5 real estate location tips for cafés: Scale like Starbucks
Growth like Starbucks: Are you an aspiring entrepreneur who dreams of running a successful café? Then you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we will explore the secrets of the success of “Coffee Fellows” in Germany, a café chain that has held its own against giants like Starbucks. We’ll take a closer look at the valuable tips from Stefan Tewes, the founder of Coffee Fellows, to find out how you can make your own café a success. From the
Starbucks style: what should you look out for?
During your stay in Los Angeles, you once again realized how influential Starbucks is in the world of coffee. In Germany, Starbucks may be a popular coffee chain, but here it is in second place, as most coffee lovers are drawn to “Coffee Fellows”. What can you learn from the coffee chain to scale your own brick-and-mortar business?
When it comes to running a successful café, you can learn a lot from experts. In this article, I will share the 3 most important tips from Stefan Tewes, the founder of “Coffee Fellows”, an up-and-coming café in Germany.
The café chain has now scaled to 230 locations in Germany!
In addition to that, I will add 2 bonus tips that can help you run your own cafe and make it successful.
1st tip: Location, location, location
The importance of the right location for a café cannot be overemphasized. Stefan Tewes emphasizes that the choice of location was crucial to the success of his café. A central city location on a busy corner is an ideal starting point. This ensures good accessibility for commuters, passers-by and the local population. If your café is highly visible and easily accessible, you have already taken the first step towards success.
2nd tip: Southwest orientation
Another factor Tewes considers crucial is the orientation of your café. A south-westerly orientation can help to capture the best hours of sunshine of the day. This creates a pleasant atmosphere for your guests and can also help to reduce energy costs. A cozy ambience combined with sunlight can boost customer loyalty and make your café a popular meeting place.
3rd tip: Tourists in the vicinity
The presence of tourists can have a significant impact on the success of your café. Tourists staying near your location, for example through hotels, are often looking for cozy places to drink coffee and relax. This provides an ideal opportunity to generate additional sales and attract an international clientele.
Podcast episode with Stefan Tewes
2 bonus tips for your successful café
4th tip: Outdoor terrace for summer season
If your café has an outdoor terrace, this can be a big draw for guests in the warmer months. Make sure the terrace is well designed and comfortable, with plenty of seating and sun protection for sunny days. This creates a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere that customers will enjoy.
5th tip: Immediate accessibility
The accessibility of your café is an important aspect. Make sure your café is easily accessible, especially for people with reduced mobility. A barrier-free entrance design and elevators, if the café is located in a multi-storey building, are crucial to appeal to a wide range of customers.
You should remember that
Running a successful café requires dedication, planning and the implementation of proven strategies. The tips we’ve discussed in this article can make all the difference:
- The right location: Think carefully about where you want to open your café. A central location on a busy corner can be the key to success.
- South-west orientation: use the sunlight to create a welcoming atmosphere for your guests and reduce energy costs.
- Tourists nearby: If you are close to tourist attractions, you can benefit from an international audience.
In addition to these tips, we have two bonus tips for you:
- Outdoor terrace in the summer season: A well-designed outdoor terrace can be a magnet for guests in the warmer months.
- Immediate accessibility: Make sure your café is easily accessible for everyone to appeal to a wide range of customers.
Remember that the road to success is not always easy, but with passion, determination and the right knowledge, you too can run a thriving café. Be creative, adapt to the needs of your target group and never give up. Your dream of owning your own café can become a reality, and we hope these tips will help you on your way to success!