I think you need to chat with your customers. Do they want a more professional space? Would they use it. Do you just need more of your core customers and to charge a bit more for coffee and maybe for wifi?
It sounds like you have a great relationship with your customers, so talk to them and see what you can do. Our local cafe raised prices about 6 months ago. They put up a great letter saying they needed to deal with increased rent and energy costs and wanted to pay a decent wage for their employees. My favorite, a 12 oz hot chocolate, went from $1.60 to $2.10. A pretty significant increase, but still better and cheaper than Starbuck's or Peet's and with better atmosphere and my money going to the local economy. Maybe that is your solution? Good luck, Felicity Cubes&Crayons Opening new coworking space in Potrero Hill part of San Francisco 6/1/09 On May 21, 1:03 pm, sconedwoman <[email protected]> wrote: > Actually, it's a tough issue. In the current economic environment, I > am ready to bet that providing a slightly upscale service is the right > direction > for us. There is a cohort of people that peels away with big gas > price > increases, but the people who really need us, stay. Our customers are > careful with their money > and calories- they won't buy the absolute junk that might anchor the > bottom line. > So, I will try to charge an honest price and see what happens. You > are correct, our coffee is the really good stuff, and I might be > asking too little. > On May 20, 11:36 am, KC <[email protected]> wrote: > > > So what is ur value proposition and what is the cost? > > > Based on your post it sounds like your coworkers would get (a) a table > > to work at, (b) the ability to reserve a meeting room (can't really > > call that a conference room), (c) printing/faxing/copying, (d) > > presumptively free basic coffee. What would you charge for this? Also, > > whether or not the free coffee is thrown in might make a big > > difference in the value...but it might also significant cut into your > > regular revenue stream. > > > Good luck! > > > Kevin > > SpringBoard Accelerator and Coworking Center (working title) > > Abilene Christian University > > [email protected] > > > On May 19, 11:53 am, sconedwoman <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Hello, everyone, > > > > I have learned a lot from reading the discussions of this group. > > > > I am a coffee shop owner of 4 years with more space than I can support > > > on the price of take-out coffee. > > > We have a nicely restored old space, coffee from an outstanding local > > > roaster, fresh baked goods, breakfast and soup, and protected wifi. > > > > The room adjacent to the main room is about 19X18 feet, with a > > > smaller, conference-type room about 8X12 feet. > > > This is a wonderful place to work and have events, but it is time to > > > put it to a more intentional, revenue-producing purpose. > > > > I would like to put in about 6 work tables, 48X30 inches with power > > > andtask lighting, and keep our large old lab table in the center. A > > > partition that separates but doesn't suffocate would separate the > > > spaces, and we can furnish printer/copier and fax machine. There is > > > a copy shop 4 blocks away. We would offer a membership package, a drop- > > > in option, and something bigger where desired. > > > > I like the coworking idea, and especially like the ability of > > > potential coworkers to find us online. We get good reviews both from > > > the many freelancers who live nearby, and the sales and tech people > > > who find us while they are in-town. > > > > Here's the challenge: The aspect of a great coffee shop in which to > > > work is completely different from a workspace that is rented by the > > > hour (coffee included). I think that most all the writers and job- > > > hunters (wonderful, faithful customers all) will choose to work and > > > meet in the now slightly cozier coffee shop. I feel the new > > > arrangement is a definite value (knowing that it is still offered > > > below the cost of renting, airconditioning, cleaning and staffing it), > > > yet encounter daily the "if it's free today, why must I pay tomorrow?" > > > question. We do not have the traffic flow of places a half-mile away; > > > we rely on an honest and open relationship with our neighbors. Does > > > anyone have thoughts on this transition? --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
