Opening a café has never been more popular. The thriving industry is shown by the market performance from 2016: the number of cafes in the UK grew to 22,845 and the cumulative value reached £8.9 billion.
The proposition of getting a share of the appealing market has led to plenty of everyday people opening their own café – some with next to no experience in the industry. Whilst plenty are opening, this doesn’t mean that every café that opens will be a success. The success of the venture is determined by undertaking research and making well-informed decisions.
A paramount decision for café owners to make is the location of the shop. Here are some key factors to consider when looking for a location to open a new café.
What are your goals?
The location and choice of premises should, first and foremost, be in line with your business objectives. With each premise you look at, you should consider whether or not it would enable you to achieve your goals.
As an example, do you want to have a fast trade or be a place where customers can sit back and relax? This will determine the size of shop you need and can be measured against your revenue projections.
Competition
You’re right. In the current climate, there’s almost a coffee shop on every street corner. Whilst there’s no harm in opening a café on the same street as another, it will no doubt impact your sales if you’re not competitive.
You’ll want a shop with high footfall but it’s likely that areas with a high amount of passing trade will already be awash with cafes. If you are confident in your offerings and provide a service that will make you the first choice for coffee-lovers, you’ll have no problem in opening a café in a city or town centre.
Target market
Just as you need to ensure it’s in the right position to compete with the competition, your shop also needs to be in a place that is prominent with your target market.
If you aim to establish yourself as a gourmet coffee shop, your location will need to reflect this by being found in a premium location that can justify your higher price points. Similarly, if you would like to appeal to students, research local universities or colleges and look into the routes they walk to their studies and where their accommodation is. Make it as easy as possible for your target customer to find you.
Overheads
In simple terms, your projected sales need to be able to cover the total amount of overheads.
If this results in your costs exceeding your projected sales, an alternative location or a cut on expenses will be needed. It’s a balancing act between getting the right location that reaches your target market for a competitive price.
Getting the right café furniture
Once, you’ve found the perfect location for your café, you’ll need to fill it with furniture to match the image that you’re trying to present. 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.