Setting up a coffee shop
While it is true that as soon as we enter the supermarket the brands of ground coffee jump out at us, it is more true that there is nothing like the aroma and texture of freshly ground coffee. That aroma that seems to be able to be touched, can make a coffee shop full of money if we know how to handle it and taking into account the great variety of products that carry this delicious ingredient, without counting the different presentations of coffee that we can offer.
The food and beverage businesses, meet them here
This allows the profitability of the business to increase as we expand our product catalogue with the star ingredient that is consumed in different parts of the world.
Requirements of a coffee products store
How do we get started? What do we need to get started?
Products for sale: As we mentioned, the market currently offers different presentations of coffee, but also a wide variety of new products with this ingredient that is desired worldwide, so offering them in your store, can increase profits. Among the coffee products we find: coffee beans, ground coffee, instant coffee, gourmet coffee, organic coffee, cookies with coffee, coffee meringues, arequipe with coffee, among others. Although there are several edible product options, there are also a number of other coffee-based beauty products that sell very well in the health sector.
Product suppliers: Before starting to buy the products you are going to sell, we always recommend that you make a research about the suppliers in the market to analyze the prices they offer you for wholesale purchase, delivery times, fulfillment, recognition in the market, among other key aspects that will be determinant for your business. Find out everything you need to know before choosing the supplier or suppliers that will offer you coffee products. Loyalty is key, so with a good relationship with your suppliers, they can easily give you discounts on every purchase.
Qualifications and permits: When setting up a business, we need to make sure we have all the legal documentation, both the authorisation and the authorisation corresponding to the health sector for the sale of food products, must be processed. Having these permits will allow you to start your business without problems and subject to the law. Remember that these procedures depend on the country you are in and the system in place, so you should approach the entity in charge and find out everything you need.
Operating premises: One of the great advantages is that with this type of business we can adapt a space that you already have at home or a small place, because with a small one and without any luxury, you can easily start the business, but taking into account the adjustments and the first products of the premises.
Showcases and shelves: The window facing the outside must be very tempting to assemble. Red is an eye-catching colour, so use it on a tin or box. With respect to internal displays, they should display the goods in an orderly fashion, inside carefully assembled cans or in compartments that allow the coffee in each to be seen clearly.
Staffing the premises: The number of people working in a premises depends especially on your conditions, but also on the size of the warehouse or store. The more space you have, the more staff you will need, but not only for sales, but also for cleaning, administration and financial aspects, product storage and supervision of the premises. If you want to reduce costs, you can start on your own and even invite a friend or family member to help you get started.
How a coffee shop works
As we mentioned, nowadays the market offers different presentations of coffee, but also a great variety of new products with this ingredient that is desired all over the world, therefore, offering them in a store, can increase the profits. This is precisely what this business idea is all about.
Among the coffee products we find: coffee beans, ground coffee, instant coffee, gourmet coffee, organic coffee, coffee cookies, coffee meringues, arequipe with coffee, among others. Although there are several options for edible products, there are also a number of other coffee-based beauty products that sell very well in the health sector.
Additional services in a coffee shop
With the growth of the business and to the extent of our possibilities it is always advisable to expand our services and to this extent increase our profits, so these are some of them that you should consider:
Blendings: mix the coffee with other ingredients and spices to sell it at a better price and with that bonus that will make the customer only want to buy from your business. Some possibilities are: Coffee with chocolate, coffee with cinnamon, coffee with fennel, etc. The consumption of coffee is a very frequent activity that invites everyone to consume it at any time, so you will surely have customers at any time.
Who says coffee, says tea: but not ordinary tea, but exotic teas that, without taking away the importance of coffee, complement the possibilities for snack time.
Some snacks: coffee is associated with breakfast or afternoon snack, so something like chocolates, alfajores, cookies… all homemade, of course. You can even make them yourself with a handmade recipe and a little bit of ingenuity. An excellent companion for a section focused on coffee consumption.
Articles and objects: Curiosities are one of the items that have more opportunity to be sold in this type of space, so elements alluding to coffee, being a product consumed worldwide, will be appreciated by your customers.
Health and beauty products: In the beauty and aesthetic industry, coffee is one of the most prevalent ingredients among the specialized products for body care, used in body and facial masks that many women acquire and use frequently.
How about some coffee tables right there? This is an excellent option, since the client will feel a very personalized treatment due to the closeness with the owner himself. So if you put one or two tables in your coffee shop for the customer to have a coffee right there, you will be giving a very important plus to your business when you decide to set up a coffee shop.
How to promote?
People must know about your store, so the first thing you can do is send a catalogue detailing the products you sell, once you have contacted your suppliers. Another good idea is to make flyers describing the discounts for opening the business, but also promotions for special dates. For example: For this Mother’s Day take a kilo of special coffee and we will give you 100gr of chocolates.
Do not forget that the presence in Internet is key for the positioning of the businesses nowadays, besides that this channel is going to allow you, also, to offer your products online so that any interested person can buy them anywhere in the world. Create accounts in social networks and if possible, a website with your product catalog at sight, as well as promotions and contact information.
Problems that can appear: As we saw, there are many products in which the coffee is found, so if we add up the costs of fitting out the premises (plus rent or purchase), buying shelves, staff, suppliers and so on, it could represent a high level of investment, especially if you visualize it on a large scale.
Final recommendation: The key to this type of business is focused on the location of the store. A coffee products store can easily be located in commercial areas that include supermarkets, but they are also very efficient busy spaces within which tourists and visitors pass, an approach that will undoubtedly attract your attention.
Setting up a coffee shop is a quaint, friendly and profitable business.
How do I promote my coffee shop?
The first thing you can do is make a catalogue detailing the products you sell, but only once you have contacted your suppliers. Another good idea is to make flyers with the opening discounts, but also promotions for special dates.
Don’t forget that the presence in Internet is key for the positioning and the performance of the current market. This channel will also allow you to offer products online so that anyone interested can buy them anywhere in the world. Create accounts in social networks ,and if possible, a website with your product catalogue at sight.
Key tips for setting up a coffee shop
The number of people working on a premises depends especially on your conditions, but also on the size of the warehouse or shop. The more space you have, the more staff you will need, but not only for sales, but also for cleaning, administration and financial aspects, product storage and supervision of the site. If you want to reduce costs, you can start on your own and even invite a friend or family member to help you get started.
Offer additional services?
With the growth of the business and to the extent of our possibilities it is always advisable to expand our services and to this extent, increase our profits, so these are some of them that you should take into account: blendings, tea, snacks, article
and curiosities alluding to coffee, beauty products containing coffee, such as masks and exfoliants, among others.
The key to this type of business is centered on the location of the store. A coffee products store can easily be located in commercial areas that include supermarkets, but they are also very efficient crowded spaces within which tourists and visitors pass by, being an approach that will undoubtedly call your attention.
Weaknesses: as we saw, there are many products in which coffee is found, so if we add up the costs of fitting out the premises (plus rent or purchase), buying shelves, staff, suppliers and so on, it could represent a high level of investment, especially if you visualize it on a large scale.
A good way to open a coffee shop but reducing costs, could be starting with the online sale from an Internet store, in this way you could also catch the local public and then open your physical store, since you already have experience and recognition by the public.
Advantages: One of the great advantages is that with this type of business we can adapt a space that you already have at home or a small place, because with a small one and without any luxury, you can easily start the business, but taking into account the adjustments and the first products of the local.
On the other hand, there are few businesses that specialize in a single sector, so with a good promotion and offer of products based on coffee, we can catch the public lover of this product and a variety of items that will not resist.
Success stories
Specialized stores or stores focused on a specific product, from which other items vary, have a very special advantage and that is that they address a taste that may well be present in different types of people, so the variety of specific customers increases and this empowers the public.
This is known by companies like the ones you will see in a moment, which have managed to consolidate themselves as leaders in the sector and even open their own franchises in the market.
Get inspired by their business models, get to know how they work and start setting the course for your own coffee shop.