If you’re thinking about starting up your own business and you have a love for the food and beverage industry, then why not consider opening up your own little cafe? This is by no means going to be easy, and you will be faced with many obstacles along the way, but that’s all part of the journey. You will need to do a lot of research about the industry beforehand so you have a better idea and understanding of exactly what it entails, right down to the nitty-gritty things like installing a cooling water and gas flow meter to ensure that you have a system that is giving you what you need, when you need it. There are tons of details, but once all of the intricate strings are tied, you are able to focus on the main areas that will decide whether you are going to be a success or not.
Here’s what you need to think about.
The location
The location is going to be such an important factor because this essentially controls who will enter your cafe and spend their money. If your cafe is in the middle of nowhere completely hidden, then unless you already have customers that know and like you – nobody is going to come. So you need to find somewhere that’s ideal, but also affordable. The more popular the place, like the city, the more expensive it is going to be, so try and find the balance between the two.
The employees
You will need to fish out the best employees that have the necessary experience of working with people on a daily basis. You need to look for candidates that are hard working, friendly, and have great communication and interpersonal skills. These will be who engage with your customers. Then you need professional cooks in the back to ensure you have the best food that’s being put out that not only tastes magnificent but looks appealing and tasty too. (Remember that people take photos of everything nowadays and upload it onto their social media.)
Your customer service
The way you treat your customers is what will give you the winning edge. It’s easy for people to just do their job and serve customers with a smile on their face. What’s not easy is to go the extra mile and make sure that you’re bringing joy to someone’s day, as well as solving any issue they may have in an efficient and timely manner . Things go wrong, but it’s how you deal with them that really matters and leaves a lasting impression.
The competition
There is always going to be competition all around you, and this can really add a little extra pressure and stress on you because you will begin to feel as though you can’t ever drop the ball. While this is the case, the last thing you want to do is overwhelm yourself otherwise your competitors have already won. So be cool, calm, and collected, and focus on how you do your job rather than what other people are doing.