wazua Fri, Jan 31, 2025
Welcome Guest Search | Active Topics | Log In | Register

pay-per-minute cafe
Options
Previous Topic · Next Topic
deadpoet
#1 Posted : Thursday, March 22, 2012 11:07:52 AM
Rank: Member


Joined: 9/27/2006
Posts: 505
!! NEW CONCEPT !!

Rather than charging patrons for food and drinks, this idea would charge patrons per minute - say 5 bob a minute - with food and drinks provided free of charge.

Only tea and bread/pastries would be served with free refills (tentatively). Customers could also bring their own food or drinks.

The cafe could also provide board games or movies for entertainment.

Critiques welcome...


.... plus, what would be the best location for such a cafe? low income areas with guaranteed clients (but with higher consumption I'm guessing) or higher-end areas with gentlemen as clients?....
Back to top
 Report Abusive | Report SPAM
tom_boy
#2 Posted : Thursday, March 22, 2012 11:25:39 AM
Rank: Member


Joined: 2/20/2007
Posts: 767
Great idea. Make sure the food is good quality and service is chap chap and I think it will work.
They must find it difficult....... those who have taken authority as the truth, rather than truth as the authority. -G. Massey.
Back to top
 Report Abusive | Report SPAM
TiggerTiggy
#3 Posted : Thursday, March 22, 2012 12:05:42 PM
Rank: Veteran


Joined: 10/13/2011
Posts: 660
i have been to a cafe which bills by weight. you pick a plate and put whatever you wish (buffet style) and the cashier simply weighs it and you pay accordingly. it was very very popular.
Back to top
 Report Abusive | Report SPAM
jerry
#4 Posted : Thursday, March 22, 2012 12:11:48 PM
Rank: Elder


Joined: 9/29/2006
Posts: 2,570
tom_boy wrote:
Great idea. Make sure the food is good quality and service is chap chap and I think it will work.

Are there entry fees? I'm thinking of a model like car parking with a fixed charge per entry but with unlimited refreshements. Confortable seats?
The opposite of courage is not cowardice, it's conformity.
Back to top
 Report Abusive | Report SPAM
deadpoet
#5 Posted : Thursday, March 22, 2012 12:29:52 PM
Rank: Member


Joined: 9/27/2006
Posts: 505
@jerry,

Nope, no entry fees - though there might need to be some quota system to avoid crowding. As for seats, just standard chairs would do.
Back to top
 Report Abusive | Report SPAM
seeker*
#6 Posted : Thursday, March 22, 2012 12:49:52 PM
Rank: Member


Joined: 9/11/2009
Posts: 132
Location: nairobi
I think its a great idea! especially with the options tiggertiggy and jerry have given. Also consider the nescafe vending machines to reduce waste and better revenue management.
link:http://www.coffeevendingmachines.in/nescafe-vending-machine.html
ask at the Nairobi office for charges, am unable to attach the document here.
Don't fight a battle if you gain nothing by winning.” Erwin Rommel
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, and reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I no longer used childish ways.
Back to top
 Report Abusive | Report SPAM | Edit by user: Thursday, March 22, 2012 12:51 PM | Reason: Not specified
2012
#7 Posted : Thursday, March 22, 2012 2:33:20 PM
Rank: Elder


Joined: 12/9/2009
Posts: 6,592
Location: Nairobi
The food has to be amazing. Do you also charge me for waiting? Because you could manipulate time to my disadvantage. I guess you'll have a purchase amount for take-away...

BBI will solve it :)
Back to top
 Report Abusive | Report SPAM
deadpoet
#8 Posted : Thursday, March 22, 2012 2:37:08 PM
Rank: Member


Joined: 9/27/2006
Posts: 505
@2012,

Maybe a minimum time to cater for waiting - the way cyber cafes charge for 10 minutes minimum browsing..
Back to top
 Report Abusive | Report SPAM
sihingwa
#9 Posted : Thursday, March 22, 2012 3:43:54 PM
Rank: Member


Joined: 9/29/2010
Posts: 216
Location: Kenia
Nice to have ideas....but how do you ensure that in the 10 min Sihingwa wont have consumed food worth KES 200 ?
Tricky business
Back to top
 Report Abusive | Report SPAM
deadpoet
#10 Posted : Thursday, March 22, 2012 4:13:18 PM
Rank: Member


Joined: 9/27/2006
Posts: 505
@sihingwa,

That's why you'd have to serve basics like tea, juices and some type of snack (chapati?). But yes, there's nothing to stop someone from drinking 2 litres worth of tea in 10 mins...
Back to top
 Report Abusive | Report SPAM
For Sport
#11 Posted : Thursday, March 22, 2012 4:25:14 PM
Rank: Veteran


Joined: 12/23/2010
Posts: 1,229
Terrible idea.
Are you in the business of selling FOOD or TIME?
This would mean that you're looking for clients who walk in, wolf down their food (to save on the bill) and then leave.
I'll speak for myself here. I enjoy my food. And I hate feeling rushed while I eat. I'd hate to eat at a place where I'd be billed for every extra minute that I sat down.

And then, how would you deal with "take away food"?

Also: "date traffic". friends who decide to meet over lunch, tea, coffee etc. If one arrives earlier, wld they want to pay per minute while waiting?

Also once ate at a place where food was billed by weight and loved the idea...Wonder whether we're disciplined enough for it to work here.
Back to top
 Report Abusive | Report SPAM | Edit by user: Thursday, March 22, 2012 4:28 PM | Reason: Not specified
deadpoet
#12 Posted : Thursday, March 22, 2012 4:34:26 PM
Rank: Member


Joined: 9/27/2006
Posts: 505
@For Sport,

Nobody's being rushed... patrons could stay as long as they liked. I think Sihingwa was just referring to opportunists who would exploit the pricing scheme (the majority of kenyans?).

Besides, the price per minute should not be so expensive that regulars would constantly have to be checking the time.
Back to top
 Report Abusive | Report SPAM
Manyala
#13 Posted : Thursday, March 22, 2012 5:18:39 PM
Rank: Member


Joined: 11/8/2011
Posts: 482
Location: Nairobi

Tusky's food is sold by weight.
Back to top
 Report Abusive | Report SPAM
chiaroscuro
#14 Posted : Thursday, March 22, 2012 9:24:55 PM
Rank: Veteran


Joined: 2/2/2012
Posts: 1,134
Location: Nairobi
For Sport wrote:
Terrible idea. [That's what they told Chris Columbus]
Are you in the business of selling FOOD or TIME?
This would mean that you're looking for clients who walk in, wolf down their food (to save on the bill) and then leave. [comes with the territory - these would be few, especially if target is upmarket]
I'll speak for myself here. I enjoy my food. And I hate feeling rushed while I eat. I'd hate to eat at a place where I'd be billed for every extra minute that I sat down.

And then, how would you deal with "take away food"? [can simply not offer it! Nothing wrong with saying NO TAKE-AWAY]

Also: "date traffic". [this is not the target group, so no reason to worry about them] friends who decide to meet over lunch, tea, coffee etc. If one arrives earlier, wld they want to pay per minute while waiting?

Also once ate at a place where food was billed by weight and loved the idea...Wonder whether we're disciplined enough for it to work here. [oh yes we are. it's only that no one has tried it]


@deadpoet: GO FOR IT!!! Don't spend too much time "wondering". I'm quite sure you have visualised the restaurant in your mind. JUST DO IT before you get discouraged by negative energies.
Back to top
 Report Abusive | Report SPAM
For Sport
#15 Posted : Friday, March 23, 2012 2:49:17 AM
Rank: Veteran


Joined: 12/23/2010
Posts: 1,229
http://www.springwise.co...p;utm_content=Google+UK

@deadpoet, read the few comments there too.
I'll ask again, selling food or selling time/space?
Back to top
 Report Abusive | Report SPAM | Edit by user: Friday, March 23, 2012 2:53 AM | Reason: Not specified
muus1n1
#16 Posted : Friday, March 23, 2012 3:09:29 AM
Rank: Member


Joined: 7/6/2009
Posts: 6
Location: canada
You don't seem to understand basic economics; what you sell is the scarce commodity. Will your customers be looking for food or for time here. It has to be more than just eating food for you to sell time as a commodity here. Time is directly proportional to chewing.
Chewing/swallowing is what you'll be selling.
Back to top
 Report Abusive | Report SPAM
Users browsing this topic
Guest
Forum Jump  
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.

Wazua SME Theme
Powered by YAF | YAF © 2003-2009, Yet Another Forum.NET
Copyright © 2025 Wazua.co.ke. All Rights Reserved.