The Only Shots You Need

How to Choose Cafe Furniture

The furniture in your business says a lot about where your company is heading, and how they care for customers. When you choose café furniture you need to focus on certain requirements to ensure that you pick the furniture most suited to your business. If you stick to the following guidelines you are sure to find the best pieces.

Theme

The most important factor to consider when you choose furniture for your café is the overall theme you have planned for the shop. The furniture should melt in with the theme and create a big part of the ambience you are wishing to create.

Comfort

One of the main reasons people visit eateries is to relax and have a good time. It is essential that the furniture you buy are comfortable, uncomfortable furniture will result in a loss of clients. If you are planning a relaxed meal you do not want to sit on a chair that hampers your movement and hurts your back or behind. That is why it is a good idea to purchase café furniture that has padded seats.

Prioritise

When buying the furniture for your business it is wise to prioritise. Buy the essential items first you can always add non- essentials later. You should note that a high chair or child seating should be part of your main priorities.

Colours

Colour choice for furniture could be difficult. You need to pick colours that suits your colour scheme while in the same time are practical. Light furniture is beautiful but t there is a possibility that they might stain and show dirt faster than darker pieces.

Materials

Another choice you will need to take into consideration when you buy your café furniture is the materials you are going to use for the construction of the pieces, wood, metals and plastics are some of the favourites but you need to keep your theme and decor ideas in mind when you pick the materials. Glass might look spectacular but it also carries the risk of breaking and injuring customers, heavy pvc might be a better option.

Durability

An important fact to note when you are purchasing café furniture is the durability of the furniture. You need to focus on obtaining commercial grade pieces that will last much longer that residential graded ones.

Quality

The quality of the furniture you purchase are just as important as the durability high quality furniture will create a sense of satisfaction with your customers and it also shows that you care about your business and the products you deliver.

Contract Furniture

A good choice when buying cafe furniture is to opt for contract furniture, when you buy contract pieces you will receive the best deal possible for your money. A lot of contracts also include maintenance plans and replacement policies, that you might not find at general dealers. The contract dealers will also be able to assist you with custom design, installation and possibly even project managers to help you manage your furniture correctly.

World Layout For Cafes

For some people they dream everyday is to open a café for themselves, this place offers a great atmosphere for having fun and in turn this becomes a dream to own one for yourself. And the company of Zynga is one that lets people have the experience of owing their own café without all the necessary kind of functioning in the business world.

The most important part of this game which you have entered is to deal with the issue of the world café layout. The very appearance of the café is what sells it off as people want to be in a very calm and relaxing environment to spend some peaceful time whether by themselves or together with someone. The whole idea of this game is to build networks and get people to visit and so you can toggle with the layout plan to get the right combination.

The next thing about this café is that it should be very spacious with little furniture in there, and the customer should be free to order at anytime and also their friends should feel some kind of comfort when walking and not having to worry about eavesdroppers. A person can open the café by dragging the chairs around to try many different combinations. This can also be done by putting them at the cashier and this means they are for sale, this would then bring in some funds and then you would be able to purchase a new set of chairs.

Formulating the Perfect Cafe World Menu

Countless tantalizing menu options are possible in Cafe World. As you progress to more advanced levels of play, you will inevitably unlock more and more of these wonderful choices. It is easy to allow your own preferences to ultimately dictate which dishes you prepare, and there is certainly no harm in a little indulgence. From a business perspective, however, you may want to consider a wider variety of dishes. They should be chosen more analytically and strategically in order to have greater success in your cafe.

Make Your Menu Plan Fit Your Schedule

When pondering what to cook, your primary consideration should be the time frame. You need to be sure that you are available to return to check on the cafe and move the finished entrees from the stove to the serving counters. Regardless how brilliantly designed your menu is, it will not be a success if you can’t make it back to the cafe and end up leaving the food for too long.

It is of paramount importance to avoid letting your food lay on the stove too long, as it will spoil quite rapidly. This will be a double loss, in that the chance to serve your dish is gone resulting in you having to wait longer to refill your serving counters, and it’s also a financial loss in the waste of ingredients. Additionally, there is the payment you will be charged to clean up your mess. Although its not any substantial amount, it will start to add up especially with the money you are out for the spoiled food.

Consider Servings Per Entree

An additional aspect to contemplate when determining what to cook on a day to day basis is the number of servings each recipe will cater to. This is significant for two main reasons. The first is that its preferable to prepare plenty of food so that it will last until you return to your cafe and replenish your serving counters. This allows you to keep earning money all day and night, while you are not even there, which is undoubtedly the optimal set up.

The second reason this essential is because when you are removing a new dish from the stove, you need to have an empty serving counter on which to place it. If the new dishes are just more of something you are already serving, then you can just add the new servings to the left-overs. Conversely, if you have an entirely different entree coming off the stove, you’ll need to have an empty spot accessible on the counter. This is one factor in crafting a menu that is often left undone, but is actually quite important since it can lead to a lot of spoiled food when there is nowhere put your entree.

Cost Per Serving

Naturally, you want to consider how much money you’ll earn whenever a customer eats in your cafe. Maximizing your cost will ensure you get the highest return per hour since you will be extracting the greatest amount possible out of each patron of your cafe. This of course, is the main objective of a successful business owner.

Famous Cafes

Coffee houses and cafés have historically had a very rich tradition of serving as not only social hubs but as important gathering places for intellectuals of all kinds. Here are some famous cafés that have played a role in both the history of coffee as well as politics, literature, art, and science.

Antico Caffe Greco (Rome)

Opened in 1760, as the oldest bar in Rome and second oldest in all of Italy, Antico Caffè Greco began as a haven and meeting place for intellectuals of all sorts and remains one today. Historical figures that frequented the cultural hub include Stendhal, Lord Byron, John Keats, and Hans Christian Anderson. Located near the Spanish Steps, it still has that an atmosphere heavy with history, like much of the beautiful city that surrounds it.

Café Riche (Cairo)

Café Riche, founded in 1904, has been a coffee house and planning center for revolution since its beginnings. Egyptian intellectuals gathered there to prepare for the 1919 revolution against the British. In 1952, Nasser sat there to plan the dethroning of King Farouk, and, in much more recent times, it has played a role in the Egyptian “Arab Spring.” Today it combines the old and the new, from relics like an old printing press in a secret wine cellar, to serving as a safe haven for modern day protesters in Tahrir Square.

The House Under the Blue Bottle (Vienna)

In 1683, Jerzy Kulczicki, a hero that defended Vienna from the Turks by acting as a spy, was given all of the coffee left behind by the defeated troops as a reward. Though this was a drink unfamiliar to the people of Vienna, he decided to open up a coffee shop. He was slow to win the Viennese over to the new beverage, but the addition of some milk and honey made for a popular new meeting place and social scene.

Le Procope (Paris)

Paris’ first café, opened in 1686, was established just as coffee drinking began to grow in popularity amongst the upper social circles. Like most of the first coffee houses, it attracted a very intellectual crowd, with regulars like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Diderot. It also laid down the foundation in the city for what would become a very rich culture of coffee houses and cafés that is still going strong.

Jonathan’s Coffee House (London)

In 1680, Jonathan Miles established a coffee house in Exchange Alley, London. At the time of its inception, it actually doubled as one of the first public stock exchanges. Government restrictions were strict about where stock exchange could take place, and this coffee house become a popular stop to handle such business. Its convenient location by the docks was perfect for collecting news and information on economic trends. Today, however, they are back to selling coffee, under the new name, “The Stock Exchange.”

Food Travel Primer And Tips

Food travel used to be a necessity back when humans had to hunt for sustenance. Now, it’s more of a pleasure and a passion for those with an urge to satisfy their taste buds. From restaurant critics forever on the lookout for a new find to culinary learning vacations and walking foodie tours, there’s a whole new world awaiting discovery.

All the major types of food travel are listed below, but those interested should realize that it’s not just about eating or taking a city tour. This has as much to do with preparing food and learning about the culture behind each dish and place. Not to mention the pleasure of the journey and getting to know each city intimately, as opposed to flying to ten different destinations just for the tourist attractions.

The single most popular type is culinary tourism. This can be in the form of visitors getting a package deal which includes a resort stay, free meals and cooking classes taught by expert chefs. It could also be a tour of a region famous for its culinary offerings, like Italy’s Tuscany, France’s Loire, California’s Napa Valley or Australia’s Hunter Valley.

Similar to culinary tourism are wine country vacations involving winery & vineyard tours and wine tastings. These areas are renowned for their fine dining restaurants offering gourmet cuisine and extensive wine lists. Wine country vacations in these scenic valleys can combine quality cuisine and wine with a leisurely getaway.

The simplest way is for foodies to take themed city tours that take visitors for a taste of the city’s best culinary offerings. This can be a walking tour of a specific neighborhood that is packed with restaurants. It can also be a bus or private vehicle tour that takes visitors all over the city to taste a specific dish or item, like a pizza or burger tour, or a visit to classic cafes or bakeries, and so on.

Wine/Beer Festivals also offer an easy way to sample many different cuisines from different regions or countries. Another trend that’s slowly getting more followers is the slow food movement. It’s a whole new subject, but let’s just say that those who have the time and patience to practice it will gain valuable insight into the local culture and learn how each dish is prepared.

Yet another big trend these days is the habit of eating at organic restaurants while on the road and frequenting only those establishments that use sustainable and local produce. Some travelers even stick to Vegan or prepare their own meals on the road to ensure it is organic and sustainable. It’s not as hard as it seems, but it does need a lot of advance planning to map out suitable restaurants along the way.

For those planning on embarking on a food travel trip or adventure, it might be worthwhile to consider becoming a restaurant critic. Most magazines and publications don’t have the budget these days to hire an in-house critic, so they’ll be happy to pay only for each restaurant review. There’s only thing better than tasting all kinds of cuisines while traveling, and that is getting paid to do the same.

Lessons Learned in the Tea Room

Take two parts training and three parts hard knocks. Shake them together and you get a lifetime of lessons learned on the front line in the tea business industry. 8 years of ups and downs have taught me a few simple steps that can save you hours of heartache if applied now.

Here are the top 3 lessons that I learned in the tea business:

Lesson #1 A Consistent Atmosphere Creates Loyalty

What does the public library and Starbucks have in common? I would venture to guess it is a consistent atmosphere. Before you enter the door you know what atmosphere to expect and are inwardly grateful.

Expectations met in this era of constant change can be soothing. Be it the old fashion “silence” of the library or the wafting smells of grinding beans an knowing what’s coming cannot be beat.

So, ask yourself…What type of atmosphere am I creating for my customers and how will I keep it consistent?

Consider your types of tea, food and services which all contribute to the overall impression and ultimate experience your guest will look forward to . The key comes in presenting that same experience again and again and again like clockwork.

If you can achieve that your customers will look to you as a refuge from the storm of life and keep coming back for more.

Lesson #2 The “Show” Must Go On

A tea business is a “show” and the “show must always go on. Just at a consistent atmosphere will keep your customer flow returning, a sense that someone else is in charge will extend a comforting blanket to a ragged and weary public.

If you plan to run a tea business think of it as a play. The audience need not be aware of the chaos behind the stage. They do not need to know that the lead actress has the flu or that the set has a hole in the wall which you carefully covered with a large mirror.

The audience wants is to be entertained and kept blissfully unaware of the dangers that lurk in the night. They long to enjoy themselves and get away from their day to day drudgery.

A successful tea business owner is like a great stage manager. He or she will make sure that customers are not aware of fires in the kitchen or the staff that didn’t show up. The smart owner recognizes that customers want the “show” to go on.

Think about this: Have you ever been to a small business where the owner told you all about their cares and woes? Did you feel relaxed? Not likely. Customers have their own set of problems. Give them a break and don’t share what goes on behind the magic curtain.

Lesson #3 A Dash of Mystery Keeps Them Coming Back For More

In the 1930- 1940’s serial mysteries played daily on radio and in movie theaters. These short episodes left audiences hanging in suspense compelled to return for next week’s installment.

So too, a tea business owner must project a sense of mystery and intrigue to keep clients enthralled. In today’s society, competition for one’s time is fierce. A creative entrepreneur knows how to keep their customers involved in their tea business.

Consider daily menu’s, themed events, costumes,festive holiday decor or even contests as part of the mystery your customers crave. A mix of consistency with the great unknown makes for phenomenal stage productions and unimaginable customer loyalty.

In summary, your mission, should you choose to accept it is simple. Provide a consistent, care free environment that sparks creativity and delight. Your clients will thank you with their money time and time again.

Dawnya Sasse is the creator of the ultimate tea business training school allowing students to discover the secrets of the tea industy,”quickly and easily” without ever leaving home.

Start A Bar Strategically

Entrepreneurs around the globe are constantly turning to the hospitality industry to expand their empires and grow their wealth. The decision to start a bar is one that should be carefully considered – whilst operating a bar can be an extremely lucrative venture, there are detailed blueprints to be made and many risks at stake. Only through careful planning and meticulous research can you successfully turn your vision into a reality – there is much more to this industry than meets the eye. Before the red tape is cut and the celebrities begin posing for the paparazzi over your carefully chosen cuban cigars and XO Cognac, there are a number of key concepts that you’ll need to understand and master before you can reap the benefits of being ‘the owner’.

Listed below are some strategies and ground rules you’ll need to understand in order to increase your chances of hospitality success, ranging from initial market research through to staff selection and the general public’s perception of your venue.

Firstly, you’ll need to do your market research – it is not an intelligent business venture to blindly open a five star venue and hope for five-star customers to show up. The most successful businesses, regardless of industry, know the importance of performing extensive market research. Doing so gives a person or group the opportunity to research specific information about their potential customers (which will vary greatly between geographical locations – For example, researching one particular suburb or shire may not reflect the demographics of a neighboring suburb or shire – it is extremely essential to research all influencing areas). Knowing the gender, age, income, education, occupation and buying habits of a concentrated group according to location can help influence a number of decisions in the beginning phases of starting a bar. Contact your local council for publicly released census information (if possible in your area) to determine the demographics of your target location.

For example, if the area you’re thinking about choosing to start a bar is in a geographical area which happens to be frequented by middle age couples with young children, or older individuals that are of retirement age, chances are you won’t experience high volumes of business (it is safe to conclude that this demographic aren’t your desired clientele). If you compare this to a bar in a part of town that is known for university students and young singles, chances are your establishment will be busier and you’ll make more profit (as university students and young singles are likely to spend more money on the products you are selling). It wouldn’t make sense to open a nightclub around a retirement village, nor would it make sense to open a five star tapas bar in a low-budget university area.

So, it pays to research your surrounding area – you’ll need to rest assured knowing that the residents in the surrounding area are able to support themselves financially when they visit your establishment. It’s wise to start building this into a business plan – perform a SWOT and PEST analysis.

A SWOT analysis clearly outlines internal Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Strengths (SWOT) in your venture. A PEST analysis outlines any external challenges you may face in the Political, Economical, Social and Technological aspects of your local economy. Although this may take time to complete, your business plan will be an extremely valuable tool for compiling your research and conclusions, presenting the plan for your bar and (most importantly) obtaining finance to pay for the creation of your bar. As soon as the idea to start a bar enters your head, you should be jotting down your ideas. Ultimately the goal is to develop a solid business plan, which details each aspect of the process, from the name of the bar and the proposed location, to the niche you want to serve and who your target audience will be, among many others. Use your business plan as your guide and don’t deviate from it. Each step must be carefully planned first before taking any action.

You’ll also have to be sure that you know exactly what you’ll offer your customers when they visit your venue. It is foolish to assume that customers will automatically visit a bar just because it is open for business – you’ll need to be clear cut in what you are going to offer, designed in a way that will attract the demographic in your area. You’ll need to explore every concept and idea, and make it an essential habit of asking yourself a thousand questions about each idea. Will this idea make money? (for example, a bakery will not make as much money as a cafe, as customers may only buy a pie in a bakery – in a cafe they may sit down and spend five times as much) Will this be an easy style of venue to operate? Will you need different shifts of staff to work morning, dinner and night? Will you need to get different licenses for different features of your establishment? Do you need food handling permission? The number of questions is limitless. The services provided mean more than having a bunch of drinks and a few appetizers on the menu. Think about not only the service and products you want to offer but the type of atmosphere as well.

Ask yourself overall: What is your goal in opening a bar? Knowing the answer to this question will make everything else much clearer when you define your style of venue.

There are a variety of bar styles out there – pubs, sports bars, specialty bars, neighborhood bars and even club bars. Unless you know this basic information, trying to start a bar is going to be difficult-not to mention unorganized. When trying to make this decision, don’t just think about which type will make you the most money, either, although making a profit is essential. The style you choose should be one that you’ll enjoy running and can see the true potential in growing it into a success. As I mentioned earlier – ask yourself a thousand questions, and when you have chosen a style, stick to the idea. Do your research – visit as many other establishments as you can.

The challenge with trying to start a bar is the fact that there is a lot of competition. This makes it hard to stand out from the rest. However, by identifying a niche market for yourself, your bar has the opportunity to truly be unique (compared to other bars that may be located in the same area). One way to approach this is to evaluate the types of bars currently in business in the area you wish to conduct your operation. Are they all sports bars? Which ones are the most frequented and why? Do you recognize certain consumer trends, activities or interests that the people in the area have in common? Do you thing there is an ‘untapped niche’ in your area? This all comes down to doing your research – by doing enough research you’ll soon find the right ‘formula’ of bar which will create enough revenue, exploit an untapped niche and appeal to the back pockets of the people in your target geographical location.

Before investing time, money and effort into starting a bar, it is vital to crunch the numbers to establish profit amounts, based on the details of your business plan. Using an income simulator is an effective way of obtaining this type of information. Income simulators and profit/loss calculators can be found on various websites. Enter a range of numbers into the required fields and see what figures you come up with. Estimate how much money you would need to pull in to make a decent profit and run your bar optimally. Knowing the potential numbers ahead of time will prevent any unpleasant surprises after you have opened your business. As I mentioned earlier – prior research will remove the chances of the effects of unforeseen circumstances in your establishment.