Run Your Coffee House Like Panera Bread CO
Today I had a meeting for a new Meetup group that I am helping to start. At 9:30 am on a Wednesday this place was packed. There were several 2 and 3 person meetings going on and lots of people on their laptops. I was flabbergasted. All these remote workers just plugging away. Here is what I think makes this a Panera successful.
1. Free Wifi – This is a must have if you run a coffee shop. Almost everyone has a laptop now and business people and road warriors needs a place to boot up and get the latest mail and files. Free open Wifi makes this possible. One improvement I would make is a power outlet at every table.
2. Meetings spaces – This is the second Panera that I have been to that has a meeting room that you can reserve. This is great when you are forming a meet-up group you need a place to meet with others. Panera delivers here. You can improve this idea by offering a projector and a screen or wall to project on. Think how much cofee and bagles you would sell to a group of people.
3. Good Food – The food at Panera is good and is Woman freindly. Women like fruits and salad. I don’t know why they just do. Guys can get a decent sandwich and some soup. Me I like the soup in a bread bowl.
4. Cookies and cakes – Panera has good sweet stuff. I like to get a cookie when I go. Again this will keep people in your coffee shop for that mid afternoon snack. Have good variety and make it on site so everyone can smell how good it is.
I don’t think this is a hard model to emulate or even beat.
