Who doesn’t love a cup of coffee? Latte, Cappuccino, Espresso, Macchiato, with soy milk or semi-skimmed, with caramelized hazelnut or spiced pumpkin pie flavoring, there are as many ways of enjoying a good cup of Joe as there are people in the world. Consequently, it’s not surprising that the coffee industry is still booming. There is, indeed, still plenty of room in the market for new comers. But it doesn’t mean they will have an easy start. However, it’s fair to say that you need to be ready to face fierce competition from global chains. As a small and independent shop, if you want to survive, you need to dig deep into the creativity box. You need to do things that nobody else is doing. You need to explore innovative and engaging strategies. One word of advice before we begin: You don’t have to break the bank to become competitive. On the contrary, you need to get at the heart of what makes the modern coffee lover tick:
Become an environmentally-friendly shop
Your brand is your identity. For any coffee lover, a coffee shop could be like any other if it were not for specific details. The quality of your sourced ingredients is crucial. However, it is not as important as your impact on the environment. Indeed, in a world where we’re are becoming increasingly aware of the way we affect the planet, small companies can gain a competitive edge by promoting sustainable materials and behaviors. Your customers are likely to perceive your brand as a reputable quality coffee shop if you promote your green efforts and your charitable engagement.
Maximize your visibility
Independent businesses can struggle to be noticed when there’s a Starbucks’ at every street corner. However, you can make the most of a branded awning installation to appeal to customers who love to take their coffee outside. Additionally, bright colors offer a visual clue in a tired decor where most shops emphasize neutral decors.
Tap into an irresistible trend
Your customers already know of traditional brews. If you want to attract their attention, you need to offer something they can’t find anywhere else, such as a healthy and exciting unicorn drink, for instance. With more and more Kawaii fashion around, you could just as easily create rainbow drinks, using all your favorite pastel hues and no colorant. Customers want healthy and fun alternatives that have all the playfulness of a trendy brew without any of the inconvenience.
Showcase your personality
Last, but not least, social media platforms are your best ally when it comes to reaching out to a new audience. Instagram, especially, with almost 15 million posts tagged #coffeeshop offers small businesses the opportunity to create a buzz around their brand. Using hashtags – on average, the platform recommends 11 hashtags per post – lets you interact with your audience and showcase your #latteart during the day. You can use geotagging clues to get the grammers to your door!
In short, it’s time for independent coffee shops to push their brew into the market. Maximizing visibility, green initiative, and trendy personality, those are the key to your success.
