Coffee lovers often think that their love of a caffeine fix puts them in a good position to run their own coffee shop. Of course, running any kind of business is never easy, and if you are in the process of thinking about starting your own coffee shop, you’ll need more than just a love of a delicious cup of Joe to get you started on a successful road. There are a few different things to consider, such as the investment level you’ll require to get started, the choice of location, the type of coffee you wish to sell and the type of coffee machinery and supplies that you’ll need to serve up coffee that really sells well to your customers. Here, we take a look at a few tips on how to be successful when starting your own coffee shop.
The high street is changing before our very eyes, and because of that the small high street coffee shop has to adapt to new demands, new customers and look for ways in which to stay relevant and profitable. Starting a new coffee shop is a challenge, but there are a few tips that you can take on board that give you the best chance of being a success.
Despite the challenges in opening a business at this time there are still many coffee shops out there in the marketplace. What this means, is that to be successful, you have to have a great coffee shop idea to begin with. A generic coffee shop that is the same as every other type you see on the high street will only fail. The big coffee shop chains have this area covered, so you need to think about what will make you unique and stand out. This could be selling ethically sourced brews, create a comfortable space with free reading material, offer food that complements the coffee you sell, or focus entirely on the customer. Whatever you decide to do, quality is key.
Before starting your own coffee shop, look for work experience in different coffee shops or a café. This will help you see behind the scenes and the tasks that are needed every day to keep a coffee shop running. From here, you can then choose a location that suits your intended target market and your budget. You have to balance the price of a lease and the need for greater footfall, but this will depend on the type of customer you wish to attract and the other coffee shops in the immediate vicinity. The size of your shop will also depend on where you choose and also leads on to your capacity and all food and coffee supply prices that you have to hit the mark for.
If you are determined to succeed as the owner of a small coffee shop, you’ll know that the first thing you have to secure is solid relationships with your suppliers. The coffee beans you source, the fresh ingredients you buy on a regular basis and the type of coffee equipment and machinery that you need to use on a daily basis will go a long way to proving whether you are a success or not. With all the will in the world, without good suppliers, your coffee shop will fail before it has even begun. Take this into consideration when setting up your business and ensure you are looking for long-term, sustainable and profitable partners that will be with you for the long-haul on your coffee journey, rather than just a short fix to get you started.
