Morning Coffee & Afternoon Tea

Chocolate Friday: Sell it with Chocolate!

My brother's work brings him all kinds of little perks - leftover stuff, forgotten stuff - and all this stuff gets shared with us, his grateful fambly.  In this case, it was leftover promotional materials in the form of little silver tins.  What was inside?  Chocolate covered sunflower seeds!

I 'm totally addicted to these colorful little bombshells. 

I have to say, as promotional materials go, chocolate is one of the best.  If you're in the market for this kind of thing, pass right by the t-shirts and ball caps.  Give the heave-ho to the pens and mouse pads.  Go for the chocolate.  You can get chocolate covered sunflower seeds in a variety of shapes and containers from any one of the many promotional product companies out there.  Check here and here and here, for instance.  Some of them will let you customize the colors for specific holidays or events!  And this place offers all kinds of chocolate and candy promotional products.

I'm almost tempted to get something like this for my own business.  I could hand them out at development meetings, I guess.  But since I don't go to trade shows, or other public type marketing events ... who would eat all that chocolate?

Heh.   

Ok, maybe I'll just save some money and buy via the regular route.

Another Coffee Day?

We interrupt your regularly scheduled program of Irish stuff to bring you these important announcements. . .

According to Brady Brewer, Head of North American Starbucks store promotions and coffee brewing, today is National Coffee Day.  What?  Not another one!  Don't panic yet ... I can't find anything about this anywhere on the net, other than the ones I've already posted.  You know what I think?  I think the Head of North American Starbucks is making up holidays for marketing purposes.  But no advertising exec of a big corporation would stoop to such low tactics, would they?  Naaaaah.  I found this little blip on http://www.jimsblog.biz/, but can't seem to get the interview to play, so I'm not sure what the man actually says.  Can anybody listen to this and confirm?

For coffee and tea distributors, roasters and cafes, the Everything 4 Coffee and Tea Festival®, " a two-day event dedicated to the growth and proliferations of the specialty coffee and gourmet tea market place", is being held at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City on July 15th and 16th, 2006 10 am - 7 pm.  Wish I could go, to sample the wares and such! I 'specially want to take the workshop on choosing the best confectionery delights to have with your tea. 
Found via http://cocoajava.com/index.html

Lastly, bad Christine forgot to mention the Carnival of the Recipes.  Brain fart.  Again.  Carnival #82 is up at Dubious Wonder, and man-oh-man what a great selection of recipes this week!  Just to give me something to seque with, there are a few Irish recipes.  There's one for Colcannon from The Glittering Eye, and Smoked Corned Beef Brisket (and cabbage) from the BBQ General.

Thank you for your attention.  We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

Coffee Shop Marketing

A couple of ideas from the pro marketers...

First, an interesting way to use a coffee shop as a marketing tool for whatever business you're in: Coffee Hour Marketing, remarking on Rosa Say's original post, and I agree, this would also be a great way for coffee shop owner's to generate business as well. 

Next, some marketing tips from MarketerBlog for coffee shop owners: Wake Up and Smell the Espresso or the Mocha Java, or Whatever.

Chocolate Cafes?

Is a Chocolate Lounge the new coffee shop?  I mean the way a coffee shop used to be, when it was ok to sit for hours  and where many of the world's problems were solved over steaming cups.  A place to gather, sip, indulge, chat, and relax...

Check this article: Coffee shop feel of chocolate cafes catching on nationwide

And here's the big question...

Where can I find one in my area? 

Opening a Coffee Shop?

Quick reminder for you coffee entrepreneurs - Coffee Fest’s 3-day Specialty Coffee Business Seminar is upcoming.  Badgett says there are 21 spaces left.  But that post says the dates are June 3-5, 2005.  Heh, I think whoever sent Robert that news release should've had a little more coffee before hitting SEND. 

The Coffeefest website says Feb 24-26, in Washington D.C., which corresponds with the Trade show going on at the same time (fee for seminar gets you into the trade show as well).  If you're a new coffee shop owner, or are thinking about going into the bean business, you'll probably want to check this out.

Oh, and don't forget, today is National Irish Coffee Day!

A Place of Work?

I love Opus, and not just because he reminds me of my dad.  This cartoon - Opus Getting Coffee - is good for a chuckle.

Via OpenCoffee.com

New for Coffee Shops: Smart Lids

Now THIS is a great idea.  Coffee shop owners, heads up, this will save you a bundle in law suits, not to mention keeping your customers happy, AND increasing your revenue via advertising:  a lid that changes color to alert your customers that hot liquid is inside, slowly changing back to brown as the liquid cools, and also indicates when and if the lid is securely fastened.  This is just too cool.

From the news release found on Badgett's It's All About Coffee:

Smart Lid Systems, an Australian product development company, have commercialized the world's first color-changing single-use coffee cup lid. The "Smart" lid offers drastic advancements over currently available lids alerting consumers that the contents are hot by changing from a coffee brown color to a bright red when heat is applied. More importantly the lid indicates whether or not it is securely attached to the coffee cup, placing the store-owner at ease regarding safety concerns.

Aimed at both high-volume users (large quickservice chains), and small independent cafes, this new lid has entered the market at the right time. Current consumption numbers for to-go beverages are above 50 billion per annum in America.
...
Hot beverage consumption this winter will be a whole new experience and also allows a new medium to put logos and text on coffee lids, with messages appearing as the lid changes color. Advertisers now have the vehicle to take branding and advertising on disposable lids to the next level, allowing the large fast food chains to further enhance the purchase experience.

For more info, visit the Smart Lid System website: http://www.smartlidsystems.com

Website for Coffee Shops

A website is pretty much standard stuff for any business these days, part of the marketing package along with business cards and letterhead.  Designing a Website for a Coffee House, by Michael Allen Smith, gives coffee shop owners some good advice for an effective web presence.  The list includes The Basics (where you are, what you do, what you sell), and some great ideas for drawing repeat traffic such as a webcam, and offering internet specials and coupons. 

A webcam is such a great idea.  It changes day to day without you having to do a thing, solving the problem of keeping content fresh and up-to-date on a tight time budget.  Of course, running a webcam has its own demands and headaches, including servers, bandwidth, cameras, etc.  To learn more about setting up a webcam, check out the Webcam Setup Guide.

One step down from the live web cam, but still a good idea for fresh content with small time investment - a blog where you can post happenings and pictures.  A blog is easier for a novice to update than a website, and lends itself to search engine traffic in a way that static websites don't. Besides, it feels more personal than a website.  (I really enjoyed watching the progress of Pioneer Coffee Roastery as they prepared for opening and beyond.)  Photos don't require a lot of typing, time or thought, and still give repeat visitors a view of your atmosphere, the creations of your barista, your customers, any new delish baked creations, etc.

A static website is still essential, but supplement it with a blog and you've got it all.

The Perfect Bribe

I don't much like having a holiday that falls on a Monday.  It just shifts Monday into Tuesday.  I know, that should be a good thing, but it's not.  It's a mental thing.  Mondays are rough and Tuesday you get to recover from Monday. 

And today I had ANOTHER Monday -- busy and hectic and abnormally demanding.  I don't think it's fair to have Monday off, only to have to pay for it by two additional Mondays.

There is a coffee story coming, I promise. 

I had to drive a goodly distance to a meeting this morning, which pretty much skewered any possibility that this would be a good day.  Even though 9 am is still relatively cool (for around here) it's still much too hot for any sane person to be out and about. 

I gave myself just enough time to get there, but then ... Murphy's Law ... there was a wreck on the freeway.  I was sitting in the lane that led to the onramp, 3 blocks down, and traffic was completely stopped.  When I called to ask them to reschedule, I must have sounded grumpy and disgruntled, because they offered me the perfect bribe.

Coffee!

I'll stop at Starbucks, she says, and get us all something.  What would you like?

Oooh, cappuccino, says I, thank you very much I'll be right there!  I bagged the freeway, yipped a fluey and headed for the back road and was there before the coffee had cooled.

What a wonderful client.  I wish they were all like that.

Aside from busy-business, I've been working on another blog.  I decided I needed a place to post pictures and photos of things I love that aren't related to coffee or tea.  I've been trying to drag my own creativity out of the closet lately, and have been greatly admiring of those who are already "out".  Those who can call themselves writers, those who can call themselves artists, and not cringe or look around to see who might be sniggering.   I'll post more on that topic later ... over here.  I'm still tweaking and fluffing the pillows, but please feel free to come and visit.

More Resources for Specialty Coffee Retailers

Here are a few resources I've added to the coffee/tea business list.

I probably should make all this a static web page so it's easier to browse through.  (Heh.  I'll just add that to the To-Do list.)  For now, they're here, hopefully of some use to somebody...

Opening a Tea / Coffee Shop

I was doing some research for a friend who wants to start a coffee / tea shop and I realized I had quite a list of links.  I offer these for anybody who might be interested in starting up a coffee shop or tea house.  I don't endorse any of these sites or products, I merely offer them here as I would to my friend, as resource material and a starting point to do your own investigation.

Coffee / Tea Industry Events

For the coffee/tea business people, if you're going to be in Seattle next weekend, you can hop back and forth between two industry events:

April 15 - 16, 2005:
8th Annual Specialty Tea Institute Symposium, Seattle, Washington. Tel: (1)(212) 986-0250 Email: info@teausa.com, Web site: www.teausa.org

April 15 - 18, 2005:
SCAA 17th Annual Conference & Exhibition, Seattle, Washington. Tel: (1)(562) 624-4100, Fax: (1)(562) 624-4101, E-mail: coffee@scaa.org, Web site: www.scaa.org

More coffee/tea business events: Tea & Coffee Trade Calendar

In Praise of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters

I've been keeping half an eye on the Fair Trade issue.  I think it's cool that Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. has been ranked No. 2 on Business Ethics magazine's 2005 list of "100 Best Corporate Citizens".  They've been on the list before, but not as high as No. 2.

Green Mountain has been a pioneer in helping struggling coffee growers by paying them fair trade prices. The company also offers micro-loans to coffee growing families, and each year they contribute at least five percent of their pre-tax profits to support socially responsible initiatives. 

Robert Stiller, President and CEO of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. said,

"We are honored to join the other excellent companies on this list that have incorporated social and environmental responsibility into daily business practices. This recognition is a direct result of the support we have received from our employees, our customers, and our shareholders who have continued to believe in the positive direction we are moving as we continue to develop a business that is successful and sustainable for all stakeholders and our planet."

It's good to know that successful business doesn't necessarily mean heartless and earth-human unfriendly.

From: Yahoo! Finance, April 7, 2005

Yay for the Independent Coffee Houses

Today's Small Business Trends post confirms that, at least in Cleveland, small business owners are more in touch with the emotions and needs of their customers/clients.   In  Independent Coffehouses Understand Their Market, Anita comments on a recent tour of coffeehouses in Cleveland that offer free wireless Internet (wi-fi) service.  And it's the small, independent coffee houses that are serving up free wi-fi service.  The big chains all charge for it.  Unfortunately, as is the case with most things, the big guys with the big budget don't have to care.

Sounds like a good time was had by all!  An all-day event, with bloggers/wi-fi enthusiasts/coffee-lovers strapping on their notebook PCs and other techo-accoutrement and taking in the Cleveland coffee house circuit.  Sounds like my cuppa tea... er... coffee.   

Spring Coffee and Tea Handbook

My First Day of Spring offering, for the tea / coffee shop owner:

Spring Remodeling: 2002 Spring Coffee and Tea Handbook
by Greg M. Gorman, Gourmet Retailer Magazine

Just ignore the 2002 marker on this article.  It's chock full of great tips for giving your coffee shop or tea house a quick face lift for Spring.  Stuff you can do "on the cheap" include adding artwork, decorating with spring flowers, changing the background music (or introducing background music), and changing the lighting.  If you have the budget for it, bigger changes will get noticed, such as new flooring, ceiling fans, or change of paint color.

There's great advice here for any business.  Including virtual.  Add some Spring artwork, specials or news to your website for a quick seasonal update.

Coffee and a Scroll

I like to complain.  Today I'm moaning about the warp speed changes on the web.  It's all changing so fast, and getting faster every day.  My hardware and software have undergone dozens of changes.  Today's purchase is tomorrow's paperweight.  In the 10 years I've been doing web design, I've learned and abandoned more software programs and coding languages than I can count. I get proficient at something and POOF, it's obsolete.

Some small business pundits recommend specializing.  That's all very well and good, but what if you choose to specialize in something that becomes obsolete in 6 months?  Trying to figure out which of the latest trends to follow and learn, with my admittedly limited brain power, is a task and a half. 

Web Future - A New and Constantly Evolving Ball Game, recommends developing an early warning system to keep an eye on trends of the future.  But those of us who don't eat, sleep, and breathe business don't have unlimited resources for the "constant attention and intense concentration" required to stay ahead of the trends. 

I needed to find ways to ride the crest without becoming totally depleted, without spending 20 hours out of 24 doing research and trend-watching. 

Now my morning routine includes hot coffee and a scroll...  I slurp and I scroll through my favorite sites to see what's going on.  Two of my favorites are the Small Business TrendTracker and Small Business Brief.  Why?  Because I'm lazy.  These sites gather the latest information from all over the web for me.  They watch the latest trends, review the latest information, and make it much easier for me to keep track of what's going on without having to do all the legwork myself.  And the things I find most useful or interesting, I post on my Small Business Resources Page. 

I guess that makes me sort of a 3rd tier trendwatcher, 2nd cousin once removed.  That's ok, that's right in my energy level.  Even with the help of coffee or tea, I'm no A-Type personality. So I raise my cup to these other trendwatching sites.  I and all the other lazy, tired-of-swimming-at-warp-speed entrepreneurs salute you and thank you!