Archive for July, 2010

Opening a Coffee Shop – an expanding market

July 10th, 2010 davidguide

Opening a coffee shop might seem a bold move in the economic down turn, but more and more people are finding that this is one area of business that is holding up well. In Britain, for example, more and more people are visiting coffee shops and cafes even as the recession bites.

If you are thinking about opening a coffee shop then there is one thing you must bear in mind first – the location. This is one thing that should come naturally. You will know your local town centre, where people go, why and when. Keep an eye on those to let signs and think about when and where you’d like a break while shopping, or if you are on the move and doing business. The answer to a good location should almost come naturally to you. One helpful word – the chance to incorporate outside seating is great. What better advertisement for your coffee shop than seeing people already there?

If you can get your location right, your coffee shop has a real chance of success.

The other thing that might be a worry if you are considering opening a coffee shop is how much do you know about coffee? One of the reasons you might be keen is because you are a real coffee enthusiast – if so great. If not though, don’t worry. Think about how many of your potential customers come in bursting with knowledge of beans and just how the Colombian coffee market is today! They just want good coffee. Searching out suppliers will take time, but if you see splintered or broken beans that is not good news. Let your nose be your guide too, a good smell will translate into good coffee.

Opening a coffee shop will demand some time and energy but a little intelligent thought can find you a good place to open, ways round start up costs and a real chance of escaping the rat race!

The secrets to slashing coffee shop start up costs are just a click a way to get you opening a coffee shop that can quickly be profitable.

Rupert Trubshaw is a journalist and writer who can’t get enough cappuccinos.

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Have a Successful Coffee Franchise

July 9th, 2010 Karyn Lewis

Most of us can name a few very successful coffee franchise names off the top of our heads. It is no secret that they have taken on a life of their own. The familiar logos and advertisements are familiar to people. Since consumers are very happy and content with what they know it helps them to step inside the location.

They also know they can get the same great coffee drinks they love regardless of which one they step into. This is important as people can be very different when it comes to their taste for coffee. What you think you will be getting is very different when you go to a new location. It may be stronger, weaker, more expensive, and the sizes will vary. With a coffee franchise though they know exactly what they will get each and every time.

Should you decide to take part in such a business you will find it can be costly to get in the door. Even if you have the money though there is no guarantee that you will be able to get them to accept your application. Such entities have quite a reputation to uphold so they don’t want to risk it falling down on them. They want people with the right skills, ethics, and business goals to be owner’s of their coffee franchise locations.

You will find the criteria for each of them to be slightly different. For example one may be fine with the fact that you don’t have very much experience in the coffee business. They figure they can train you on the basics of it and you can bring your managerial skills from other types of products into play successfully.

Others will expect you to have some in depth knowledge and understanding of their business and how they operate. Doing your homework is important because you want to be successful with the coffee franchise you become involved in. You don’t want to be unhappy with the policies and guidelines you will have to follow along with.

That is perhaps one of the biggest complications for those that do follow a franchise. Sure, they can get the publicity and the consumers but they don’t feel they have accomplished much personally. This is because they are limited in their freedom to change things up. Basically you will be tied into the decisions of the corporate offices. Yet there are plenty of benefits to that as well.

For example you won’t have to worry about advertising your business. There will be plenty of that going on with the coffee franchise name linked to it. You will also have the right procedures and equipment to get the job done. You can be sure all of this has been carefully evaluated, tweaked, and evaluated again. Therefore some common coffee shop blunders that can cost you money and customers will be avoided.

There are some great opportunities out there for a person in regards to a coffee franchise. Take the time to learn all you can. Honestly evaluate if this type of business is right for you or not. It is a good fit for some people but not others. You may be making money with your coffee franchise but if you aren’t happy with your role in it then none of that really matters. You want a business you can be proud of and are passionate about.

Author: Karyn Lewis
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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A Guide to the Few Spoken and Unspoken Rules in Amsterdam Coffee Shops

July 7th, 2010 davidguide

Amsterdam is the largest and most crowded city in the Netherlands, offering a growing number of coffee shops. There are a few spoken and unspoken rules for you to enjoy a great cup of coffee in the region.

Amsterdam is one of the most visited places by tourists every year. People from different nations make sure they get to see this city at least once in their lives. It is famous for a lot of its beautiful and scenic spots. However, what few only know is that Amsterdam is not merely loved for its wonderful tourist attractions. It is also well known for its many coffee shops.

Amsterdam offers hundreds of welcoming and relaxing coffee shops. Tourism continues to bloom with the help of many coffee shops in the state. All types of coffee shop can be found here, along with brightly painted psychedelic colors and loud music. The more popular coffee shops are located in the canal city districts and by the suburbs.

The city tourist center offers an easy guide in finding the best coffee shops in the city. There are direct stops to familiarize one with the spoken and unspoken rules inside.

There are a few verbal and non-verbal rules that each customer should consider upon entering the casual ambiance of Amsterdam’s coffee shops. Here are some of them:

Shops often check if visitors have IDs and should be 18 years old and above. Coffee shops rarely sell alcoholic liquors for they have no license. Some prefer to sell beer. It is not acceptable to bring your own liquor inside the premises. Visitors can bring their own bag to smoke as long as you buy food or drinks at the shop. Selling goods and loitering are not allowed inside.

Amsterdam coffee shop is not just a place where you can sip a cup of coffee, but also a place where you can legally purchase or openly sell small amounts of cannabis like marijuana (for personal usage). Smoking is also allowed inside the premises.

Most shops sell pre-weighed bags at 5, 10, and 12.5, usually amounting to about 25 euros. Some will even weigh the stuff during the course of the transaction.

One of the most popular coffee shops in Amsterdam American Hotel is Café Americain. It is a renowned for celebrities. They are famous for their seasonal items and great services. The building structure is one of the most historical monuments in Europe.

Here are 20 of the best coffee shops in Amsterdam:

Barney’s Breakfast Bar – 102 Haarlemmerstraat
Central – 89 Prins Hendrikkade
Front Page – 14 Zoutsteeg
Blue Bird – 71 St. Antoniusbreedstraat
Bushdocter – 28 Thorbeckeplein
Greenhouse – Tolstraat 91
Grey Area – 2 Oude Leliestraat
De Dampkring – 29 Handboogstraat
Greenhouse Namaste – 345 Waterlooplein
Greenhouse Centrum – 191 Oudezijds Voorburgwal
Homegrown Fantasy – 87a Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal
Pink Floyd (Umma Gumma) – 44 Haarlemmerstraat
Old Church – 54Oudekerksplein
Siberie – 11 Brouwersgracht
Rokerij – 41 Lange Leidsedwarsstraat
Rokerij II – 8 Singel
Rokerij III – 8 Amstel
Stix – 21 Utrechtsestraat
Tweede Kamer – 6 Heisteeg
420 Cafe (De Kuil) – 27 Oudebrugsteeg

When you go to Amsterdam, make sure that you don’t only enjoy the sites, but you try out their famous coffee as well.

For more information on Coffee Shops in USA and New Mexico Coffee Shopsplease visit our website.

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Coffee Shops in Florida For Business and Relaxation

July 4th, 2010 davidguide

Coffee shops play very important roles in drawing closer to our family members, friends and business partners. These places also provide a great chance to relax while enjoying their favorite coffee blend coupled with other food items.

Florida is a beautiful city in the United States. Many Americans and tourists visit the city to relax and unwind while taking a day off from work. Visitors enjoy the sites, go shopping and just stroll along the parks.

Florida has so many wonderful attractions to go to. But after all the fun in exploring the city, it is time to relax. And one thing comes to mind, that is, to drink a cup of coffee.

There are many coffee shops in Florida. There are different accessible coffee houses one can go to. These are cozy places useful during several special occasions. Going to these coffee shops is another way of decreasing stress that people encounter everyday. Talking over coffee will also strengthen relationships with family and friends.

These coffee shops are owned or franchised by some individuals and companies to suit the needs of people. The outdoor section has terraces, parasols, tables and chairs for a cool breeze ambience. It overlooks the beautiful sceneries of the city.

Here are some of the more famous coffee shops in the city. First is the Volcanos Coffee Bar. It is a great little coffee shop that can be found in Longwood, Florida. They offer two kinds of organic coffee: Guatemala Maya Ixil-Quiche and Colima Valley Blend. They also offer a wide range of desserts and other food items. The staff is friendly and their prices are affordable.

Next is the Richards Fine Coffee, also one of the best coffee shops in Winter Haven, Florida. Hot and cold coffee is served along with a wide array of food choice such as cinnamon roll, muffins, and bagels. It has an extraordinary atmosphere attended by friendly personnel.

You can also try Stork’s Café if you want good ambiance. It is one of the candidates for architectural designs award because of its nature friendly ambiance. It is located at Ft Lauderdale, Florida. A local, active politician, Jim Storke is the owner. This local, small bakery-café chain offers a diversity of food selection such as, salads, sandwiches, soups and even other beverages like wine.

The Aroma Coffee House is also swarmed with many coffee lovers everyday. It is situated at 712 East Washington Street, Orlando, Florida. They have a lot of coffee options including caffeine free coffee for those who are caffeine restricted. Fresh baked pastries and cakes are also offered along with their special coffee blend.

Another café you can try is the Coffee Cup Restaurant located in Pensacola, Florida. This is the landmark of Pensacola. It has been in service for 40 years now. It has its excellent Cheese Grits in the area. Aside from coffee, it also serves soup and sandwiches. Customers not only enjoy their coffee, but also the other meals served.

The other coffee shops are bigger franchises and known worldwide. But if you wish to experience coffee that’s distinct to Florida, you might opt for the smaller cafes that offer cups of coffee close to yours at home.

Most coffee shops, irreverent of location, are practical for business meetings. Some coffee houses have a wireless internet access that allows customers to bring their laptop.

For more information on Coffee Shops in USA and New Mexico Coffee Shopsplease visit our website.

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Gourmet Coffee Franchise – High Profits And High Competition

July 2nd, 2010 Terry Edwards

Gourmet coffee franchises make for a great investment opportunity. However, too much of a good thing can be a negative, especially with market saturation. If you’re contemplating investing in a gourmet coffee franchise then there are some things you have to do first to increase your chances of success. We’ll discuss them in this article.

Gourmet coffee is growing in popularity. In fact, there has been a 76% increase in the consumption of gourmet coffee in the last five years. Starbucks has been a big leader in this area, but they are far from being the only ones. With that has also come a rash of gourmet coffee franchise opportunities.

The profit margins are high, the demand is high, and so naturally the competition is high. There are two favorable circumstances where you can make a gourmet or specialty coffee franchise work for you.

The first circumstance is the best one, but is also the rarest. This involves being the first in a certain area to open a gourmet coffee franchise where there is adequate demand to support your business. This lets you steal pretty much all of the market share and you don’t face the pressure of competition. If you feel you have a situation like this on your hands then it would be a wise move forward and invest in a gourmet coffee franchise.

The second circumstance occurs much more often – that’s where there is a high demand, but there is also a lot of competition. Don’t think that competition is necessarily a bad thing because it is not. It shows that a gourmet coffee business can work in that area. However, you must take someone else’s market share to become successful.

There’s only one way to do this. You must offer the consumer something extra they can get nowhere else. This could be a better price, more convenience, a relaxing atmosphere, or a certain type of specialization or other innovative idea. Do this and your odds of success will skyrocket. Don’t do this and your odds of surviving in business at all will be very low.

So when it comes to evaluating gourmet coffee franchises first you have to look at your area and calculate what you perceive to be the demand and competition. Then start looking at other coffee franchises that offer competitive advantages in your marketplace. Start a franchise that can compete by offering something better to the consumer.

Check out different business models of these franchises and compare their strengths and weaknesses to understand the differences. At the same time, sometimes you can realize a competitive advantage simply by negotiating a very fair franchise agreement. Also, it will depend on the amount of investment you can make for the franchise as well.

Keep these things in mind when evaluating different gourmet coffee franchises.

Author: Terry Edwards
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Opening A Coffee Shop

July 1st, 2010 davidguide

Opening a Coffee Shop

With coffee drinkers an ever-growing market, opening a coffee shop can be a quick and relatively inexpensive business to start. Compared to say, a clothing store, where start up costs can easily run a half million dollars or more, you can start a coffee business for $50,000 – $200,000, depending on whether it’s a small kiosk in the mall, a drive-thru, or a full service coffee shop.

Although it’s a food service business, coffee shops have a higher profit margin without the high attrition of the restaurant business. Coffee is sexy. People get attached to their coffee shop as an appendage of their social life, their hang out, or their retreat to get some serious computer screen time.

Don’t be intimidated by the big chain shops. Their store designer in corporate headquarters is busily designing the same store for Alaska as he or she is for Florida. You have an advantage in that you are keenly attuned to your community. You know the habits and customs of the people, you know the demographic you’re aiming for. The uniqueness and character of your coffee shop will draw a loyal and appreciative clientele…if you do it right.

You’ll need to consider some of the major expenses of your initial investment based on the type of coffee business you want to have. Every case and scenario is different. You’ll probably be signing a lease. You’ll need cabinetry (build-out). Equipment will be another large expense to consider, which will be dependent on your menu.

There are some important factors to consider when choosing a location for opening a coffee shop. Coffee is usually an impulse buy. People will seldom go out of their way to get it, especially if there’s a quick drive up kiosk on their normal driving route. Location is the most important factor to consider. It will define your success or decide the failure of your business. Take your time. Shoot for an A+ location, and don’t settle for anything less than a B+.

If you’ve never worked in the coffee shop business before, plan on setting aside some funds for taking classes. Rosettas, hearts, steam, and foamy milk don’t just happen, and mastering them isn’t necessarily intuitive. This is particularly important if you’re planning to open a coffee shop in an upscale area. Once your customers taste a great coffee drink that’s been properly prepared, it’s going to be very difficult for them to ever go back a large chain for an auto-steamed cappuccino.

There are few good reasons for opening a coffee franchise unless you’re accustomed to someone telling you what to do and how to dress. Franchises make all the decisions for you and you pay a significant price for that privilege. So, unless you don’t have a creative bone in your body and no entrepreneurial spirit running through your veins, you’ll have spent a lot of money to be held back and frustrated.

Of course, since the focus of your business is coffee, you’ll want to make sure you work with a reputable company. The best way to find one is through an independent consultant. Your choices may be vast or restricted depending on your geographical location. If you’re in North Dakota, you may only have the choice of two or three companies that will be reliable to work with.

It’s equally important to make sure that the manufacturer of your equipment has quick reliable service. You can’t afford to have your espresso machine down for an extended period of time. You’ll need that repair done in a matter of hours, not days.

There are 330 million cups of coffee consumed every day. That makes the specialty coffee business particularly attractive as a start up. With careful planning, opening a coffee shop may be the best move you ever made.

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