2006-12-31 12:59:44 · 8 answers · asked by willvincent2001 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Small Business
Advertisment mainly
2006-12-31 13:09:10 · update #1
Hard to say, since I've not been to your shop & don't know anything about it, but...
Count the coffee bean contest.
Use your store Brand to sell cross over products like shirts & mugs, it works well if you have a good logo & tag line.
Change motif or add new or different products (obvious, I know).
Add readings by local authors & book signings.
Re-examine your local demographic and see what interests them.
Cater AM coffee at local businesses with cookies/muffins, etc.
Cross promote with a local bakery.
Send everyone on the chamber of commerce mailing list one free coffee coupon (equal to your cheapest coffee or a new brand you're wanting to try).
Change the lighting - go NEON or something else that works.
Cross promote with the local theater to stay open friday nights for after movie coffee (can do the same with local bars or clubs).
Do $1 off surveys of your customers to see what they want.
Ask your staff what kind of feedback they've been getting from customers and base changes on that and other info.
Examine your competitors and fill niches they don't.
Add a roving coffee wagon or trailer to sell products at street fairs or local park events.
Add quick snacks to make the coffee shop a lunch stop (once again, I'm not sure what you do now).
Add a web-site! Start promoting the coffee of the day with e-mail's to customers that sign up. Add event schedules. Add feedback capability. Add on-line ordering of your stores shipable products.
That's all I can think off at the moment. I hope it helps.
Good Luck!
2006-12-31 13:20:34 · answer #1 · answered by bionicbookworm 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some of the best small town shops I have been to offer different cakes or cheesecakes, they have big lounge areas with computers and games, they offer a movie night on every friday night and they send out mass emails for events. They get to know thier customers. Like when I walk in they ask if it was the same from yesterday (this one could be tricky if you have no real regulars) they also host a night for artist and children from the surrounding schools. I say that you can't go wrong with getting the community involved or having a myspace page that gives the local people info. Oh and let me not forget the free wireless internet. That is my whole reason for going to my local coffee shop and not starbucks and I usually want a coffee and a piece of cake while I am there. So please try some of these ideas and I am pretty sure the customers will flock in.
2006-12-31 21:26:34 · answer #2 · answered by brandi_schuler 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some coffee shops entertain by poetry. Methinks maybe holding an open night for poets would be interesting.(Of course this is if you have a big shop.) Also plants add some atmosphere. Think "hanging garden."
2006-12-31 21:12:25 · answer #3 · answered by Da Mick 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's tough. I live in Toronto, and there is literally a coffee shop on every corner. So, competition is fierce. There is one thing that I like is when they have cards that when you buy 8 coffees or so, you get a free one. I also like when they have more selection that just the basic donuts. Like fancier pastries are nice.
2006-12-31 21:12:17 · answer #4 · answered by bon b 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
it depends what you want. what kind of attention. do you want to ideas for menus or decorating? in the city that's close to where i live there was a cafe/restaurant that served only 5 plates every day. you could only choose from those 5 plates. and they also served all kinds of coffe. they also had an array of sweet breads like "semitas de anise" which is a kind of anise bread, conchas, and such. (i live in deep south texas hence the mexican breads). maybe you could try something like that. you would get hungry people who want to eat and people just looking to snack. also you could also try starting or inviting a book club to meet there or some other club. hope this helps and good luck in your business.
2006-12-31 21:17:08 · answer #5 · answered by nenarmz 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For the "regulars"....Get some white or whatever color coffee mugs wholesale, and some decals, hang a rack on the wall, when your regulars come in for coffee, Put their name on the mug and serve it to them that way, they can get coffee served in their "own" cup !
2006-12-31 21:29:13 · answer #6 · answered by kimmy3 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ok first you need a big huge blinking sign that says "free beer" then as the customers flock in by the masses tell them oh sorry we just ran out, have some coffee.
2006-12-31 21:11:08 · answer #7 · answered by redhotgoalie 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
what sort if ideas? menu, atmosphere, design....what?
2006-12-31 21:07:19 · answer #8 · answered by animal_mother 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋