Tasty food will bring in the guests. But there’s no denying that attractive surroundings and stylish tables and furnishings will attract even more patronage.
Custom branding is not only a clever marketing ploy. Beautifully engraved wood surfaces, for example, can be used to affect both branding and overall visual appeal. What’s more, it’s incredibly versatile and suitable for all types of decor themes.
Engraving vs Vinyl or Paint Alternatives For Table Top Branding
When it comes to custom tabletop branding, you have quite a few options. The most used in restaurants are wood engraving, adhesive-backed vinyl decals, and special effect paint treatments. Each has its own advantages. Your restaurant style and brand image will influence the one you choose.
Let’s take a closer look at what these three tabletop branding methods have to offer.
Vinyl Decals/Stickers
Vinyl stickers, decals, and furniture sheet vinyl are cheap and easy to apply. Because they are so quick and simple to install, they are often favored for a cheap restaurant branding solution, even on tabletops. Restaurants can use pre-made vinyl for general decor and have them customized with their brand and logo.
Vinyl sheet stickers for furniture are popular in casual, informal diners, and bars. They can add visual appeal and display your branding effectively. However, they don’t offer the professional image required for fine dining establishments.
Decent quality vinyl sheet stickers are quite long-lasting and durable when well cared for. Unfortunately, they don’t last forever, and in the bustling restaurant environment, they are prone to damage and general wear and tear. This doesn’t look good and can tarnish how patrons view your establishment.
Paint Treatments
Paint treatments are affordable and easy to do either yourself or by hiring a painter or artist. Painting furniture requires time and patience to produce a good result, not to mention skill. There will also be a few hours of drying time.
If you use good-quality paint, designed for use on furniture, the result can be long-lasting. You may need to give the tabletop a few coats though, to ensure durability. It’s a good option if you’re going to cover the tabletop with a sheet of glass, as the glass top will protect the painted surface. Otherwise, the paint will wear down over time and will need to be touched up.
Painted tables, chairs, and other furnishings suit a farmhouse or country aesthetic very well. A ‘distressed paint’ look can be used to significant effect for visual appeal. If you want to use paint for custom tabletop branding, you’ll need a steady hand, or you’ll risk an unprofessional result.
Engraving
Nothing looks quite as impressive as beautifully engraved wood. It’s an art that has never gone out of style and can be used very effectively for custom branding on your table tops and other wood furnishings. Engraving by hand relies on the steady hand and outstanding skills of an engraver artist.
But there is another way – CNC engraving. This is a computerized engraving process, where a high-speed rotating tool’s movements are guided by a pre-programmed set of computer instructions.
CNC engraving is the best option for custom tabletop branding and visual appeal in all types of settings. This includes more sophisticated dining establishments, where professional results are crucial.
Any engraving will offer more durable results than paint or vinyl branding. Engraving withstands the test of time, especially in restaurants where tables are constantly in use and subjected to repeated cleaning.
Conclusion
Custom tabletop branding is more than just a stylish way to decorate your restaurant—it’s a marketing strategy. The right branding method—elegant engravings, vinyl decals, or unique paint treatments—creates a dining environment that reflects your brand’s identity and improves customer experience. These branding efforts reinforce your restaurant’s mission and values, encouraging customer interaction and brand loyalty. As you consider custom tabletop branding for your restaurant, remember that details matter. First-time visitors become regulars by leaving a lasting impression. For style with substance, consider custom tabletop engraving by TimeWorn to elevate your dining space and make your brand memorable. Explore your restaurant’s options and get personalized advice by visiting our contact page. Create spaces that serve delicious meals and memorable moments, one branded table at a time.
FAQ
Can any type of wood be used for engraving logos or images on restaurant table tops?
How durable is the engraving on a restaurant table top?
The durability of the engraving matches that of the table top itself, ensuring long-lasting quality.
What are the cost implications of having logos or images engraved on table tops?
Adding a typical 4” x 4” logo of your restaurant in a corner of the table top incurs an additional cost of $20-$30, with color customization available.
How does the engraving process affect the table top's maintenance and cleaning?
The engraved area is fully sealed, requiring no adjustments to your cleaning routine. You have the option to have it slightly recessed or fully filled for a flat surface, with most customers preferring a slight indent for visual distinction.
Can engraved table tops be refinished or will that remove the logo/image?
Refinishing is possible without removing the brand. The tables can be lightly sanded to renew the finish while preserving the engraving.
What are the best practices for designing a logo or image for table top engraving?
Utilize a professional graphic artist for designing logos or images, which we can accept in any file format.
How long does the engraving process take for a set of restaurant table tops?
Engraving a logo takes about 5 minutes per table and is done during the cutting process, not affecting the overall production or delivery timeline.
Are there limitations to the size or complexity of the design for engraving?
We have yet to encounter design complexities or size limitations that would prevent engraving on restaurant table tops.
How does table top engraving impact the overall aesthetic of a restaurant's interior design?
Custom table top engraving is highly valued by our clients for reinforcing brand identity and enhancing the dining experience.
Can the color of the engraving be customized to match my restaurant's branding?
Yes, the engraving can be customized to any single color of your choice to align with your restaurant’s branding.
Are there any special care instructions for engraved table tops?
No unusual care is required; the engraved tops are finished just like the rest of the table and can be maintained in the same manner.
What is the turnaround time from ordering to delivery for engraved table tops?
The lead time for engraved table tops is 3-4 weeks, the same as non-engraved tables.
How does the depth of the engraving affect the table top's texture and usability?
The depth of engraving is customizable to either leave a slight indent or fill for a smooth finish, without affecting table usability.
Can I see a proof or mock-up of the engraved design before the final production?
Yes, we require customer approval of a sample engraving before proceeding with the full order.
Is there a minimum order quantity for custom-engraved table tops?
There is no minimum order requirement for custom-engraved tables beyond our standard 50 square feet.
What is the warranty or guarantee terms for custom-engraved table tops?
Custom-engraved table tops come with a 2-year full warranty and a 10-year structural warranty, matching our standard table top warranties.
How do I choose the right placement for logos or images on my restaurant table tops?
The preferred placement by all our customers so far has been the corner of the table top surface, subtly incorporating the logo into the dining space.
