Running a café can be hard work, if you have no idea what to offer and what your customers want. But, if you make sure that your guests are comfortable, have a pleasant time, and want to come back more, then you know you did something good. Moreover, be sure to offer a unique experience which will make your café stand out. Allowing customers to sit outside might be what you need for your business.
Every Café Should Have a Topic Going
It is very important that your café has a theme that defines it and makes it stand out from the rest. After all, you want people to notice your services from afar and have them come in for a cup of coffee. Keep in mind to avoid using high contrast colours, as they might not be pleasant to the eye, and it could have your customers sidestep from your café.
Be Sure to Focus on Comfort
Even if you invest in high quality furniture, you should pay a bit extra to get a few pillows thrown in as well. Everyone will love sitting in comfortable chairs, and the more you convince your customers to stay, the chances are higher they will order more. Nevertheless, find interesting designs on pillows and make sure that they are neither too hard nor too soft.
Your Menu Should Have Interesting Items
In essence, the more creative the names and items on your menu, the more it will attract customers. Furthermore, as you will be running an outdoor café, you should come up with an overall design that will have your menus stay on the tables. The images and description used should be truthful and you should avoid using false advertisement. Play around with the colours on the menu, as it can have an effect on your customers as well.
Skip the Tablecloths
Having an outdoor café means that you will be dealing with the elements a lot, especially with wind. One of the worst thing that could happen is that tablecloths catch wind and bring everything on the table down. Instead, avoid putting anything on tables, so that your customers have more space, and that your waiters do not have to run around like crazy every time the wind blows a little bit. On the downside, it will mean that your staff will have to clean the tables more often, to avoid any stains from happening.
Keep the Sun at Bay
During hot summer days, your customers will want a bit of escape from the teasing sun, meaning that you should not even consider opening an outdoor café without any means of parasols. Blocking the sun out for a little while will be your top priority, though, depending on weather, it could be harder to pull off. Nevertheless, with shade sail posts you can create the perfect amount of shade, without having to worry that anything will be blown over. Moreover, keep in mind that sails are easy to mount, and will be able to protect your customers from light rain.
Owning a renowned outdoor café for customers to come and enjoy a nice cup of coffee will take time. However, you can make sure that you offer a high level of comfort and satisfaction. The theme of your café should be easily recognizable and made so that customers will be able to spot it. Focus on offering a variety of items, as it will make sure to attract younger and older generations alike. The most important thing though, you should have your customer enjoy themselves as much as possible.