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How to Design Your Coffee Shop to Be a Hangout Spot for Customers

Posted by Emma Sturgis on February 16, 2021 at 7:41am

Running a successful coffee shop is about a lot more than simply selling delicious drinks. That’s because neighborhood cafes have come to take on a consequential societal role. People expect to do much more than simply buy a drink at their local coffee shop. They also want to relax, do some work, and hang out while they finish their coffee. In order to match these modern expectations, you need to make your coffee shop an awesome place to hangout. Here’s how you can make that happen.

Provide Free Wifi to Customers

This is the single most important thing to do if you want customers to hang out at your cafe. Modern consumers expect to be able to browse the web at their local coffee shop. Many will even bring laptops, hoping to get some work done while they sip on their drinks. Groups of students will use the space to study, and business people will come for casual meetings. These activities are only possible if you provide your customers with free, fast, and reliable internet.

Create an Outdoor Patio

Lots of people prefer sitting outside, especially during pleasant weather. By giving your customers an outdoor option, you’ll greatly enhance the appeal of your cafe. Having outdoor seating is especially important now, with the pandemic scaring many folks away from indoor dining. By giving people an outdoor space, you’ll invite them to safely hang out at the coffee shop without risking infection.

Buy Heaters

Sitting outside can still be pleasant in the cooler weather, but you’ll need to provide some artificial heat. Outdoor space heaters will make your patio a pleasant place to sit right into the colder months. This could set your coffee shop apart from the competition.

Install Speakers and a Television

Light background music has become standard for coffee shops around the world. The problem is that you need to find the perfect sweet spot when it comes to volume. The best way to do this is by installing speakers through the premises. That way, you can play music loud enough that everyone can hear it, without bothering any particular customer who happens to be sitting beside a standalone speaker. Hire an A/V company to set up the speakers, and consider installing a television while you’re at it.

A coffee shop should be as much a hangout spot as a place to buy coffee. Follow these tips to make your cafe the best it can be.

Maintaining the Quality of Your Restaurant Equipment

Posted by Emma Sturgis on February 3, 2021 at 9:48am

The equipment that your employees use to craft the delicious dishes for your customers are a vital asset to your overall business. When they're properly taken care of, they will last for a long time. However, when they're not well-maintained, they can break down prematurely and end up costing you a ton in replacement costs. Here are four tips that you should follow to properly maintain your restaurant equipment.

Read Through the Owner's Manual

When it comes to properly maintaining your restaurant equipment, the best place to start is your owner's manual. This is the place that gives you step by step instructions on how to properly clean and service your equipment. You'll likely discover that only certain cleaning practices and cleaners can be used to maintain the quality of the equipment. You should write down what each of these are for all of your restaurant equipment.

Have the Right Cleaners In Stock

We can't stress this second point enough. Your staff members can only use the cleaning products that you have on hand. Different equipment is going to require different cleansers. You're likely going to need a different cleaning solution to thoroughly clean your stainless steel hamburger moulder equipment as compared to cleaning your porcelain plates.

Teach Your Staff the Right Way to Clean

Just because you've read the owner's manual and know how the cleaning of each piece of equipment should be done, doesn't mean it will get done that way. You must inform your staff members of proper cleaning methods. Take time to train them on cleaning each piece of equipment. Even go as far as creating reference lists so that no step in the cleaning process is unintentionally skipped over.

Repair Broken / Worn Out Parts Immediately

The best form of maintenance that you can do is to fix problems as early as you notice them. When little problems start to develop, such as an odd noise, it's time to get the equipment checked out. Many restaurant owners will skip over this step for fear of putting the piece of equipment out of commission. When you address the problem early, you can usually decrease the downtime and save yourself a bundle in repair costs.

Properly maintaining the quality of your restaurant equipment takes time and energy. You need to have a plan, such as the one above, that will ensure all aspects of your equipment are looked after. Realize that crafting the plan is only one part. You also need to work to successfully integrate it into your daily restaurant operations for it to be successful in maintaining your equipment.

Reasons to Add an Outdoor Patio for Your Coffee Shop

Posted by Emma Sturgis on February 2, 2021 at 6:17am

As a restaurant owner, you should always be on the lookout for ways to increase your total dining space. Not only do patrons enjoy being able to spread out, but more space also allows you to increase your overall capacity. More people in the restaurant at a time means more profits for you. If you own a cafe, then creating an outdoor patio is one of the best ways to extend your space. Here are four reasons why you should hire builders, buy some patio heaters, and create an outdoor seating area for your cafe.

Increase Capacity During the COVID-19 Pandemic

While vaccines have arrived and the end is in sight, the current pandemic seems like it will continue for another few months, at least. Many states, counties, and municipalities are limiting the capacity for restaurants, especially when it comes to indoor seating. Opening an outdoor patio will allow you to increase capacity while honoring social distancing regulations. It will also invite patrons who prefer not to eat inside for fear of infection.

Attract Patrons Who Prefer to Sit Outside

Even during normal, non-pandemic times, some people simply prefer sitting outside. Perhaps they love fresh air, or maybe they think small, indoor spaces fill unpleasantly with the sound of voices. Whatever their reasons, they’ll be more likely to patronize your cafe once you install outdoor seating.

Use Your Outdoor Space to Attract Customers off the Street

Not only does an outdoor patio improve the customer experience, but it also serves as a giant advertisement for your business. Some passersby might not notice the sign above your door, but the pleasant patio full of happy customers will certainly attract their attention. They’ll also notice the delicious drinks on the tables, inspiring them to come in and check out your menu.

Host Special Events

An outdoor patio will provide an excellent space for small parties and functions. These types of events are often challenging for cafes because they require additional space. While you can’t rent your whole indoor dining area for a party, you can certainly set aside the outdoor space while business-as-usual carries on inside.

Any decent owner is on the constant lookout for ways to improve their business. If your cafe has extra outdoor space, then creating a comfortable patio is a great way to increase space and boost sales. With so much to gain and little to lose, you should start work on your patio today.

Provide Free Wifi to Customers

Create an Outdoor Patio

Buy Heaters

Install Speakers and a Television

Read Through the Owner's Manual

Have the Right Cleaners In Stock

Teach Your Staff the Right Way to Clean

Repair Broken / Worn Out Parts Immediately

Increase Capacity During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Attract Patrons Who Prefer to Sit Outside

Use Your Outdoor Space to Attract Customers off the Street

Host Special Events

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.