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Summer is synonymous with refreshing beverages that help us cool down and quench thirst. As a cafe owner or manager, it's essential to stay ahead of the game by offering a diverse selection of summer drinks that cater to the desires of your customers. In this blog post, we'll explore a range of delightful and rejuvenating beverages that are perfect for the summer season. Cold Brew Recent years have seen the popularity of cold brew skyrocket . Coffee is the most popular drink next to water whether it's cold or hot outside. Cold brew is the perfect thing to quench their thirst and caffeine fix! Zafiato's all-natural, non-GMO cold brew concentrate has no added preservatives or sugars, and is easy-to-serve and keep up with high or low demand. Consider using syrups to add flavourful twists like vanilla, caramel, or even seasonal options like coconut or lavender; to cater to diverse tastes. Iced Teas For some, nothing beats a refreshing iced tea during the summer months. And a recent study even found that iced tea is stealing the spotlight from soda . Florals, citrus, berries, and other fruits provide delightful, easy-drinking iced tea options for your summer menu. And with Iced Tea Concentrates , serving a wide range of iced teas couldn't be faster or easier. Smoothies Healthy and invigorating, fruit smoothies can be perfect for those seeking a burst of vitamins, nutrients, antioxidants, and more. Create a menu featuring an array of colourful smoothie options that include fruits, vegetables, and even superfood ingredients like acai and pomegranate with Smartfruit. Smartfruit concentrates are made from 100% real fruit without any additives and offer choices that cater to different dietary preferences, such as vegan, gluten-free, or dairy-free. Refreshers Fruit refreshers have quickly become a favourite among cafe customers due to their vibrant flavours and health-conscious appeal, making them an essential addition to any menu. Smartfruit Refreshers are delicious, invigorating beverages are not only perfect for warmer weather but also low in caffeine and offer a refreshing post-coffee drink or an alternative to traditional coffee drinks altogether. As cafe owner Jamie says, "Adding fruit refreshers to our menu doubled our afternoon crowd!" By incorporating refreshers into your cafe menu, you can expand your customer base and provide variety without complicating the supply chain. Plus they're easy-to-prepare and have broad flavour options. Lemonade Reveal all the thirst-quenching freshness of lemonade on your summer drink menu with 1883 Lemonade Concentrate . Zesty and citrusy notes arouse the taste buds with characteristically fruity lemon balanced perfectly by discreet flavours of pine. It's low acidity allows the fruity tastes to unfold for a fresh and delicious result, similar to a homemade lemonade. Frappés Blended frappés are always a hit! Frothy milkshake-like treats for those looking to indulge in nostalgia. Available in traditional classics like chocolate and vanilla, as well as popular favourites like coffee to recreate that "iced cap" hit. We also have a neutral base frappe that you can create your own variations with using any syrup, allowing your customer to choose their own frappe flavour. Check out Zafiato's line of Frappés here . Matcha Having matcha to your cafe's summer menu as a cold drink offers an option with numerous health benefits . Packed with antioxidants, matcha is known to support metabolism, enhance mood, and provide a calm, sustained energy boost without the jitters commonly associated with coffee. One cafe manager that serves matcha shared that customers seem to love the health perks of matcha lattes (especially iced lattes in the summer heat). And offering a lightly sweetened matcha option, like Aiya Matcha distributed by Zafiato Cafe Supplies, makes matcha more approachable and appealing to a wider audience compared to traditional matcha. Aiya Sweetened Matcha Blend is made with only two ingredients - matcha and cane sugar - and is super easy-to-serve; just mix it into your cold or frothed milk and viola. Italian Sodas Don't leave fresh-made sodas off your summer drink menu! It's so easy to craft a menu that includes fruity, herbal, or bitter flavours. Consider experimenting with garnishes to elevate the flavours and presentation. Zafiato stocks over 75 flavours of syrups to meet a wide-range of flavour profiles. The summer season provides an excellent opportunity for cafe owners to showcase their creativity and cater to the refreshing needs of their customers. By offering a diverse range of summer drinks, you can ensure your cafe becomes a go-to destination for beating the heat. Remember to consider the preferences and dietary needs of your clientele, and always strive to create a unique and memorable experience with each visit. Cheers to a successful and refreshing summer season at your cafe!

As discussed in last week's blog article, having a customer email list can be a critical aspect of customer engagement and retention for cafes . While social media plays an undoubtably vital role, email marketing remains a more controllable way to engage with customers and more directly drive visits. In this blog post, we'll explore effective strategies to build a customer email list for your cafe to help you create a cafe email marketing strategy and stay connected with your customers to foster long-term relationships. 1) Implement a Customer Loyalty Program A good customer loyalty program can be an excellent incentive for customers to share their email addresses. Offer rewards, discounts, or exclusive access to promotions for those who sign up. Ensure that the benefits are attractive enough to encourage both existing and potential customers to participate. 2) Host In-Cafe Events Organizing events and workshops is a great way to attract foot traffic to your cafe. Encourage attendees to register for these events by providing their email address. You can even offer special event-only discounts or giveaways to motivate attendance. 3) Engage Visitors Incorporate interactive and visually appealing elements in your store, such as touchscreen tablets and QR code signage, where customers can easily sign up for your email list. Offer them value like discounts and promos in exchange for their email address to encourage signups. This provides benefit to the customer experience and increases the chances of signing up for your email marketing. 4) Leverage Social Media & Your Website Use your website and social media platforms to promote your email list and its benefits. Share sneak peeks of exclusive discounts and promos that subscribers receive, which can entice existing and potential customers to join your email list. Additionally, use call-to-action buttons or links on your website and social media profiles that direct visitors to sign up for your email list. A successful cafe social media marketing strategy can build a following, so use that to encourage email list signups that you have more control over. 5) Optimize Sign-Up Forms When customers visit your cafe's website, make sure your email sign-up form is easily accessible and straightforward to complete. Keep it short, requesting only essential information like name and email address, or even just email - remember that the less fields of information you request, the more subscribers you'll have. If you offer online ordering, you can also offer a checkbox for customers to opt-in for your email list during the checkout process. 6) Hold Contests and Giveaways Contests and giveaways can create buzz around your coffee shop and help you collect email addresses in the process. Host exciting contests where participants need to sign up for your email list to enter, and promote the content in-cafe, online, and on social media for maximum exposure. Building a customer email list can be very beneficial for cafes that depend on loyal customers and repeat business. It can help you foster customer engagement and drive traffic to your cafe. By implementing these strategies, you can establish a valuable email list that will enable you to use email marketing to stay connected with your customers, provide them with exclusive offers, and build lasting relationships. Remember to prioritize the customer experience, deliver valuable offers and freebies, and consistently engage your subscribers to create a loyal customer following that keeps coming back to your cafe. Make sure you don't miss out by subscribing to the Zafiato blog

As a small cafe, it's easy to overlook the importance of email marketing for cafes . However, amidst the hustle and bustle of the busy cafe industry, forward-thinking café owners have discovered the hidden gem that email marketing can be, and a successful email marketing strategy revolves around an email list. In this blog post, we'll explore the reasons why building a customer email list and implementing email marketing for your cafe might be the game-changer your cafe needs to establish strong customer relationships, boost sales, and create a loyal community. Customer Engagement When it comes to creating repeat sales , customer engagement is critical. An email list allows café owners and managers to send personalized messages, promotions, and special offers. By collecting data on customer preferences and behaviours, cafe owners can craft targeted campaigns that resonate with their audience, leading to consistent foot traffic. Nurturing Customer Loyalty A loyal customer base is the foundation of a successful café business. Email marketing provides an opportunity to stay connected with customers long after their first visit. Sending regular updates, exclusive discounts, and loyalty rewards fosters a sense of appreciation, turning one-time visitors into repeat customers who feel valued. Direct Marketing at its Best Email marketing offers a direct line of communication between cafés and their customers. Unlike social media where algorithms can hinder the reach of posts, emails go directly to the recipient's inbox, ensuring a higher chance of being seen and acted upon. With strategic timing and enticing content, café owners can leverage this advantage to drive traffic during slow periods, promote new menu items, and much more. Cost-Effective Marketing Traditional marketing efforts like flyers, banners, and print advertisements can be expensive and offer limited reach. In contrast, using email marketing through the collection of an email list is a cost-effective addition to your cafe marketing strategy . Once the initial setup is complete, the ongoing expenses are minimal, making it an attractive option for cafe owners, particularly those with smaller budgets. Gathering Customer Feedback Feedback from customers is invaluable for café owners seeking to improve their services and offerings. Through email surveys and questionnaires, you can gather comments on various aspects of your cafe, such as menu preferences, service quality, and overall customer experience. This feedback helps cafe owners and managers make informed decisions that will help you cater precisely to the desires of your customers. Event Promotion Many cafes find that hosting clubs, workshops, and other events helps increase brand awareness and bring in new customers into the cafe that may turn into regulars. An email list serves as an effective platform to promote these occasions and encourage attendance. By notifying customers directly through email, café owners can increase event turnout, leading to a more vibrant and lively atmosphere in the café. Staying Ahead of the Competition In a saturated market, standing out from the competition is vital - especially when those competitors are large chain cafes with corporate support. A cafe email marketing strategy backed by an effective email list provides a competitive advantage, giving café owners and managers the ability to keep customers informed about new offerings and enticing deals. Staying top-of-mind through regular communication can sway customer choices when deciding where to grab a coffee. Building a customer email list for cafe email marketing might initially seem like a trivial task amidst the busy routines of running a coffee shop, but its potential impact cannot be understated. From fostering customer loyalty to cost-effective marketing and personalized engagement, an email list serves as a powerful tool for café owners to thrive in a competitive industry. By harnessing the power of direct communication, café owners can create a vibrant community of loyal patrons, ensuring long-term success and growth for their café. Stay tuned for our next blog post where we'll discuss ways to build a successful customer email list and dive deeper into how to use it.

Contrary to what some small to medium-sized cafe owners think, loyalty programs aren't just for the big corporate chains. Implementing a loyalty program for your cafe can offer numerous benefits for both your business and your customers. Here are several reasons why a loyalty program might be worth considering for your cafe... 1) Customer Retention A loyalty program can help foster customer loyalty and encourage repeat visits. By offering incentives and rewards to your customers, such as discounts, freebies, or promotional products like branded merchandise, you give them a reason to choose your cafe over competitors. Retaining existing customers is often more cost-effective than acquiring new ones. 2) Increased Sales A well-designed loyalty program can significantly boost your sales. When customers know they can earn rewards by visiting your cafe regularly, they are more likely to become frequent patrons. Additionally, they may be more inclined to try new menu items or make larger purchases to accumulate more loyalty points. 3) Word-of-Mouth Marketing A loyalty program can generate positive word-of-mouth marketing for your cafe. Satisfied customers who benefit from the program are more likely to share their experiences with friends, family, and colleagues. This word-of-mouth promotion can bring in new customers who are intrigued by the rewards and benefits your loyalty program offers. 4) Data Collection and Customer Insights Implementing a loyalty program enables you to gather valuable customer data. By tracking customer purchases and preferences, you can gain insights into their buying behaviours and tailor your marketing strategies accordingly. This data can help you make informed decisions about menu offerings, promotions, and targeted marketing campaigns. 5) Personalized Marketing With the data collected from your loyalty program, you can personalize your marketing efforts. By understanding individual customer preferences, you can send targeted offers, promotions, and recommendations to boost customer engagement, increase visits, and drive sales. Personalization enhances the customer experience and makes them feel valued. 6) Competitive Advantage Offering a loyalty program can give you a competitive edge in the crowded cafe market. It sets you apart from other cafes who may not have such a program in place. Customers are more likely to choose a cafe that rewards their loyalty, making your business more attractive and distinctive. 7) Customer Engagement A loyalty program provides an avenue for direct communication with your customers. You can engage with them through email updates, personalized offers, and exclusive promotions. This ongoing interaction helps build relationships, enhance customer satisfaction, and create a sense of community around your cafe. 8) Customer Satisfaction Give your customers the "best of both worlds" by allowing them to support small local business, while also getting the perks of a loyalty program often only offered by large chain cafes. In summary, a loyalty program can be a powerful tool to boost customer retention, increase sales, generate word-of-mouth marketing, collect valuable data, personalize marketing efforts, gain a competitive advantage, and enhance customer engagement and satisfaction. Consider implementing a loyalty program in your cafe to reap these benefits and strengthen your relationship with your customers. There is vast loyalty program software availability on the market, so do your research and find the best one for your cafe.