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...

The Bellissimo Coffee Group offers consulting for coffee shop startup.  They also have DVD's, information on forming a coffee shop business plan, and books, the latest of which - Effective & Essential Marketing for the Specialty Coffee Retailer - won the Best New Product/Education/Training Product award at SCAA's conference last month in Seattle. 

About the book, Virtual Coffee (which I see is also run by Bellissimo) says:

The book includes chapters on competing with the chains; branding and identity; cross marketing and partnering; store design and ambiance; promotions and special events; guerilla and Internet marketing; defining your customer base; hiring and training employees; and marketing small wares, menu and retail items, politically conscious, earth-friendly products and coffee beans.

Bellissimo is also responsible for starting the American Barista & Coffee School.  Busy folx.  They're sort of omnipresent, so how did I miss them on the first list?  At least they're not just tooting their own horns, the book DID win an award, so it might be worth checking out.

You'll also want to check out the upcoming dates for Coffee Fest's Specialty Coffee Business Seminars. Coffee Fest also has an on-Line, virtual trade show that showcases all kinds of stuff for  the specialty coffee and gourmet tea industries.  (I hope they're not a Bellissimo offshoot, or I'll really feel the redundancy of this post.)