With so much competition out there for café owners, you want to make sure every decision that you make is the right one. This runs right down to the choice of cafe furniture.
We frequently speak with café owners and those thinking of opening their own café and the same questions always seem to come up. To help, we’ve created a post that guides owners and to-be café owners on some important steps:
How to bring customers to your café
This is an in-depth question that certainly can’t be answered in a couple of paragraphs, but as a brief overview, there are some ways to increase the likelihood of drawing customers into your café and making it a success.
As you’ve probably noticed, there is an abundance of cafés so being different generally works. Research the cafés that are nearest to you and think about how you can differentiate from the competition. Quality? Locally sourced ingredients? Unique décor? These are all things that can set you apart from the rest.
Other ways to get more customers in your café include having an attractive exterior, high-quality coffee, loyalty cards and the right layout, furniture and décor.
What furniture do I need for a café?
What kind of coffee shop are you looking to create: a quick stop off or a place where customers can relax for hours on end? The answer to that question will determine what style furniture you will need for your café.
If you are opening a ‘to-go’ café, you will need nothing more than some bar stools to prop up by the window and a side table to hold customer’s drinks. To encourage people to stay, socialise and get on with their business a café will need comfortable seating and tables. A mixture of sofas and chairs works well to create a cosy atmosphere to make customers stay.
How to choose a café furniture supplier
With so many trade furniture suppliers to choose from, it can be difficult to know which to go for. Here are some questions and areas to answer that will help you know which furniture supplier to choose:
• Are their products a good combination of price/quality?
• What review do they have?
• Do they have the type of furniture that you had in mind for your café?
• Do you have a specific date that you need the furniture by?
• Have they serviced businesses similar to yours? Ask for some examples of work or check their website for case studies
How to shabby chic café furniture
The shabby chic style can be used to enhance any type of interior or décor and make rooms look that bit more vintage. The ‘Shabby Chic’ design is usually created by items being heavily painted through the years, with many layers showing through obviously time-worn areas.
Furniture can be brought in a shabby chic style, or old furniture can be converted with a bit of DIY.
Here is a guide to help you shabby chic your café tables and chairs.
How long does café furniture last?
The answer to this depends on the quality of the furniture, how often a café likes to give their décor a refresh and how well the furniture is maintained. As a general rule, cafés change their furniture every five years.
We’ve written a guide on how to best maintain restaurant furniture but the same can be applied to café furniture. Read through to help make your café furniture last for longer.
Café furniture
For all areas of your café’s furniture: tables, chairs, stools and sofas, Trent Furniture can help. Explore our café furniture range to find the right fit for your café. Call us on 0116 2989 335 for more information.