need suggestions to improve my buisness please.

[coffee boy]

Hi
My name is hamid. I am 17 years old and live in London. I have started a little instant coffee buisness. I get to earlsfield train station half an hour before my train to college arrives with a thermos full of boiling water and a waist bag with different instant hot drinks sachets like hot chocolate, cappacino and coffee. I also have milk, sugar, stirring sticks, proper takeaway coffee cups with drink through lids and cardboard sleeves. I try to sell the drinks to the people queing for tickets at the station and those waiting at the platform.

The reason why i chose this place is because i have to go to the staion anyway for college so it doesnt waste my time. Also this station is very buisy in the morings with commuters who all love there coffees and with lots of money.

Thats my buisness. But its not working too well. Most people arnt interested. I sold one coffee yesterday but zero this morning.

Please can anyone give me a suggestion how i could make my buisness more successfull. the main thing is i think i need to look more proffessional somehow. any ideas?

Thanks

[1dollar]

Maybe you need to work on your dresscode, if you have a special uniform which is recognizable by people will link you to a serious business and be less afraid to buy from you.

Also pay attention to the location, most people are in a rush in the morning so they don't wanna waste time. Go to places were people sit down, read newspaper, people with time to drink a coffee.

Don't be afraid to address people but don't be pushy maybe they don't buy but they'll remember you for next time, while otherwise they wouldn't have noticed you.

I also think most people don't really like instant coffee but maybe that's different in London.

It's definitely a good idea, you need to be presistent to succeed, I have done door to door sales and I can assure you it can be frustration if people are not interested but do know in the end you'll succeed.

[coffee boy]

Thanks for that. thats a realy good idea. i will make a badge and get a cap with a logo on it.
Also I think i will sell on the trains considering what you said.
what do you think. Any other suggestions anyone?

[Bestmiler]

I like the idea because most people are usually in a rush in the morning and sometimes skip breakfast or drinking coffee so you would be helping them out. However, I think it becomes more of a trust issue with people. I know that I wouldn't buy coffee from some random person in the train station.

You might want to target those who look tired or half asleep and ask them if they would like some coffee. I don't see this being a bit hit unfortunately. You have to build some customer loyalty which is going to be hard. If you find out a way, then I think you are set.

Selling on the train is another good idea. It's makes it more visible what you are selling.

[Onlinbiz8]

Maybe if you have a small stand where you are and sell the coffee? I dont know if that is permited where you are. Offer some people FREE Coffee so that know what your coffee tastes like. Maybe after they have a taste they will come back for more. Also I think it should be consistent. I mean if people see you everyday it will make them more confident in buying from you. I think once you have some regular customers buying others will just start buying. Do something - get a couple of your friends to come and buy coffee from you. That way when others see that you are selling it is almost sure that people will buy. I dont know why it is like this but it is. Anyway all the best to you.

[30dayswithruss]

Hi Hamid,
The suggestions that you have got are great.
So, I would just recap some of the suggestions that I liked and then add some of my own.
1.Work on your dress code. Look professional and decent. Have a smile on your face. If you have a college Id. Fix it on your shirt so that you look some official or hec, just look like a student.

2.Target those people who are looking half sleepy or tired. When they buy your coffee , start to converse with them and be friendly. Most of them might be going to their jobs and it is possible that they come to the station everyday at the same time. Make a relationship with them and they will start buying from you everyday.

3. Tell them that you are a student and are trying to earn for you college fees.I am sure lots of people will start buying from you.

hope this helps.

[pacificfame]

Personally I would just go a buy coffee at a coffee shop. I wouldn't trust coffee being made off the street or train station. Just my personal thoughts and views. Hope all goes well for you though.

[DrMoney]

I haven't read any of the posts so this may have been said.

But, I would go with getting some kind of cart or something.
Doesn't look very credible for no randing or anything.

If anything my friend, I would invest in 2 carts


Little carts that coffee and etc could be made on.

Then i would pay somone for their time, make it commission based until you get good funds. And start up you own ltd, and get a name and logo and make it londons coffee express service, Coffee everywhere kinda thing.


I think that would do well.

[Newton]

Yeh I'd like to add my agreement to the cart thing. Otherwise you're just a kid standing there with a thermos.

[30dayswithruss]

And then, wont he have to take the cart to college.
Or is there a way to leave the cart behind.

[NIPS Global Solution]

I think I have a few ideas, of which can help you out tremendously.

First things first...Image

As a business owner myself, image is everything. If you don't look professional, you won't get professional sales. Go out and get yourselve a name, a DBA, and a shirt with the name and logo printed on it. Then get a cap, as well.

Now...Partnerships

Your trying to make money selling coffee right? This means you can earn less than a dollar a cup right. So let's get the margins up to where you can actally make some real money.

First, talk with the train station, and make sure it's alright to sell on their property. If they at first say no, negoitaite. See if you pay the royalities for selling at their stop. Most, if not all, companies agree when this happens.

Then go out and find small businesses who need advertising. Sell advertising on your cups, and have that companies address, logo, and website printed on them. Without a doubt, you can make this work, and really well. Companies in maryland do this all the time, and I've even used it. The coffee store made more advertising then they did selling coffee!

Then get out their and sell. No doubt, you are going to need promotion on your side. Find out large businesses whose employees use the trains, and try and set up accounts with them. Businesses love perks for their employees, and at .50 for a cup in the morning, it's not much for them at all. I'm probably about to start offering this perk to my employees this summer, along with paid lunchs.

I didn't cover much, but try some of them out. They work in US, but if they don't over there, try something else.

Pm me if you need any help. I'd be glad to try and help.

Ryan Scott

[30dayswithruss]

Wow,Ryan.
That was some good advice.
Just like an entrepreneur should do it.

Awesome.

[commit]

I think what you are actually doing is more then most. You are putting yourself out in the public selling a product. Kudos to you on that accomplishment. I do think you have tough road ahead. 30 Minutes is not much time.

Presentation is very important and here is my suggestion for you. I really think it will work well for you if it make s sense.

It may be difficult to transport and may not be possible, but make a carrying tray similar to the ones the the peanut men have at a baseball or sporting event. It will allow you to add a buiness name, have a nice set up of your coffee's, sugar, cream and even an additional tip cup.

Good Luck

[coffee boy]

Thanks everyone for your help. I realy appreciate it. I didnt realise how active this forum was and i just checked and found myself overwlelmed with awesome suggestion.

Onlinbiz8:
the problem with a small stand is how can i take it to college with me. Nice idea tho.
I will be giving away two free coffees on every carriage of the train tommorow moring. I hope your right and it doesnt make me look desperate.

30dayswithruss:
in uk college is free so i dont think anyone will fall for that pitty vote.
And im sire ur right about the fact that most people get the same train every day so my plan from now on is to sell on the same train every day to gain loyalty.

pacificfame:
I was thinking the reason why people would buy from me rather than a coffee shop is because they are in a hurry and will miss their train if they vistit a coffee shop.

DrMoney:
If i paid someone for thier time how could i make sure they dont just run off with my equipment and take 100% commision? (i dont want do involve any friends with money)

Newton:
I may look like some random kid but the advantage of just holding a thermos and a waist bag is that when the train is more full i wouldnt cause any hassle pushing a cart into peoples feet.

NIPS Global Solution:
1) If i approach a train station i would they not just laugh at me because im some kid selling a few cups of coffee and they would hardly expect much return on royaltys?
2) It would cost a lot to print adverts on cups probably just cover the cost by the ads. am i wrong. Because with these custom prints i approched a shop and they said before even printing i have to pay a startup fee.(that was for the baseball cap with my logo but i guess its the same for cups)
3) At the moment i am only investing 30 mins in the morning in this buisness (i want to failf my A levels over it!) so i dont think any company would be interested.

commit:
I actually started making a carrying cart. bought some wood had it cut to size and began nailing it together. but then my brother gave me the idea to just carry a waist bag and stuff evertthink in there and put the cups between the waist bag belt. because this is better because its easier to carry around especially if the trains are full.


Thanks sooo much to everyone and looking forward to some more inspiration!

[cube3]

man...i wouldnt buy coffee from someone i don't know peddling on the train station either. Besides yours is instant coffee...how loyal can people get? Ur coffee is probably all over every supermarket in U.K.