If you are looking at ways to expand your cafe but do not have the budget to move location; there are ways to help create extra space for customers to enjoy a coffee or a bite to eat.
Many shop owners want to increase their income with more customers dining at their cafe. The best way to draw in extra customers is with additional seating. That said, adding additional seating inside your cafe could make the shop floor appear cramped and cluttered- creating the opposite effect.
Additional seating can be added outside of your coffee shop, allowing customers an alternative area to sit and relax while having a catch up with friends or reading a book while sipping on a freshly brewed blend of coffee.
As you well know, the English weather can be a little unpredictable, so it is important to consider so extras required to create a comfortable outdoor seating area that can be used all year round.
Firstly, to keep the rain away, a commercial umbrella can span the area needed and protect your customers, and your tables and chairs from any wet weather. Not only will this type of umbrella help during wet weather, during the bright sunshine, it will also provide shade so people can sit comfortably getting some fresh air without getting heatstroke or sunburn. The umbrellas can be angled to help create shade over particular areas too. Commercial umbrellas can also be put up and taken down should you need to do this.
Another great item to add to an outdoor seating area is a heater. A powerful heater can provide warmth as the temperatures drop, a good heater can spread heat across a large area, meaning all customers can benefit from the heater. You can choose to have a customer-controlled heater- where they can press a boost button to get a surge of heat for 10 minutes or so, or you can control the heater settings from within your cafe.
If you want to add a quirky feature to your outdoor seating area, you may want to add baskets containing blankets. Customers can then help themselves to a blanket if they want to get cosy outdoors while catching up over a coffee or some brunch.
Simple changes like adding a fresh coat of paint, some eye-catching wall art, live plants, or chalkboards of assorted sizes to focus on a certain menu or display items can go a long way. If you’ve got brightly patterned, outdated carpet, consider a replacement design that’s minimalistic and goes with the remainder of your interior and exterior design. Be consistent with whatever your theme you decide.
The exterior of your cafe is the very first thing potential customers see. A rundown appearance or inadequate signage can be off-putting for customers. Make certain that your cafe front is clean, updated, and clearly signed. Consider adding a sign or two in your window, highlighting menu items or current food specials. You could even use a pavement board with a creative message or a tasty deal of the day to grab the eye of hungry passers-by.
