Cuppys

Marketing Strategies

Here are some helpful guidelines for making your Cuppy’s Coffee mobile unit more profitable.

• Make your mobile unit visible!
  • Wind Socks on top of your unit provide height and movement.
  • Don’t forget to place A-Frame signs in front of your unit. Purchase A-Frame attachments from specialtycoffeecoop.com. Pictures sell drinks and encourage impulse purchases.
  • Determine and negotiate a prime location at the event (near entrance, etc.)

• Opt for events that have low or no fees for participation.
  • Event fees vary but a good rule of thumb is to try to keep your entry fees below $300.
  • Watch out for large deposits.
  • Don’t forget to pay attention to percentages of gross sales fees that some events charge.
  • Ask your local high schools if you can work their events in exchange for donating 10% - 15% of your gross sales to the school’s athletic program.

• Attend more local events.
  • Events that are within driving distance allow you to cut costs by not paying for accommodations and traveling.

• Offer other concession items.
  • Examples: Bottled Water, Chips, Muffins, Cookies, Candy, etc.
    • Make sure items won’t melt or expire when exposed to sun.
  • Hanging baskets are good storage options because it displays product and minimizes space.

• Pass out half off smoothie coupons with smoothie samples during slow times.
  • Other big sellers you can use for samples are:
    • Mochaccinos
    • Frozen Hot Chocolates

Helpful Hints from the Frontline

• Work efficiently by having one person work your register while another person makes your customers drinks.
  • Your mobile unit increases profits because you deliver quality products quickly.
• You should try to pace yourself to produce at least 4 espresso shots per minute.
• Don’t forget to prepare mixes for frozen drinks.
• Buy an ice machine that filters water and keep it at your house to save costs.
• Security tip: Don’t forget to inventory.
  • Count cups before and after events.
  • Keep a waste sheet for materials that are thrown away.

Where Interstates 75, 39 and 55 all merge, Cuppy’s Coffee will be there to serve up a true Italian espresso to commuters and travelers alike. Franchisees in Normal IL have signed a lease to open a Cuppy’s Coffee restaurant.

Look for the new Cuppy’s Coffee to open soon.

What makes a good site? Cuppy’s Coffee Real Estate specialist have a few suggestions to make the process easier to manuever

Freeway entrances - Grab a coffee before the morning commute into the city

Busy plazas and shopping centers - Enjoy a great coffee while shopping

Grocery Stores - What better way to enjoy a trip to the grocers

Banks and retail stores - Great spots! All in one location.

Schools - After dropping off the kids and/or while picking them up

Hospitals and other medical centers - Medical centers thrive on coffee

600-800 cars minimum passing by during morning rush hour - Grab all of them with great marketing, service, and satisfaction.

These are just a few locations that you’ll find that will work for your needs. You may have a few of your own. Share them with your Cuppy’s Coffee Real Estate Specialist.

For more information on how you can join our growing company visit our website at www.cuppys.com

By Asheesh Advani
 
Startup Financing During the Credit Crunch
Creativity goes a long way when it comes to financing your startup during tough economic times.
 

The credit crunch that began with mortgages has now spread to consumer loans and small business financing. Banks have tightened their lending criteria and business owners will need to look elsewhere for financing. This shouldn’t be a surprise to readers of this column because I’ve often complained that banks tend to ignore startups even during normal market circumstance. The credit crunch has resulted in rising defaults for revolving credit in addition to mortgages; this could translate into higher fees and tougher underwriting standards if you plan to finance your business with credit card debt or home equity lines of credit. It’s time to look for alternatives. Read the article

Following your dreams to the end will undoubtedly be a journey of perseverance, but being creative can see those dreams bear the fruit of your endurance.

Acting on reports of poorly made coffee drinks over the years, head barista Howard Schultz closed all 7100 stores and retrained his staff to pull a ’real shot’, froth milk correctly, and usher in a newer more friendlier Starbucks.

The details of any significant changes have yet to be reported. Where is the buzz on this? Is anyone reporting a celestial taste difference in the coffee?

The day after: Business as usual.

Blending, the process of roasting different beans with others, creates some of today’s most popular coffee concoctions. At Cuppy’s Coffee our roasters used hand picked beans from around the world and expertly blends and hand roasts them to give our customers a true Italian experience. The beans selected for our espresso come from around the globe such as South and Central America to Ethiopia. Crafted together the blend is what sets our coffee apart from the competition.

The countries of origin for our beans are constantly in the news and at Cuppy’s the following was picked up off the newswires. Follow the link at the bottom of the excerpt to read the entire story.

Pictures of famine and war once graced our minds when it came to Ethiopia. This African country, still has a long way to go in terms of being a self sufficient stabilized country. Coffee is one of Ethiopia’s major exports to countries around the world dependent upon the caffeinated plants. The beans from this region are highly sought after by many sources. But lately in the news flowers from Ethiopia are starting to have an impact on the economy accounting for 1% GDP. This begs to ask the question: Will flowers replace Ethiopia’s dominant export coffee in the near future?

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Pictures of emaciated children dying in their mothers’ arms during Ethiopia’s famine in 1985 cemented the country’s image as a barren land where nothing grows.

But just 30 minutes south of the capital, Addis Ababa, green hills and lush valleys abound, perfect for cultivating the country’s fastest growing export — flowers. (read the rest of the story)

In 2006 Cuppy’s Coffee was formed and is hoping to capitalize on the thirst of specialty coffee drinkers. Dodging potholes and obstacles along the way Cuppy’s Coffee has won awards for its franchise. Building drive-ups, cafes, and kiosk Cuppy’s approved vendor, Elite Manufacturing is dotting the landscapes with coffee stores across America. Elite Manufacturing works closely with Medina Enterprises and Cuppy’s Coffee to facilitate the entire coffee concept experience.

To some people the confusion with Cuppy’s Coffee and another licensing company is understandable.  Assuming the leases, equipment and communications equipment from this licensing company was a complex transaction. Wanting to provide a stable work environment and relying on the knowledge of employees Cuppy’s Coffee also offered position to the staff. Licensees of Java Jo’z in this transaction have no financial or legal association with Cuppy’s Coffee, Elite, or Medina. The distinction between the two companies wasn’t clear by some who had relations with Java Jo’z that was defined in the transaction.

Doug Hibbing, president of Cuppy’s can see why the confusion exists. “We had the same location and phone numbers and a similar logo and this is why they think we are the same company

Starbucks may be closing stores and cutting back on new store openings, but Cuppy’s Coffee looks to me to be making a move. If you’ve been keeping up, Cuppy’s Coffee stores are opening at a fast pace around the country. So far I’ve noticed these locations:

• Mechanicsburg PA
• Oceanside CA
• Temple TX
• Edinburg TX
• Longmont CO
• Kennesaw GA
• Tucson AZ

And that is all within the last 2 months. Do the math, that’s 3.5 stores a month. At this pace look for Cuppy’s Coffee to come onto the radar of many an entrepreneur and investor looking to secure their futures.