Custom printed paper bags are quickly becoming a staple in the restaurant industry, offering more than just a convenient way to carry food. They’re a branding opportunity, an eco-friendly option, and a great way to leave a lasting impression on your customers. Whether you’re running a local café or a large restaurant chain, custom printed paper bags can make a big difference in your overall branding and customer experience.
In this roundup, we’ll explore five key reasons why restaurants are making the switch to custom printed paper bags—and why you should consider joining the trend.
1. Elevate Your Brand with Every Takeout Order
One of the biggest advantages of custom printed paper bags is their ability to showcase your restaurant’s brand. Each time a customer walks out with one of your branded bags, they’re essentially becoming a walking advertisement for your restaurant. Your logo, colors, and messaging are on full display, helping to increase brand recognition in your local area.
Take the example of a popular burger joint in New York that revamped its takeout packaging with bold, eye-catching paper bags featuring its logo and playful typography. Customers began posting photos of their takeout bags on social media, and the restaurant quickly gained more exposure, helping it stand out in a crowded market. This kind of free advertising can make a significant impact, especially when paired with a well-designed custom bag.
Why it works: Custom paper bags allow you to consistently reinforce your brand identity in a visually appealing way, keeping your restaurant top of mind for customers.
2. Environmentally Friendly and Customer-Approved
In today’s environmentally conscious world, customers are paying more attention to the packaging their food comes in. Single-use plastics are falling out of favor, and paper bags—especially when made from recycled or sustainable materials—are seen as the eco-friendly alternative. For restaurants looking to appeal to eco-conscious diners, switching to custom printed paper bags is a great way to align your business with sustainability trends.
Many restaurants are using their custom bags to not only brand themselves but also to highlight their commitment to the environment. For example, a health-focused café in California started using paper bags made from recycled materials and included a message about their eco-friendly practices right on the bag. Customers appreciated the transparency, and it helped build a stronger connection with their brand’s green values.
Why it works: Custom printed paper bags that are eco-friendly appeal to environmentally conscious consumers and reflect your restaurant’s commitment to sustainability.
3. Affordable and Cost-Effective Branding
When it comes to custom packaging, paper bags offer one of the most cost-effective solutions. While larger-scale branding efforts like billboards or digital ads can quickly eat up your marketing budget, custom printed paper bags provide a budget-friendly way to increase your brand’s visibility. You’re already using bags for takeout or delivery orders, so why not turn them into a marketing tool?
Restaurants of all sizes, from small mom-and-pop eateries to large chains, have found that investing in custom printed paper bags pays off in the long run. With relatively low costs for design and printing, you get a lot of mileage out of each bag that leaves your restaurant. Plus, with more customers opting for takeout and delivery, your custom bags have more opportunities to be seen by new potential diners.
Why it works: Custom paper bags are a low-cost, high-impact branding solution that gives your restaurant a professional look without breaking the bank.
4. Enhance Customer Experience and Perception
First impressions matter, and your packaging plays a big role in how customers perceive your restaurant. A plain, generic bag may get the job done, but it doesn’t leave the same impression as a custom printed paper bag that reflects your restaurant’s brand and attention to detail. Custom bags elevate the entire takeout experience and signal to customers that your restaurant cares about quality—down to the packaging.
One bakery in Chicago took this to heart when they redesigned their takeout bags to include their brand’s signature pastel colors, a charming slogan, and an image of their most popular pastry. Customers loved the cute, personalized bags, and many mentioned that the packaging made the experience feel more premium.
Why it works: Custom printed paper bags add a layer of professionalism to your takeout and delivery orders, enhancing your customers’ overall experience.
5. Versatile for Different Occasions and Uses
Custom printed paper bags aren’t just for takeout orders—they’re incredibly versatile and can be used for a variety of purposes in your restaurant. Whether you’re selling branded merchandise, packing up leftovers for dine-in customers, or even creating special event bags, custom paper bags provide a flexible solution that can be tailored to different needs.
A pizza restaurant in Portland uses custom printed bags not only for their takeout pizzas but also for their catering orders and gift shop items. Each bag is branded with the same logo and color scheme, ensuring a consistent look across all their products and services.
Why it works: The versatility of custom paper bags allows restaurants to use them across different aspects of their business, making them a multi-functional branding tool.
Custom Printed Paper Bags Are the Future of Restaurant Branding
From boosting brand visibility to supporting eco-friendly practices, custom printed paper bags offer numerous benefits for restaurants. They’re affordable, versatile, and can leave a lasting impression on customers, making them an essential part of any restaurant’s packaging strategy.
If you haven’t yet made the switch to custom printed paper bags, now is the perfect time to start. Your customers will appreciate the attention to detail, and your restaurant will enjoy the benefits of enhanced branding and customer loyalty.
