The Basics about Running a Profitable Coffee Shop
First of all, congratulations on your venture! You are soon going to do a lot of people good! Now, before I move onto tips and tricks of the business, let me first throw light on some of the basics, for you cannot and should not get the basics wrong! Here are my 3 basic tips from the customer point-of-view.
The Coffee
Now this might sound too obvious a suggestion, but it isn’t, for the importance of serving GOOD coffee cannot be emphasized enough. Make sure you serve real good coffee, especially if you want to increase the number of regulars frequenting your coffee shop. You can have all different kinds of brew, all different mixes and what not. But if the basic, simple coffee you serve at your coffee shop is not up to the mark, no one is going to come back! Understand the psyche behind this – a new customer always orders something ‘safe’ at a new coffee shop or restaurant. He/she rates the entire coffee shop based on that first cuppa. That might sound unfair, but it is true! Now, if the simplest of the coffees you serve does not live up to the customer’s expectations, why is he/she ever going to come back?
Tip: Practice and practice and practice till you get your brew right, and train and train and train till your baristas gets it right too. Also, learn from feedback. When you take orders, ask your customer if he/she likes his/her coffee black, strong or sweet.
The Mood
A lot of the success of coffee shops is dependent on the overall look, feel and mood of the place. The furnishing and interiors of your coffee shop, and how you have decorated the place, should all make up a harmonious picture, where your customer feels comfortable, relaxed, and welcomed. Make sure you have ample floor space. Do not cram too many tables in a small place. Customers do not want other people to even accidentally eavesdrop on their conversations! Finally (and this is the most important thing), keep your place clean. This includes the tables, chairs, serving and billing counters, displays, and most importantly, the washroom.
Tip: Get friends and family to visit your coffee shop before it is open to customers and rate it for different things – experience, ambiance, etc. Work to improve the feedback. Read the rest of this entry »

