Opening New Cafe

Comments

• RPB

  May 2011

  Thanks for your reply. I didn't go into detail in my first post as I'm new to this forum and wasn't sure if Rockhampton was even on the radar for you guys. The main purpose of the cafe is 'first-rate coffee'.  It will be a small operation, with coffee the focus; supplemented by small tasty meals.  If anyone knows 'Little Marionette' in Balmain (Sydney) - that is the aim - although the space will be slightly larger.  I have a draft business plan, and am waiting on the right space to become available.  However, while I'm waiting, I want to explore my options  for 'coffee support' as I'm new to the Central Queensland region. Thanks again.

  Share on Facebook
• RPB

  May 2011

  Couldn't agree more about staff and training. Big challenge for this area, is instilling a customer service mentality in staff. I see ongoing training as essential. Also agree about coffee sophistication in this region being a few years away. On equipment, yes, the key is fast response should something go wrong, hence my first question about coffee equipment suppliers in Rockhampton.  Does anyone have any recommendations or experience in this area?

  Share on Facebook
• Koffee_Kosmo

  May 2011

  I have no personal dealings with this business Just my uncle that owns a cafe in Brisbane thinks that they may be OK Anyhow a quick phone call will be the go to suss them out Capricorn Coffee Coffee Machines & Supplies - Rockhampton, QLD Shop 3 Mackies Court 46 Gladstone Rd, Rockhampton QLD 4700, Australia Phone number(07) 4927 2022 KK

  Share on Facebook
• beanflying

  May 2011

  Without being a totally wet blanket on your plans be aware that more cafes go broke than succeed. Be very careful if you are planning a long run of any hidden nasties in your lease especially if your playing in a major shopping center development. 'Free Espresso gear and equipment' ultimately comes at a price and avoid like the plague signing a supply contract with your coffee supplier, not all are bad but some are downright atrocious. I would suggest you find what are considered the current best coffee shops in the area and go and sit in them for some time and count coffees and or patrons if you can. Doing this at various times and days will give you a much better basis for your business plan than simply plucking figures out of the air or worse still using traffic or shopping center numbers. best of luck with it all 

  Share on Facebook
• RPB

  May 2011

  Thanks for the coffee supplier info. Regarding the business plan, I'm doing my homework in the area and expect it to be at least six months or more before I move ahead (or not, depending on my findings). I have been in the business before so recognize the pitfalls - don't intend to go into a shopping centre for example! 

  Share on Facebook
• askthecoffeeguy

  May 2011

  from personal experience I would say take your estimate of set up costs and double it, and ensure that you have comprehensive staff training, operational procedures, and a day-to-day running plan in operation, prior to opening, including at least one 'dry' opening to see how well your staff perform under pressure with my current cafe we spent six months building it then got slammed upon opening and weren't able to adequately service our clientele - and as a result we lost a lot of potential regulars - now 18 months later we're finally starting to build demand, and are seeing a lot of new and more regular faces returning - why? because the focus has been on quality control and staff training, and I'm now confident in the team we have going forward anyway, I use that as an example of how long it can take to build a faithful client base, and remind you that you need to have enough capital to run at a loss for 12 to 18 months after opening, if necessary, before you start to break even, let alone show a profit the major pitfall for most cafe owners as I see it is lack of sufficient experience combined with being under capitalised, paying someone to handle some of the heavy work initially for you such as staff training, and quality control, not to mention writing training manuals, service flows charts, and day to day operating procedures etc can take a lot of stress away frfom a potentially stressful situation, and can be a useful learning tool, as well as backing up your own convictions it may seem like an unnecessary and perhaps excessive expense at the time but its a small price to pay for peace of mind good luck with it all P

  Share on Facebook
• RPB

  May 2011

  Thanks P, All very sound advice and greatly appreciated. R.

  Share on Facebook
• admin

  May 2011

  hi guys - no big deal, but for future reference, this is exactly where this type of thread belongs A

  Share on Facebook
• coffeehorse

  July 2011

  Probably a LM FB80 & pair of eBay BNZ's would be a good option for cost/value, but look at the equipment that gets the holiday snobs in next to the locals. Rockhampton isn't developed enough to go down the Slayer route imo.

  Share on Facebook
• FreshCoffee2

  July 2011

  Hello John, it seems you may be advising that retail clients wander around looking at the kind of espresso machine and grinder a cafe owner is running, to see if they will enter and give their patronage? If that is so, then I will have to disagree. Perhaps it does happen but only in the most insignificant (in terms of $ of trade) numbers? "A good tradesman does not blame his tools" and anyone that cant make great coffee and run a great caf

  Share on Facebook