Coffee lovers - would you join a subscription coffee club?
Discussion
By profession i'm a civil engineer and sold my soul to a national house builder about 3 years ago. Yes the money is good but the job satisfaction is pretty much at zero level.
I've loved and enjoyed coffee for years now and many a time i've listened to people say, do something you love. I'm now chasing that dream.
My business idea has been many months in the planning and i wanted to seek peoples view here because I value your thoughts.
Here is the concept:
You pay a monthly subscription of £6:50 for a bi-weekly delivery of a packet of coffee from some of the UK finest coffee houses.
Every other Thursday a small cardboard box (think Graze) would drop onto you doorstep just in time for the weekend, inside would either be a packet of beans, ground beans or 10 filled nespresso capsules from one of the many suppliers we are working with.
Also in the box will be a small booklet detailing the particulars of that specific roast/ blend. From time to time there to be special 'house' blends in place of the regular UK suppliers.
There will be an accompanying web site to connect members to suppliers at a discounted rate.
So that's the plan, so i'm looking to grasp everyone's thoughts.
Cheers Dean
I've loved and enjoyed coffee for years now and many a time i've listened to people say, do something you love. I'm now chasing that dream.
My business idea has been many months in the planning and i wanted to seek peoples view here because I value your thoughts.
Here is the concept:
You pay a monthly subscription of £6:50 for a bi-weekly delivery of a packet of coffee from some of the UK finest coffee houses.
Every other Thursday a small cardboard box (think Graze) would drop onto you doorstep just in time for the weekend, inside would either be a packet of beans, ground beans or 10 filled nespresso capsules from one of the many suppliers we are working with.
Also in the box will be a small booklet detailing the particulars of that specific roast/ blend. From time to time there to be special 'house' blends in place of the regular UK suppliers.
There will be an accompanying web site to connect members to suppliers at a discounted rate.
So that's the plan, so i'm looking to grasp everyone's thoughts.
Cheers Dean
Honestly, you're a bit late to the party. Unless you've got a significant USP (which I don't think you do currently), then I wouldn't bother.
http://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/food-...
http://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/food-...
Deangtv said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
correct me if i'm wrong but that only supplies their own coffees? Mine model is based on something like the Sunday Times Wine Club. Different suppliers, different choices
Coffee was garbage, and expensive.
Illy was cheaper and nicer.
Nice Idea, but I think you overestimate the average person. I did a similar thing with wine and it quickly became apparent most people would drink any old rubbish. I love my coffee but I buy 3kgs from a fresh roast at a time to keep the cost down; people who really care are very particular about what they buy so would not want a subscription and sadly I do not think there is much middle ground.
Good luck, but I think you would have to spend more on promotion than you would re-coup in repeat custom (which was my experience)
Good luck, but I think you would have to spend more on promotion than you would re-coup in repeat custom (which was my experience)
I agree that lots of people will drink any old garbage.
I think there are several problems with this plan:
Its going to be a LOT of work, you're going to have to keep a certain momentum finding new suppliers constantly, and because its not your coffee, margins will be very tight.
Unless you ruthlessly drink coffee you're going to get a backlog of the little packets, so people will start pausing the subscriptions or cancelling.
I think most people develop a taste for what they like, like an absolute favourite blend. You are essentially giving them an easy way to find their favourite, once they have, they'll order it in bulk online cheaper. You won't be able to supply it, because you will be churning through so many suppliers you'd need a monster warehouse to keep such a big inventory on hand.
I think this sort of thing is a driver for the big bean suppliers like the ones mentioned above, they could massively undercut you too since its basically marketing. They just use beans from stock and can supply anything that someone liked. Unless you're set up like that there is NO chance that you'll last.
I think there are several problems with this plan:
Its going to be a LOT of work, you're going to have to keep a certain momentum finding new suppliers constantly, and because its not your coffee, margins will be very tight.
Unless you ruthlessly drink coffee you're going to get a backlog of the little packets, so people will start pausing the subscriptions or cancelling.
I think most people develop a taste for what they like, like an absolute favourite blend. You are essentially giving them an easy way to find their favourite, once they have, they'll order it in bulk online cheaper. You won't be able to supply it, because you will be churning through so many suppliers you'd need a monster warehouse to keep such a big inventory on hand.
I think this sort of thing is a driver for the big bean suppliers like the ones mentioned above, they could massively undercut you too since its basically marketing. They just use beans from stock and can supply anything that someone liked. Unless you're set up like that there is NO chance that you'll last.
I have an advantage over the other posters here, in that I have lived in the US for the past 9 years. Ideas for new products and services are welcome here, rather than the cooler reception you get in the UK. Don't worry about anyone who is afraid of something new, if you have the drive you can make it happen. I advise startups in NYC how to grow, brand, finance etc.
You will have to go the gourmet route as there will be no way you can compete with the supermarkets on price. You should drop Nespresso and concentrate on beans, not ground only. (coffee, once it is ground, loses it's flavor very quickly). The story of the coffee selected will be key to success, much like for wine. Your branding and core message needs to be strong to stand out in a crowded market, this will be your main work...
Some coffee delivery companies you should check out.
Blue Bottle has a big following and their delivery service is picking up.
https://bluebottlecoffee.com/at-home
Not used, but will give you ideas.
https://www.pactcoffee.com/
https://hustleandgrind.co/
Good luck
You will have to go the gourmet route as there will be no way you can compete with the supermarkets on price. You should drop Nespresso and concentrate on beans, not ground only. (coffee, once it is ground, loses it's flavor very quickly). The story of the coffee selected will be key to success, much like for wine. Your branding and core message needs to be strong to stand out in a crowded market, this will be your main work...
Some coffee delivery companies you should check out.
Blue Bottle has a big following and their delivery service is picking up.
https://bluebottlecoffee.com/at-home
Not used, but will give you ideas.
https://www.pactcoffee.com/
https://hustleandgrind.co/
Good luck
I think its a good idea.
The connoisseurs who have posted on here are probably in the minority. The majority would like to act like a connoisseur but havent got much of a clue.
My local Co-op seems to sell enough filtered and unground beans to people who clearly havent got much of a clue but I am sure would enjoy good coffee and like to learn and look more like a connoisseur to their friends.
Crowdfund it and see how you get on.
The connoisseurs who have posted on here are probably in the minority. The majority would like to act like a connoisseur but havent got much of a clue.
My local Co-op seems to sell enough filtered and unground beans to people who clearly havent got much of a clue but I am sure would enjoy good coffee and like to learn and look more like a connoisseur to their friends.
Crowdfund it and see how you get on.
Olivero said:
I have an advantage over the other posters here, in that I have lived in the US for the past 9 years. Ideas for new products and services are welcome here, rather than the cooler reception you get in the UK. Don't worry about anyone who is afraid of something new, if you have the drive you can make it happen. I advise startups in NYC how to grow, brand, finance etc.
You will have to go the gourmet route as there will be no way you can compete with the supermarkets on price. You should drop Nespresso and concentrate on beans, not ground only. (coffee, once it is ground, loses it's flavor very quickly). The story of the coffee selected will be key to success, much like for wine. Your branding and core message needs to be strong to stand out in a crowded market, this will be your main work...
Some coffee delivery companies you should check out.
Blue Bottle has a big following and their delivery service is picking up.
https://bluebottlecoffee.com/at-home
Not used, but will give you ideas.
https://www.pactcoffee.com/
https://hustleandgrind.co/
Good luck
Does your "advantage" let you acknowledge that many people have already beaten him to it, and he doesn't have enough of a relevant USP to stand out?You will have to go the gourmet route as there will be no way you can compete with the supermarkets on price. You should drop Nespresso and concentrate on beans, not ground only. (coffee, once it is ground, loses it's flavor very quickly). The story of the coffee selected will be key to success, much like for wine. Your branding and core message needs to be strong to stand out in a crowded market, this will be your main work...
Some coffee delivery companies you should check out.
Blue Bottle has a big following and their delivery service is picking up.
https://bluebottlecoffee.com/at-home
Not used, but will give you ideas.
https://www.pactcoffee.com/
https://hustleandgrind.co/
Good luck
C70R said:
Does your "advantage" let you acknowledge that many people have already beaten him to it, and he doesn't have enough of a relevant USP to stand out?
You are right that simply offering a subscription service is not anything new and is not enough to guarantee a good business. On the other hand, there are new subscription services for food and drink popping up all the time here. The trick is to solve a particular problem, add to the experience or undercut on price.
There is always a way to redesign something for a new audience otherwise, we would still be living like cavemen.
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