Are you selling whole bean coffee in your caf?? You should be. Whole bean sales have the potential to dramatically increase your total sales, yet ironically it remains one of the most underrated and missed opportunities by many specialty coffee retailers. One of the most common misconceptions, when it comes to selling retail coffee, is that it is encouraging customers to stay at home and not come into your shop. The reality is this; of the 300 million cups of coffee Americans drink each day, about three quarters are brewed at home. This means that if customers are inevitably going to drink someone?s coffee at home, it might as well be yours. This also does not replace the fact that customers will still need to come to your shop for espresso-based and other specialty drinks, which they are typically unable to make at home. A successful retail program does not require a lot of extra time, work or marketing. A simple countertop or shelf display will draw the attention of your customers and have them asking questions in no time!
So what type of revenue can a retail program bring in? The National Coffee Association found in 2000 that 54% of the adult population of the United States drinks coffee daily (typically in the morning). So if you have 150 customers a day, then about 75 of them drink a minimum of seven cups of coffee a week and it could very well be at home. This statistic really gives you an idea of the amount of sales you can acquire, even when the customer is at home. A weaker whole bean program probably sells around 15 pounds per week (with an average retail sales price of $15.00 per pound), which translates to about $225 per week and about $900 per month in whole bean sales alone. A stronger retail program has the potential to bring in upwards of $4,000 a month.
Apart from an increase in your bottom line, another major aspect that a successful retail program can bring is customer loyalty. It?s no secret that there are a lot of choices when it comes to coffee. So anytime one of your customers is not invested in your coffee, you are at risk of your customer being poached by a competitor. The best way to avoid this is to keep them invested in you, even when they walk out of your door. A simple way to think of it is; each time they drink a cup of your coffee at home, that?s one less cup of someone else?s coffee that they?re drinking. Like any product, the more and more a customer gets comfortable with it, the more likely they will continue to purchase it.
So what?s the best way to set up a retail coffee program in your shop? As mentioned before, it does not take much. Start small, with a few choices (perhaps your house blend, a popular flavor and a favorable single origin) ?there?s no need to overwhelm or confuse your customers right from the get-go. Once you notice trends or your customers start making requests, feel free to make additions to your selection. Display your beans in a noticeable area, but make sure it?s not too obnoxious ? the goal is to use your whole bean program as an upsell. You don?t want it to distract your customer from the rest of your menu. Most importantly, educate your staff. It is likely your customers will ask questions or recommendations before they pull the trigger on a purchase, so make sure your employees are knowledgeable on the all of the blend components, origins, taste profile, etc.
Here at Stockton Graham & Co. we can supply all of our coffees in six count cases, of either 12oz. or 16oz. retail packaged bags, so you don?t have to do a thing! We can also provide custom and private labeling, along with point of sale material, to help grab your customer?s eye, every time they walk in the door! For more information or for additional tips on building your retail coffee program, give us a call at 1.800.835.5943, and your customer care associate will be more than happy to assist you!
Click here to read more about our custom and private labeling. Click here to see more on the point of sale materials Stockton Graham & Co. can offer you!
Matt Hogan
Stockton Graham & Co.
Source: http://www.stocktongraham.com/build-your-business-bulk-retail-coffee-programs
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