Small Shops Find Big Success Amid Coffee Giant
More than 100 Starbucks dot Seattle’s map, but these days the city’s coffee fame lies in the lesser known independent coffee houses. It seems that several of Seattle’s independents have found big success by making their selling point that they are small.
It’s not unusual for small businesses to feel threatened or to fail in the shadows of large corporate owned businesses. But that’s not the case this time, not for several Seattle coffee houses. For the independent coffee houses of Seattle that have found success surrounded by all those dozens of ubiquitous green awnings seems to be this; keep it cozy, and focus on what is at the core of the business - coffee. Not merchandising. Not upselling. Coffee.
That’s not to discredit Starbucks, the company did single-handedly raise America’s awareness of coffee, quality coffee at that. Some of the local favorites in Seattle are: Zoka Coffee, with two locations, Diva Espresso and Cafe Ladro. These shops borrow some of the practices that make Starbucks such a success. Quality coffee is key to a successful coffee house, and much like Starbucks the independents find consistency is crucial. Starbucks patented the “third place atmosphere”, that place between work and home where customers can go to get away and to relax.
There are also some things the independents pride themselves in doing that you won’t likely find at a larger corporate owned coffee house. Sometimes it’s the little things, the perks provided to the customers such as the occasional complimentary coffee, access to an internet connection or dog biscuits for your four-legged friend, who likes to tag along occasionally. The smaller places also realize the importance of really getting to know their customers - what they drink, how they like it made; heavy on the chocolate, light on the foam, not to hot, two sugars.
