Cafe Opening Times
May 22nd 2011, 8:35 am
#31
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2009
Location: Alicante province
Posts: 5,753
Re: Cafe Opening Times
I'm going to lower my defences to reply to this interesting thread properly, it deserves it.
I bought a discothèque as a business venture, with my eyes wide open. It had a high turnover, but had a history of trouble, of the worst kind, with a high possibility that it would lose its licence - which is why it was going cheap.
I changed the staff, decorated the place to make it more attractive to the kind of customers I wanted, or imagined I wanted, and stood outside on the opening night with my bouncers and spies to vet the incoming hordes.
My spies pointed out the troublemakers and I banned them, I remember banning the first 32 customers that arrived because they were all junkies. None of them went quietly, but I had a high builder's skip outside and put the idiots into it, they were too befuddled to climb out.
The police arrested me at 2am, allegedly for my own safety, or something to do with the builder's skip.
That calmed me down and I was forced to get rid of the people skip. My takings went down to zero and I realised my business plan wasn't going to work, or I wasn't going to live long enough to see it through.
It was time for plan B. I got a licence to open for longer than any of the other discos around and let it be known that junkies would be welcome again, the whole town was full of them. I even provided a 'cool' room for them at the back in case they overdosed.
Finally, I employed ten of the sexiest barmaids around and encouraged them to dress appropriately.
My takings went through the roof, but I had trouble sleeping at night (during the day), even with a shotgun under my bed. I spent my time watering down the spirits (as an act of kindness) and counting money and got thoroughly miserable.
I came to Spain to escape and opened a disco in Estepona . . .
I bought a discothèque as a business venture, with my eyes wide open. It had a high turnover, but had a history of trouble, of the worst kind, with a high possibility that it would lose its licence - which is why it was going cheap.
I changed the staff, decorated the place to make it more attractive to the kind of customers I wanted, or imagined I wanted, and stood outside on the opening night with my bouncers and spies to vet the incoming hordes.
My spies pointed out the troublemakers and I banned them, I remember banning the first 32 customers that arrived because they were all junkies. None of them went quietly, but I had a high builder's skip outside and put the idiots into it, they were too befuddled to climb out.
The police arrested me at 2am, allegedly for my own safety, or something to do with the builder's skip.
That calmed me down and I was forced to get rid of the people skip. My takings went down to zero and I realised my business plan wasn't going to work, or I wasn't going to live long enough to see it through.
It was time for plan B. I got a licence to open for longer than any of the other discos around and let it be known that junkies would be welcome again, the whole town was full of them. I even provided a 'cool' room for them at the back in case they overdosed.
Finally, I employed ten of the sexiest barmaids around and encouraged them to dress appropriately.
My takings went through the roof, but I had trouble sleeping at night (during the day), even with a shotgun under my bed. I spent my time watering down the spirits (as an act of kindness) and counting money and got thoroughly miserable.
I came to Spain to escape and opened a disco in Estepona . . .
May 22nd 2011, 8:35 am
#32
MODERATOR
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Costa Valencia
Posts: 14,796
Re: Cafe Opening Times
Good link - I noticed on that page there's a link to the Jamaica Coffee Shop franchise, which is the one I was thinking of in Madrid. There was an outlet on Sol if I remember correctly. It seems they intend to open 100 outlets in China over the next 4 years!
http://www.infofranquicias.com/fd-16...ffee-Shop.aspx
http://www.infofranquicias.com/fd-16...ffee-Shop.aspx
Rosemary
May 22nd 2011, 8:40 am
#33
Not Banned (yet)
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Madrid
Posts: 6,400
Re: Cafe Opening Times
I can believe that. As I mentioned earlier, I feel these type of places work better in the bigger cities, and I don't think they can normally have much success in towns. Although the likes of Starbucks and Cafe Nerro perhaps prove me wrong.
May 22nd 2011, 9:14 am
#34
Banned
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Living in a good place
Posts: 8,824
Re: Cafe Opening Times
In your situation, ie not planning to work and build the business up yourself, I would sell or rent it out, and not bother with all the hassle.
You seem to have no intention of living in Spain, and doing a projectlike that could take quite a while.
Leaving the place empty gives you a bigger scope for renting / selling.
As the saying goes if in doubt-do nowt.
You seem to have no intention of living in Spain, and doing a projectlike that could take quite a while.
Leaving the place empty gives you a bigger scope for renting / selling.
As the saying goes if in doubt-do nowt.
I can't see the concept working in Spain.
May 22nd 2011, 9:32 am
#35
Banned
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,008
Re: Cafe Opening Times
In most cases getting a franchise is a mugs game.
I know of a few who have come unstuck, the criteria as regards town size were quite strict in the past.
More recently they will allow outlets in smaller towns, or have sold more frachises in bigger ones where the original franchonse owners were told there would not be anymore.
Also the goalposts are often moved, ie Mcdonalds, now open for breakfast, at 6am I think.
More products more packaging, all bought from the franchise company, exta staff needed for the extra opening hours, in some cases not enough custom to cover the costs, so profits get eaten into.
When telepizza first started, the prices were much higher than now, I have seen a pizza plus 2 cans of Mahou fpr 9euros, unheard of in the past.
The sales may increase with the offers, but more staff are probably needed than before and the takings may not have varied much.
They bring out new products all the time,McChicken wings etc, some may need more kitchen equipmant and so on.
They have got you by the short and curlies and there is nothing you can do, every move you make is dictated by a higher power, target to reach etc.
It can and does work for a great number of people, but there are just as many trapped after investing heavily in so called ready made gold mines.
I know of a few who have come unstuck, the criteria as regards town size were quite strict in the past.
More recently they will allow outlets in smaller towns, or have sold more frachises in bigger ones where the original franchonse owners were told there would not be anymore.
Also the goalposts are often moved, ie Mcdonalds, now open for breakfast, at 6am I think.
More products more packaging, all bought from the franchise company, exta staff needed for the extra opening hours, in some cases not enough custom to cover the costs, so profits get eaten into.
When telepizza first started, the prices were much higher than now, I have seen a pizza plus 2 cans of Mahou fpr 9euros, unheard of in the past.
The sales may increase with the offers, but more staff are probably needed than before and the takings may not have varied much.
They bring out new products all the time,McChicken wings etc, some may need more kitchen equipmant and so on.
They have got you by the short and curlies and there is nothing you can do, every move you make is dictated by a higher power, target to reach etc.
It can and does work for a great number of people, but there are just as many trapped after investing heavily in so called ready made gold mines.
May 22nd 2011, 9:54 am
#36
Not Banned (yet)
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Madrid
Posts: 6,400
Re: Cafe Opening Times
They have got you by the short and curlies and there is nothing you can do, every move you make is dictated by a higher power, target to reach etc.
It can and does work for a great number of people, but there are just as many trapped after investing heavily in so called ready made gold mines.
It can and does work for a great number of people, but there are just as many trapped after investing heavily in so called ready made gold mines.
May 22nd 2011, 1:09 pm
#37
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Porto Garibaldi (FE) Italy
Posts: 26
Re: Cafe Opening Times
[QUOTE=HBG;9380142]I'm going to lower my defences to reply to this interesting thread properly, it deserves it.
QUOTE]
I have to reply back to you just to say thanks for sharing your interesting experience. After all, as you said, you lowered your defences to share that experience, so I owe it to you to get back to you on that and say thanks.
I hope you have better times now, less stressful and smooth running. That is what I try to look for these days...if possible.
QUOTE]
I have to reply back to you just to say thanks for sharing your interesting experience. After all, as you said, you lowered your defences to share that experience, so I owe it to you to get back to you on that and say thanks.
I hope you have better times now, less stressful and smooth running. That is what I try to look for these days...if possible.
May 22nd 2011, 4:38 pm
#38
Senior Moment
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: On the edge
Posts: 20,460
Re: Cafe Opening Times
In most cases getting a franchise is a mugs game.
I know of a few who have come unstuck, the criteria as regards town size were quite strict in the past.
More recently they will allow outlets in smaller towns, or have sold more frachises in bigger ones where the original franchonse owners were told there would not be anymore.
Also the goalposts are often moved, ie Mcdonalds, now open for breakfast, at 6am I think.
More products more packaging, all bought from the franchise company, exta staff needed for the extra opening hours, in some cases not enough custom to cover the costs, so profits get eaten into.
When telepizza first started, the prices were much higher than now, I have seen a pizza plus 2 cans of Mahou fpr 9euros, unheard of in the past.
The sales may increase with the offers, but more staff are probably needed than before and the takings may not have varied much.
They bring out new products all the time,McChicken wings etc, some may need more kitchen equipmant and so on.
They have got you by the short and curlies and there is nothing you can do, every move you make is dictated by a higher power, target to reach etc.
It can and does work for a great number of people, but there are just as many trapped after investing heavily in so called ready made gold mines.
I know of a few who have come unstuck, the criteria as regards town size were quite strict in the past.
More recently they will allow outlets in smaller towns, or have sold more frachises in bigger ones where the original franchonse owners were told there would not be anymore.
Also the goalposts are often moved, ie Mcdonalds, now open for breakfast, at 6am I think.
More products more packaging, all bought from the franchise company, exta staff needed for the extra opening hours, in some cases not enough custom to cover the costs, so profits get eaten into.
When telepizza first started, the prices were much higher than now, I have seen a pizza plus 2 cans of Mahou fpr 9euros, unheard of in the past.
The sales may increase with the offers, but more staff are probably needed than before and the takings may not have varied much.
They bring out new products all the time,McChicken wings etc, some may need more kitchen equipmant and so on.
They have got you by the short and curlies and there is nothing you can do, every move you make is dictated by a higher power, target to reach etc.
It can and does work for a great number of people, but there are just as many trapped after investing heavily in so called ready made gold mines.
May 22nd 2011, 5:46 pm
#39
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 226
Re: Cafe Opening Times
that's because most of us are enjoying the best weather we've had since September!!
do you mean a non-licensed-no-alcohol-type-place?
there's one in Jávea - it's a brit run bakery come cafe - I think it opens about 9.30 am. I'm not sure what time it closes, but it certainly isn't usually open in the evening, except perhaps high summer season
it pretty much open to a UK timetable
do you mean a non-licensed-no-alcohol-type-place?
there's one in Jávea - it's a brit run bakery come cafe - I think it opens about 9.30 am. I'm not sure what time it closes, but it certainly isn't usually open in the evening, except perhaps high summer season
it pretty much open to a UK timetable
May 22nd 2011, 6:28 pm
#40
¿Dónde estoy?
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: my paradise - Jávea
Posts: 13,330
even earlier than I thought!!
