Ever wonder why some cafe startups fail? While there are many factors that go into the success of a coffee shop, Forbes reveals the secrets of running and managing one for the long run.
Offer the Finest Espresso – Quality is key but serve it up consistently. Customers don’t care how highly visible you are, it’s the beans they care about. Invest in a top quality espresso coffee machine and choose the best Arabica or Arabica 90%, Robusta10% freshly roasted beans and hire a well-trained barista.
Efficient Workstation Layout – During busy times, it’s important for the barista to work alone, taking more care in preparing the coffee for the customer without having to compete for space or cross-roads with the rest of the staff.
Loyalty Cards Rule – Treat your regular customers to something nice after their 7th or 8th cup and in return, they will keep coming back for more.
Offer Other Non-Coffee Items – Coffee sales alone will not pay the bills. Offer other complimentary items such as muffins, cookies, cakes, cold drinks and teas.
Limit The Choices – Don’t go over board by offering too many assortment of products as this will create anguish with your customers and it will not increase your revenue. Keep it simple (e.g.; three flavors, three sizes, three to four food items, etc.)
Price Well – Resist the temptation to apply a blanket markup for all of your products. It’s important to price according to the customer’s perceived value and market value.
Have a Clear Marketing Strategy – Have a clear understanding on the competitive marketplace and learn innovative ways to gain customers that not only keep coming back but those that help spread the word to their friends and family.
Counter Service – To reduce stress and hassle, especially during peak times, offer a number on the stand or a buzzer to your customers to call them when their order is ready.
Pre-Make As Much As Possible – Focus on custom making your coffee not the food (order or pre-make it elsewhere) as it limits your turnover during peak periods.
Understand Why You Are In Business – Customers go to coffee shops for many reasons, so understanding their needs will help you in your product offering and make wiser decisions that will get them returning for more.
Focus on Takeaway Customers – Takeaway customers pay the same price as sit-down customers without the occupancy costs.
Serve and Be Present on the Front Line – Personal attention is valuable both for the customer and business.
The Daily Meal recently unveiled the top coffee shops in the U.S. from Portland to Florida. Shops were judged based on the quality of coffee, shop culture and the barista experience. Additionally, a panel of experts weighed on the submissions before finally picking the top coffee shops. Here is the list:
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