Running a coffee shop is a popular choice these days, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s tough to do. Many business owners believe that they’ll open up a coffee shop and immediately start raking in the cash, but that’s not how it works at all. As a matter of fact, there are a few things you may need to consider if you’re looking for a “boost”.
Coffee isn’t going to go out of style anytime soon, so it’s always a hot commodity to sell for business owners looking to turn a profit. However, there are things you can do to improve your workplace and as a result, improve the productivity that your employees experience as well.
This article is going to look at a few different ways you can approach running a successful coffee shop, as well as how you can keep things going!
Successful Coffee Shop Tips
Approach Management Professionally
Make sure that you’re using a management style that features a professional focus, but also gives employees a chance to be themselves once in a while. Things need to be done properly, and that’s where managing in a professional manner will take you further – too many coffee shop owners manage their staff as if they were friends (and nothing more).
By implementing the likes of automated scheduling tools (to help assign shifts properly), more incentives/rewards, and a healthier work environment, you’ll be giving employees the tools they need to run your business effectively! I highly suggest that you:
- Learn about the different management styles and be upfront with how you want to approach your team
- Be approachable at all times and listen to employee opinions – you never know when somebody has something good to say
- Ensure that employees understand their role at the coffee shop, as well as any expectations or goals you may have for the business
Keep Things Light (But Not Too Light!)
By keeping things light-hearted, you can be sure that your employees are going to enjoy coming to work every day. Of course, you still need to get things done, which is why you want to find the “perfect balance”. Letting your employees relax and be themselves is ideal while they’re at work, but if it’s having a negative impact on your profits or productivity, you may need to tone things down a bit.
Help the Team Understand Your Products Better
The team needs to know what they are selling if you want them to do it without any issues. When a customer comes up and orders a complicated latte, you don’t want an employee that’s going to stare at them in confusion!
Proper training is a must for any coffee shop, regardless of how “complex” you’re going to be. People are coming in and paying for your product, so it’s important that your employees know how to provide that product without any issues!
Show Customers How Appreciative You Are
Customers are more than likely going to come back for more if you show them how appreciative you are. This can come in many different forms, although most people will enjoy when you offer them perks for coming back. This is why you see so many coffee shops offering some sort of reward system where a customer can get a free coffee after purchasing 5, or anything along the lines of that. Some of the most common ways to show customers that you appreciate them would be:
- Loyalty cards and reward systems to offer free drinks/products
- Markdown the price of bakery goods once they are a day-old
- Offer free samples of new and popular products
- Make sure that all of your chairs are comfortable and the interior is designed with taste
- Use the customers’ name as much as possible during a transaction
- Provide them with free wifi
This is not only going to entice people to come back for more, but you also give the customer a chance to let them know that you appreciate their business. Repeat business is one of the most important factors associated with running a coffee shop, and showing customers that you truly appreciate them can boost that quite a bit.
Track Your Data (and Use It!)
Data makes the world go around, and that’s why it’s important to keep track of the data associated with your business. Whether it’s which drink has become the most popular, or which ones have fallen from grace, data will always let you know where the business should be focusing on next.
New drinks can be tested and kept on the menu according to statistics, and you can even use the data to adjust pricing so that customers don’t feel like they’re overpaying for anything. The longer you’re in business, the more data you’ll have access to – this is why massive coffee shops like Starbucks (that have been doing this for a while) have managed to perfect everything to do with their service.
Make Coffee Shops Great Again
We believe that through proper scheduling, data implementation, and effective employees, you can have success with a coffee shop just about anywhere in the world. Coffee is an international drink that is enjoyed by all, and if you’ve ever considered opening a coffee shop (or currently own one), try to keep these tips in mind!
