Seasonal Retail Ideas to Energize Your Coffee Shop

As the holidays approach, more customers will be asking for gift cards—often with increasing frequency. While gift cards are a solid option throughout the year, providing distinctive items that can be enjoyed in-store or given as presents can drive retail revenue and position your café as a key destination during the hectic winter months.

OH HOLY NIGHT

Holy Kakow has earned a strong following in many cafés thanks to its short ingredient list and rich flavor profile. Offer your patrons a limited-time indulgence with options such as Merry Mint and Pumpkin Spice. You might stick with familiar favorites like the pumpkin spice latte, or, as Cody Kirkland suggests (page 32), invent imaginative drinks to impress your customers.

LIMITED EDITION

Whether you roast in-house or work with a supplier, a special-label coffee can generate buzz around your offerings. A holiday roast brings seasonal cheer, or you could highlight a single-origin coffee for the winter months. Allegro Coffee Company chose the latter, releasing a limited-edition Panama Esmeralda 1500 Gesha through the end of the year.

A RIPPLE IN WINTERTIME

Your baristas may pour a flawless rosetta, but latte art designs have their limits. The Ripple Maker employs patented technology to print text and images into milk foam. Pick from a design library, upload your logo, craft a playful holiday design, or allow customers to submit their own images for printing.

SPICE THINGS UP

Bitters offer an easy way to bring new flavors to your existing menu—whether added to a coffee cocktail or used to finish a craft soda. These orange bitters from the Bitter Truth deliver a strong marmalade note on the nose, followed by a lively blend of clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

SKELECLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN

If your drink menu is already set and a special roast isn’t feasible, the holiday season is still an excellent time to ramp up your merchandise. Four Barrel introduced a line of standout merchandise in time for the shopping season, including the Skeleclaus mug—a delightful twist on their year-round mug collection. Don’t feel limited to a holiday theme; simply offering new items will draw attention to your retail displays.

ONE-STOP SHOPPING

Simplify holiday shopping for your customers by assembling brewing kits, similar to those from Verve Coffee Roasters. Bundling products from your retail shelves creates an appealing package for shoppers looking for gifts for the coffee enthusiast in their life. Brewing kits also give you a chance to teach customers proper brewing methods, helping them make the perfect cup of your coffee at home.

STOCKINGS ALL HUNG

A warm cup of coffee keeps hands cozy as winter temperatures drop. Why not offer customers a clever way to keep their toes warm, too? Kaldi’s Coffee Roasters introduced these coffee-themed socks as part of their winter retail lineup. As Kaldi’s puts it, “We all know that coffee rocks, which is why we have coffee socks.”