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Restaurant postcards that fill slow nights
Restaurant postcards work when they give nearby households a reason to come in this month. Mail the homes within a short drive or your delivery area, with a food photo and an offer that ends on a set date. Use office routes for lunch and catering. From $0.44 a home with printing and postage included.
Mail that brings people in
- Grand opening: two cards, one before you open and one in the first month.
- Slow nights: an offer good only Monday to Wednesday.
- New menu or season: a big photo of the new dish.
- Catering: office routes before the holidays and graduation season.
- Delivery: the routes inside your delivery area.
Sample photo. Replace with a real card printed in the shop.
What makes the card work
- One great food photo. People decide with their eyes.
- An offer with an end date, so it gets used this month and not someday.
- Your hours, address, and a QR code to the menu or online ordering.
- A code on the offer, so you can count every card that comes back.
8.5 x 11 fits a menu panel on the back. See restaurant templates.
Timing
USPS delivers EDDM in 3 to 10 business days, so give offers at least 30 days. Plan for the full timeline: proof in 1 business day, print and drop within 3 business days after you approve.
For a grand opening, mail the first card so it lands the week before the doors open.
Picking routes
- Open the route planner at your address.
- Pick the routes within a short drive, or inside your delivery area.
- For lunch and catering, choose “Homes and businesses” and add business routes.
- Mail the same routes again. Repeat cards build habits.
Rules to check
- Offers on alcohol must follow your state’s rules.
- State the limits on any offer: one per table, dine in only, and the end date.
- Do not imply the card is sent or endorsed by USPS.
This is not legal advice. Check your state rules before you mail.
Sizes and sample cost
| Mailing | Homes | Price per home | Sample total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slow-night offer, 6.25 x 9 | 2,500 | $0.47 | $1,175 |
| Grand opening, two drops | 5,000 x 2 | $0.44 | $4,400 |
Prices include printing, $0.260 postage, and the post office drop. The price per home drops at 1,000, 2,500, and 5,000 homes. Larger sizes cost more to print. Price your own mailing.
Measure it
Count the coupons or codes that come back. Divide the cost of the mailing by the number of tables it brought in. Compare that to what a new regular is worth over a year.
Map the homes near your restaurant.
Free. See the home count and the full price before you decide.