With the current coffee shop boom, it is becoming increasing difficult to stand out. We can’t stress enough the importance of an engaging brand identity to get you noticed to establish relationships and to remain competitive. Here are a few sure ways to propel your brand into the limelight.
- Build Connections, Not Sales
It’s all about customer experience and when it comes to coffee shop branding it is imperative to build relationships with your customers. Gone are the hard selling days of branding and marketing with today’s consumers favouring a more personalised experience. If your customers love your brand they’re more likely to stay loyal to it. It’s time to start thinking about making meaningful bonds with your customers.
- Create a Brand Story
A brand story is more than just content and narrative, it’s what your customers believe about you based on the signals you send out. Without a brand story, you are just another commodity. Humanise your brand by building something that people care about and make your customers fall in love with your unique personality. Craft your identity by translating across your brand values, attitude and vision to attract lasting connections.
- Brand Consistency
Once you have established your brand story, it is important to stay consistent. Your story begins when your customer first comes into contact with your brand. Whether it’s a visit to your website, seeing your logo, reading an article or stumbling across you on social media, you must remain constant in your brand message and image.
This said, not all your communications have to necessarily look exactly the same, sticking to a few consistencies such as graphic font, colour palette or logo placement can achieve just enough visual cohesion. As your brand grows, developing a clear set of brand guidelines is essential to achieve a wholesome image. Clear and consistent branding will reinforce your identity and will drive positive sentiment and trust.
Make sure to put your customers at the heart of your brand: engagement and interaction with your customers is critical. Develop and maintain a recognisable brand personality and use social media to your advantage by instigating a two-way conversation to create a lasting emotional connection.
By Charlotte Anderson
Opening a coffee shop or restaurant and need advice on design? Let’s discuss your coffee shop concept at hello@offbeatcreative.co.uk or call 020 7060 3121