Suggestions on how to make over a small coffee shop.?

Question

Cozy environment and does not need huge money to makeover.

Answer 1

What are your objectives of making over the coffee shop?  

It is certainly true that good interior design can attract more customers and hence more income.  However, if your shop is small you will be limited by the amount of seating you can offer.  Is there any outside space you could utilise, with the obvious council permissions of course?  

Have a look at coffee shops that attract you in neighbouring towns.  Note what you think is good, inviting, and will attract lots of customers with the right spending power,  Think about employing a designer, but set the budget in stone.  Take them to look at designs that you think are successful to give them an idea of what you want.

If you are looking for more profits and more customers, take a good look at the range of coffee and food you are offering.  You may need to offer more specialty coffee.  Suppliers of espresso and bean to cup machines will offer you training if you buy from them.

For further information, you may wish to visit our website:  

http://www.howtosetupacoffeeshop.co.uk  

The guide I wrote with former coffee shop owner Don Clarke has been favourably reviewed by the trade magazine, Cafe Culture, and a copy of their review is included on the website.  You can also download a copy of Don's Top 10 Tips and a copy of our free newsletters if you want to!

Good luck!

Answer 2

Hello,

Great post.  The most important part of business is advertising.  This makes or breaks a business.  Some of the best ways to advertise I've found are:

1.  Offline promoting (business cards, flyers, newspaper and other print advertising).

2.  Online promoting (buying banner ads, forum posts, email auto replies).

The best method that's worked for me so far is handing out business cards.  I don't do this in the usual way.... I buy them in bulk from a place online (they give the cards for free, I just  paid shipping and handling...they also give a really nice free business card holder, it looks impressive).  They're really high quality.  I just put all of the info about my business on the cards, and I hand them out on cars at bus stations, malls, etc.  It's worked out really, really well for me, and it's completely inexpensive =)  

http://www.unemployed-free-cards.info

Good Luck with your business!