Tea is not only a healthy and tasty drink, but also fashionable. More and more people are turning away from coffee in favor of oolong, pu-erh tea and other gourmet teas. They are given for the holidays, brought from long trips. Plus, tea is a great business idea. By opening a small department or shop, you can earn good money, and, possibly, develop your own network.
Instructions
Step 1
Choose a premise for your future store. You can open a street-format store or limit yourself to a department in a mall or supermarket. The second option is simpler - you need a very small area, besides, in a good shopping center there is a large flow of potential buyers. If you decide to open a free-standing store, choose the right place. It is advisable that your shop is located on a busy pedestrian street.
Step 2
Form an assortment. You can focus on Chinese teas - they have enough connoisseurs. However, the mixed format is much more profitable, when both rare pu-erh and European blends with natural additives are sold in the same store. The main principle of a specialized tea shop is a wide assortment and varieties that cannot be bought in ordinary supermarkets.
Step 3
Select suppliers. You can work directly with manufacturers, but the easier place to start is with specialized companies focused on stores like yours. They offer a good range of teas, related products, and, if necessary, can provide professional advice and even organize staff training.
Step 4
For starters, you can limit yourself to 50 types of tea and tea mixtures. Purchase the most popular varieties. Target customers with different incomes and tastes. Do not give up tea bags - many buyers prefer it. Be sure to include related products in the assortment: sweets, chocolates, marzipans, a large assortment of sugar. It is a good idea to organize the sale of appropriate tableware. Inexpensive gift sets are also in demand, especially before the holidays. You can shape them yourself.
Step 5
Think over the design of your store. Try to bring it closer to the format of a grocery boutique - no plastic panels and shiny metal. Walls can be covered with wallpaper or decorated with decorative plaster. Buy wooden racks for tea, decorate the counter in the appropriate style. Don't forget the nice little things. Beautiful clocks, antique posters, books about tea, funny artifacts like decorative teapots and vintage samovars - all this will give your shop a unique charm.
Step 6
Think about ways to attract and retain customers. Your task is to gather all tea connoisseurs at your place. Offer them something interesting - weekly tastings of new products, loyalty bonuses, gift and discount cards. Make your shop not just a retail outlet, but a club for true tea connoisseurs.
