[JackSamples]

Just wanted to get your take on this business. I've given it a lot more thought than I will post here, but just wanted some general guidance.
There is a very well-traveled mall nearby, where I plan to lease a kiosk-type area and sell fresh roasted coffee beans. I think the product is one that cannot really be matched easily by nearby competitors (namely Starbucks and places like Walmart), and fills a niche for coffee snobs like myself. It would have relatively low start up costs, and would be in a great location to get some exposure without spending much on marketing.
To add to this, the smell of the beans when they are ground is great - this smell is a potential marketing tool in itself, since our potential customers will be walking by all the time.
Perhaps my greatest hesitance is in that coffee is not an impulse purchase as much, which is what mall kiosks are geared towards.

Any thoughts from you entrepreneurial experts?

[Yiie]

I think it really depends on the location and demographics. Niche coffee is something geared towards younger aged consumers and coffee connoisseurs.

Although the smell of coffee beans is alluring, I think if you provided samples of made coffee, that would be even better. Your products would also make great presents, so have gift packs made (eg. basket with grounded beans, a mug, a plunger etc).

Have you also thought about selling your grounded coffees to cafes etc? Some of small cafes here sell niche coffee beans at the counter and people do buy them.