The rise of small businesses has spurred more customer demand for artisan and hand-crafted products. For example, more people want independent coffee roasteries instead of multi-chain corporations. If you want to add to this trend, read this beginner’s guide to opening a coffee shop.
Scout Out a Location
The first step to opening your own coffee shop is to find a suitable location. As with any small business, location matters. You want to find a spot with the highest foot and automobile traffic possible. That way, you rely less on advertising and more on daily business transactions. Location is also vital for competition. If you choose an area with multiple other coffee shops, yours may not perform as well as it would in an area with none. Scout around until you find a location to match your budget and competitive interests.
Pick a Theme
Once you select a location for your coffee shop, you need to find a theme. It may not seem like a major step to running a successful business, but customers like visuals and commonalities. Plus, a theme redirects your focus to a target audience. For example, college students, suburbanites, urbanites, or hipsters are all target markets. With that, the visuals or aesthetics of your shop should match. If located in a city or college town, trendy designs are a great way to increase foot traffic. Themes help retain customer satisfaction and increase foot traffic for higher profits.
Diversify Your Menu
Another tip in this beginner’s guide to opening a coffee shop is to diversify your menu. Coffee drinkers are a unique group because they’re inherently diverse. In other words, there’s no one image of a typical coffee drinker. Some prefer light roasts, while others want dark. Some don’t take any sugar, and others opt for plant-based or zero-calorie sugar options. With more emphasis on non-dairy creamers and milk options today, even traditional cream has fallen out of style, with oat milk, almond milk, and other alternatives replacing it. Additionally, many people enjoy snacks or sweets with their coffee. Expanding the menu beyond traditional coffee is an effortless way to increase profits without losing credibility as a small coffee roaster.
Market Your Own Beans
Lastly, consider marketing your own roasts. There’s a growing demand for artisan coffee roasters today. As mainstream coffee corporations are losing traction in the market, given the greater customer demand for sustainable, fair trade, and non-GMO food products, it makes sense to branch out into shipping your roasts to people all over the country. Of course, don’t neglect the importance of coffee packaging. Since you want your coffee to stick out above competitors, keep in mind the type of packaging, design, and label detail to highlight your products.
