UK’s coffee consumption soared to 95 million cups a day in 2018, up from 70 million in 2008, according to the British Coffee Association (BCA). The recent spike in coffee popularity has not only made this drink to be in demand, but it has also created opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs.
When it comes to coffee shops, not everyone wants to buy from the big guys. Some prefer having the beverage at a local cafe. If you want to open a coffee place, you need innovative ways to attract customers, convince people to switch from the big chains and build a solid reputation in the community. Here are five marketing ideas to supercharge your coffee shop business.
Custom Printed Cup Sleeves
Branding is a powerful tool when it comes to marketing. If you want to spread the word about your new coffee shop, nothing will make a better statement than the cup containing the drink. To create awareness and boost sales, use custom coffee sleeves. These specially designed protective clutches are printed with your logo, business name, catchphrase, and any other information about your cafe.
The sleeves can be printed in any color you want, personalized according to your taste, and are 100% recyclable thus friendly to the environment and community, as noted at https://hotshotsleeves.com/custom-cup-sleeves/. They are also affordable, so you don’t have to worry about denting your budget. When your customers walk out holding your coffee cup, they become active brand ambassadors.
Offer Wi-Fi
Investing in quality free Wi-Fi is a smart marketing strategy that can help you build a loyal customer base. In fact, customers spend over 60% more time in shops with free Wi-Fi and spend 50% more money, too, according to an article in the Small Business Trends. Just make sure there is a visible free Wi-Fi sign.
You can also get creative and deploy additional methods to help you get the most out of your free internet. You can arrange to have the Wi-Fi show your facebook page to users using pop-ups, or you can ask users to like or review your business online before logging-in. As long as you have fast free internet, your marketing campaign will work miracles.
Get Social about Coffee
Taking your business online can give you a huge boost in your customer acquisition and retention efforts. Social media presents a perfect opportunity to tell people why your cafe is better and how your services are unique. Make sure you open accounts of all popular platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and place the user name or URLs on a visible place in your cafe.
To maintain relevance, engage people on different subjects such as movies, music, social events, community activities, and anything else that interests people. As most people spend lots of time viewing videos on their smartphones, you can regularly create short, engaging, and shearable clips explaining your coffee creation method.
Start a Loyalty or Rewards Program
Sixty-four percent of small businesses reported that loyalty programs made them more money than it cost to run them, according to the Entrepreneur. Introducing a loyalty program is a phenomenal way to attract coffee-drinkers, retain customers, and beat your competition. Track the amount each customer spends and offer rewards when they reach a certain amount. You can also make reward cards that offer free drinks when a customer buys a particular number of drinks at once.
Final Thoughts
There are many reasons customers frequent a coffee shop, from escaping the daily grind to socializing. Therefore, you need to create a lively atmosphere around your business for each customer to feel at home. With the brilliant strategies outlined above, your coffee shop will attract many, stand out, and be a success.
