Coffee Shop POS Systems
In 2011, the National Coffee Association reported there were 22,549 coffee shops in the USA. This was an 18.4% increase in the number of stores over the previous 3 years. We are clearly a nation that loves our java. More importantly, we love the charm and atmosphere provided by these coffee shops and tea houses that seem to appear on every street corner. We love the aroma, the décor and the trendy music playing in the background. As a society, we love the entire coffee shop experience.
Coffee shops have become great places to meet clients and prospects. They are fantastic spots to catch up on administrative work for traveling business people. Free Wi-Fi and an abundance of outlets are typically readily available. They may even be a comfortable venue for a casual first date or a quiet moment with your spouse. They have become as much a National Treasure as our local pubs and watering holes.
With the staggering growth numbers mentioned above in an overall downward economy, the owners of these coffee shops are faced with a number of business challenges. In 2010-2011, 2500 coffee shops had to close their doors. The struggle to stay relevant and profitable in a virtual sea of competition requires the right amount of effort coupled with the right tools for the job. Coffee shop POS technology can assist these owners with many of these challenges.
Far too often, coffee shop owners view POS solutions as overkill for their business. After all, the business model does seem relatively simple when compared to most retail or hospitality environments. However, in many cases, it is actually just as complex if not more. Below are just a few examples of how deploying the right coffee shop POS system can help owners maintain or increase profitability:
- Controls for the Hybrid Model – Most coffee shops sell much more than coffee. Even the smallest of coffee stands have retail items such as packaged blends, travel mugs, logo merchandise, granola bars, music CD’s, books, etc. These items carry with them all the inventory control challenges that face traditional retailers. This retail component mixed with a plethora of light food and beverage items creates a challenge for the operators. A well-designed coffee shop POS solution addresses both sides of the business for both ease of use and maximum controls. The standard retail POS system will not. The standard hospitality POS will not. A hybrid POS solution is required to maximize efficiencies.
- Speed of Service – During peak periods, coffee shops can be profit machines. However, the only way to maximize those opportunities is to move people through the shop as quickly as possible. A key component in that process is the POS system. The most sophisticated cash register cannot process a transaction paid by credit card in 1-3 seconds. A solid coffee shop POS system will – every time!
- Customer Loyalty and Marketing – The obvious ways to beat out the growing competition are through maintaining the existing customer base and adding to that base with new loyal customers. The right POS system provides fully integrated gift and loyalty platforms to keep customers incentivized to return time and time again. An added bonus to some of these systems is the ability to send text and/or email marketing based on customer preferences and purchasing history.
- Cash Controls - Well-designed coffee shop POS solutions provide complete cash controls that are far superior to those provided by a basic cash register. Cash reconciliation also becomes simpler with POS which saves time as well as labor dollars while providing full barista and cashier accountability.
Many owners are surprised to see how affordable coffee shop POS systems can be. They realize the ROI of these systems when they use some of the functionality listed above to gain efficiencies and continue to grow their customer base. If you would like to learn more about things to consider when selecting a POS solution, download our free checklist today.