Running a restaurant on the water in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, or anywhere in South Florida? You're sitting on a merch opportunity most owners completely miss.
We've printed for dozens of waterfront restaurants across Broward and Miami-Dade. The ones that get it right treat merchandise as a profit center — not an afterthought. The ones that don't? They're leaving money on the table every time a tourist walks out without a t-shirt.
Here's what we've learned from 20+ years of outfitting South Florida's restaurant scene.
Your Customers Want to Take Something Home
People travel from all over to visit South Florida's waterfront spots. These aren't just meals — they're experiences. And when someone has a great experience, they want a souvenir.
Think about it: the smart waterfront restaurants know that a $28 hoodie is pure profit margin — way better than food costs. Other revenue sources like merchandise can account for 5-15% of total restaurant revenue, according to industry data.
But here's the problem we see constantly: restaurant owners stock cheap merchandise nobody actually wants to wear. Generic designs, uncomfortable fabrics, logos that look like clip art. That stuff sits on a shelf until it's faded and dusty.
The restaurants that move merch? They invest in quality pieces people are proud to wear back home in Ohio or New York. T-shirts, hoodies, hats, koozies — all with designs that look good, not just "branded."
The Inventory Problem Nobody Talks About
Here's a conversation we've had more times than we can count:
"We ordered 200 shirts last year. I have no idea where half of them went."
Staff helping themselves. Shirts getting "borrowed" and never returned. No system for tracking what's actually in the pile. By the time you reorder, you're guessing at sizes because nobody kept records.
We actually offer fulfillment services specifically for this reason. We store your inventory, run your online store, and ship orders directly. Your staff can't raid a stockroom that's at our warehouse.
One of our restaurant clients switched to this model after realizing they'd "lost" about $3,000 in merch over a year. Nothing was actually stolen — just no accountability. Now every shirt is tracked and every sale is logged.
What Actually Sells at South Florida Waterfront Restaurants
After years of doing this, we know what works:
- T-shirts — The baseline. Lightweight cotton or a cotton-poly blend. Nothing too thick — this is Florida. Tourists want something comfortable in the humidity, and your staff needs something that won't have them sweating through a lunch rush.
- Hoodies — Yes, even in South Florida. Boat nights get cold. Airport AC is brutal. Snowbirds want something for when they go back up north. A quality hoodie with your restaurant's logo is a $35-45 item people will actually wear.
- Hats — Trucker hats, dad hats, performance caps. Waterfront means sun, and everyone needs a hat. These move fast if the design is good.
- Koozies — Low cost, high margin, everyone needs them. Perfect impulse buy at the register.
- Custom aprons — Every waterfront spot from Fort Lauderdale to Boca needs them. Servers, bartenders, kitchen staff. We do embroidered and screen printed aprons that hold up to daily abuse.
- Dry-fit shirts — For staff especially. Being on the water in South Florida means humidity, splashes, and sweat. Quick-drying performance fabric makes a huge difference.
The Fabric Question for South Florida
This comes up constantly: what fabric holds up to the heat down here?
For staff uniforms, go with dry-fit or moisture-wicking materials. Standard cotton gets heavy and uncomfortable fast when you're running food on a dock in August. We recommend lightweight materials that don't stick to skin — your staff will thank you.
For retail merch, lightweight cotton or cotton-poly blends work best. Nobody's buying a heavy shirt when it's 90 degrees outside. Softer, lighter fabrics move better.
We've been doing this long enough that we know exactly what South Florida customers want to buy. Your business isn't merch — you've got a restaurant to run. That's why we help clients pick products that actually sell, not just whatever's cheapest in the catalog.
Staff Uniforms vs. Retail Merch: You Need Both
New restaurant owners often think of this as one category. It's not.
Staff uniforms are functional. They need to look professional, handle daily wear and commercial washing, work in a hot environment, and be replaceable when someone quits.
Retail merch is aspirational. It needs to look good enough that customers want to wear it, feel like a souvenir, and command a price point worth your display space.
The decoration method matters too. For staff shirts that get washed constantly, screen printing holds up great and keeps costs down on bulk orders. For retail merch where you want a premium feel, embroidery on polos and hats adds perceived value.
The 60-Second Advice for New Restaurant Owners
Opening a waterfront spot next month? Here's the quick version:
First, take care of your team. Get everyone in matching uniforms — kitchen, servers, hosts, bar. It costs more upfront but it looks professional and makes your staff feel like a team.
Second, think about merch as another revenue stream from day one. You've got tourists walking through who just had an amazing sunset dinner. Give them something to buy.
Third, don't guess at what people want. Work with someone who knows what sells in this market and can handle the logistics.
Ready to Set Up Your Restaurant's Merch Program?
We're in Oakland Park — right in the heart of Broward County. We've outfitted waterfront restaurants from Hollywood to Jupiter, and we know what works for South Florida's hospitality industry.
Whether you need staff uniforms, retail merchandise, or a full fulfillment program where we manage everything, we can help.
