How to Start Selling Coffee Online From Your Home In 10 Steps

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Each morning, millions of Americans start their day with coffee — more than 171 million, to be specific. When you add the people who prefer to savor a cup of joe in the afternoon and evening, the number of daily coffee drinkers in the U.S. climbs to more than 200 million. With approximately 64% of the population drinking coffee daily, now is a great time to hop into the coffee industry.

However, many people who dream of starting a coffee business feel stifled by the substantial startup costs of opening a coffee shop. Buying equipment, renting a building and hiring employees can quickly add up. This significant investment means opening a brick-and-mortar coffee shop is a fairly large risk. If you have always wanted to join the many successful coffee shop owners, but don’t want to break the bank, consider starting an online coffee business. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for coffee, selling coffee online can be a lucrative and rewarding business.

How to Start Selling Coffee Online in 10 Steps

Selling coffee from your home can be fun and challenging, whether it is your career, pastime or supplementary income. If you want to get started selling coffee from home, but do not know where to start, follow these instructions for starting a coffee business online.

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1. Determine Whom You Are Going to Sell To

As an online coffee brand, you will have two main types of customers: individual buyers and local coffee shops or other businesses. Each group has very different needs in a coffee provider, so it is essential to know your target audience before determining what type of coffee your brand will sell. While cafes may prefer to buy larger bags of whole beans so they can grind them fresh daily, a busy restaurant may prefer pre-portioned ground coffee for quick and consistent brewing. Individual buyers will likely shop for single-serve capsules or bags of whole or ground coffee beans they can use at home.

Different customers will also have different concerns when it comes to the flavor and quality of their coffee. Some people prefer rich, dark roasts, while others enjoy caffeinated light roasts. Some coffee lovers prioritize specialty or “third-wave” coffee and want to know the origin and source of their coffee beans. Other customers may seek organic or fair-trade coffee.

Choosing a niche market for your coffee brand is often the best method for narrowing your customer base. Rather than trying to create coffee that appeals to everyone, you can focus your efforts on one group of coffee drinkers. This strategy will allow you to specialize your coffee flavor profiles, marketing efforts and company branding to your customer base.

2. Decide What Coffee Products You Want to Sell

After you know your target audience, you can determine what type of coffee to sell that will best suit their needs. Determine if you want to offer cups for Keurig, pods for Nespresso, coffee beans, or a combination. According to the NCA, 41% of coffee drinkers own a single-cup machine, while 63% of home coffee drinkers use a drip-brew machine.

When deciding what products you want to sell, be sure to look at what your competitors have on their shelves and online. You will want to offer products that set your business apart, while keeping up with current coffee trends.

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3. Develop Your Brand Image

No matter how delicious your coffee may taste, a poor or underdeveloped brand image can have a negative impact on your sales. A strong brand image is especially important when selling coffee online, as customers will not have a chance to taste your product before they make a purchase.

Your brand image should embody what your coffee is all about and what your company stands for. Perhaps your coffee is intensely strong, sustainably and transparently sourced, or available in unique flavors. Many coffee companies have earned success by articulating specific values through their name, logo, website content, and even their packaging. When you find that special something that distinguishes your coffee, use it to inspire your brand image.

The name and logo of your coffee business will make your customers remember — or forget — your company. Choose a name that is creative and memorable, as well as a unique logo that embodies what your company is all about. How you package your coffee will also impact how your customers perceive your brand, whether you opt for a bold and bright coffee bag or a classic and timeless design.

4. Create a Website and Decide on an E-Commerce Platform

Your website will be your storefront, so you should design it with the same care and thought you would spend decorating a physical coffee shop. Create a website with an appealing and easy-to-use interface so customers enjoy their experience on your website, as well as getting a feel for your company’s values. Make sure your website is clean and professional, so customers will be confident in placing an online order. Having a professional and streamlined website will also encourage purchases if users can easily find and buy the products they are looking for. Aim to create a website that loads quickly and looks great on both computers and mobile devices.

Choosing an e-commerce platform is the most important part of having a successful online coffee business. Your site must have a shopping cart feature and allow customers to complete their payment easily online. Popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, and SquareSpace make designing an e-commerce site simple, as they provide customizable website designs and an easy-to-use checkout function.

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5. Write a Business Plan

While it may not be the most exciting part of starting a coffee business, creating a written business plan is essential to the success of your company. If you want to turn a good profit, establish a business plan that includes all your initial costs, ongoing expenses, and projected sales. Determine how much you will charge for your coffee and set a sales goal. Always be prepared to adjust your business plan as your coffee business grows and changes.

Be sure to keep track of your inventory, so you know which products are the most popular and which are not selling as well. This attention to detail will enable you to be efficient with your ordering and reduce product waste. Staying organized will help your coffee business thrive and grow.

6. Determine Who to Choose as Your Coffee Supplier

Choosing the right coffee supplier is essential to the success of your online coffee business. Your supplier determines how your coffee tastes and impacts the quality of service you can provide your customers. Here are a few things to look for in your coffee supplier.

• Quality coffee. If you want your coffee to sell, it has to taste good. A great supplier will provide high-quality coffee that fits your roasting and flavor specifications.
• Quick turns. Delivering products quickly will keep your customers happy, but to do so, you must have a supplier with fast turnaround times. Your supplier should fill your orders quickly, so you never keep your customers waiting for their favorite roast.
• Low minimums. When you are just getting started in the coffee business, you need a supplier with low minimums so you can afford to get your business up and running without breaking the bank.
• Outstanding service. If your coffee supplier cares about your success, they will give you high-quality customer service. Look for a supplier that is willing to adjust to your company’s needs and provide coffee you are proud to sell.

Joe’s Garage Coffee is a leading private-label coffee supplier that can help you start selling coffee from home. Our low minimums make it easy to hop into the industry, while our fast turns keep your customers satisfied. Our licensed Q-Grader can match any roast profile, and our team of private label experts will ensure your coffee beans are the highest quality.

Whether you are looking for coffee roasting or co-packaging services, Joe’s Garage Coffee can roast, grind, and package your coffee for a consistent and delicious brew every time. Our advanced inventory system allows us to manage large and small orders with the same level of care, and our flexible capacity means we can grow as your business grows. Backed by more than two decades of experience, Joe’s Garage Coffee is a supplier you can trust for your online coffee business.

7. Begin Creating Online Content

Creating outstanding content for your website is essential to selling your coffee. Here are a few types of content you will need to create for your online coffee business.

• High-quality photos. People want to see what they are buying before they make a purchase, so fill your site with high-quality photos of your coffee. Include multiple views of your coffee packaging and coffee beans, as well as photos of people brewing or enjoying your coffee. Choose images that engage the senses and are aesthetically appealing. When customers can visualize the product in action, they are more likely to make a purchase.
• Detailed product descriptions. Make sure to include detailed product descriptions that describe the flavor notes of each coffee product. Compelling copy will engage potential buyers, as well as helping them choose the right coffee for their tastes.
• Other written content. Use sales copy, blog posts, and other written content to develop your brand voice and share your company’s story. Compelling and interesting written content will help customers feel connected with you and your coffee brand, which will lead to more sales. People love to support brands they can trust and relate to, so fill your site with real and genuine content that your customers will enjoy.

Keep in mind search engine optimization (SEO) will make your website rank higher in search results, and thus help your brand get discovered. Make sure to employ SEO best practices to draw more website traffic, including creating fresh and relevant written content, building strong links, using relevant keywords, and including high-quality images. Using SEO services to maximize your site’s conversion rate can also be a great long-term investment to grow your online coffee business.

8. Build Your Brand Online and Offline

Building your brand’s social media presence is another excellent digital marketing strategy to drive traffic to your site and increase sales. Social media sites like Facebook and Instagram also allow you to connect with your customers and build a stronger network. Having a large social media following also benefits your brand by making it appear more reputable and trustworthy.

Facebook is a great way to reach a large audience, as it currently has 2.23 billion active monthly users worldwide, and in the U.S., 68% of adults use Facebook. By creating a Facebook page or group for your online coffee business, you can build deeper relationships with customers and have conversations with them directly in comments on your posts.

Because of its visual focus, Instagram is an excellent site for showcasing your products, as well as reaching a younger demographic. According to the Pew Research Center, 71% of people in the U.S. between the age of 18 and 24 are Instagram users. This demographic also loves coffee and has driven the growth in gourmet coffee consumption in recent years. Instagram allows your company to connect with people through branded and popular hashtags and is an excellent way to show the personality of your company.

In addition to connecting with customers online, be sure to take your networking to the streets. Talk to friends and neighbors about your coffee brand, as well as visiting local coffee shops that might be interested in serving your coffee. Word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool business owners often overlook, but it can be one of the best ways to build valuable connections.

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9. Deliver Excellent Customer Service Every Time

Building a loyal customer base is essential to the success of your business, as repeat customers provide reliable revenue and can be your most powerful marketing tool. When your customers love your product, they will tell their friends and family about your brand or share your content online. Providing excellent customer service is a great way to build a loyal customer base and is the cherry on top of a quality product.

Make sure your company gains a reputation for excellent customer service by filling orders quickly, adjusting to customer needs, and responding to customer complaints with genuine care. If something goes wrong with an order, good customer service can fix the problem and prevent you from losing a customer.

10. Value Your Loyal Customers

Show your loyal customers you value their business by providing incentives that bring them back. Consider creating a loyalty program or producing a monthly newsletter that offers special deals and discounts to customers who subscribe. Use your knowledge of your customers to craft specials they are sure to love. Even a simple “thank you” will show your customers you are grateful for their purchase and support. Building a loyal customer base will allow your coffee business to continue to grow.

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Benefits of Selling Coffee From Home

Selling coffee online is a perfect first step to get started in the coffee industry. Here are a few benefits of selling coffee from home.

• Tap into a large market.

  The

  2018 National Coffee Drinking Trends

  report from the

  National Coffee Association

  (NCA) revealed

  79% of daily coffee drinkers

  brew their coffee at home, while only 36% report purchasing coffee brewed outside their home the previous day. There is a large market for whole and ground coffee beans, as well as capsules for single-serve machines. In fact, according to data from Statista, dry coffee sales in the U.S. generated around

  $9.37 billion in 2017

  , while liquid coffee

  generated only $2.66 billion

  . Selling coffee online allows you to tap into this national market and reach potential customers around the globe.

• Experience lower startup and operating costs.

  Because you will not need to purchase roasting or brewing equipment, order cups or mugs, hire employees, or rent and furnish a coffee shop, you save tremendous amounts of money in startup costs. Depending on your web design and shipping needs, your operating costs can also remain very low.

• Enjoy a flexible schedule.

  Running an online coffee business means you can create a schedule for yourself and work as little or as much as you want.

• Develop your own coffee brand.

  Selling coffee from home is an exciting opportunity to create your own brand, from the flavors and types of coffee you sell to your company name and logo. As you try new roasts and marketing ideas, you can figure out what your coffee brand is all about. If you choose to open a coffee shop in the future, establishing a strong brand online first will give you a competitive edge.

While getting started can be challenging, selling coffee online can be extremely rewarding. The online coffee business can be lucrative, and with the right dedication and adaptability, your coffee business can really take off.

How to Differentiate Yourself as an Online Coffee Entrepreneur

Coffee mania is sweeping the nation — indeed, the world. The love of this dark concoction sees consumers buying hundreds of millions of cups of coffee each day. What that means for online coffee entrepreneurs is that now is the perfect time to build your private label coffee business. Even if you secure a small portion of this market, you could see a huge return for your initial investment. The trick is setting yourself apart from your competition.

Although the coffee industry is thriving, many entrepreneurs like yourself are seeking to differentiate their coffee brand from all the others. No matter how you sell your coffee — through Amazon FBA, Shipwire, ShipBob, or another online fulfillment partner, it’s important that your coffee is seen as a superior choice. In this post, we will discuss some ways you can stand out as an online entrepreneur and get your products into the hands of coffee drinkers everywhere.

1. Source and Roast Your Coffee Beans

It may seem obvious, but your first step to starting out as an online coffee entrepreneur is establishing your products — and that means coffee beans. If you have the expertise, you can source and roast your own green coffee beans. However, today, coffee drinkers are more discerning than ever. So, if you’re not trained in this art form, it’s better to work with a master roaster.

At Joe’s Garage Coffee, we provide Roast-to-Order services, which means we source superior quality green coffee beans, roast them to perfection just for you, and manufacture your finished coffee products. Our Expert Master Roaster ensures your coffee beans meet your exact specifications to create an incredible tasting brew.

2. Establish Your Brand

Your brand is the overall experience you provide to your customers. It’s the number one way you distinguish your products from rival coffee labels. If people don’t know who you are and what your products stand for, they won’t care. Your brand should equal superior quality and incredible tasting coffee.

Your brand should also have distinct design elements so coffee lovers can differentiate your coffee from others. You may want to hire a graphic designer to help with this process, as you’ll need:

• Engaging product names
• Unique logo
• Interesting packaging

3. Develop Your Website and Create Content

Even if you sell your coffee products on Amazon, Etsy, or one of the other multitude of online platforms that are out there, you will need your own website. There is nothing more basic or critical to an online coffee entrepreneur than a website. This is the place where your customers learn your story and read about your coffee offerings. If they love your brand, it’s your website that they share with their friends and family.

You’ll want to post pictures and videos to engage your audience. Plus, create engaging content. Content makes your website informative, interesting, and ensures great Search Engine Optimization (SEO), which is what Google looks at to rank which sites are worth visiting. With millions of websites talking about coffee, you want your site to rank as high as possible. Content is king, so be sure your website includes:

• Pages
• Blog posts
• Product descriptions
• Great images

Creating a website nowadays is easier than ever, and you have many options when it comes to picking an online platform. Some of the most popular examples include WordPress, Shopify, and Selz. Choose the one that works best for you, your brand, and your business model.

4. Market Your Private Label

Marketing is a huge aspect of differentiating yourself as an online coffee entrepreneur. As you begin to sell your coffee online, you’ll want to take advantage of as many marketing avenues as possible. Social media, email campaigns, word of mouth, and more are important to generate brand awareness.

As your brand grows, you may want to consider investing in a professional marketing firm. However, there are also plenty of free options out there to help you create buzz for your brand.

5. Partner With a Private Label Coffee Manufacturer

If you don’t have a ton of experience in the coffee industry, then partnering with a private label coffee manufacturer could be just what you need to truly make your brand stand out from the rest. These one-stop-shop businesses can help you develop and consistently manufacture your coffee products.

At Joe’s Garage Coffee, we serve our clients by helping them create superior quality products for their growing private label brands. We offer a range of services, from the creation of traditional bags of coffee to single-serve products such as cups for Keurig and pods for Nespresso. We pride ourselves on working with businesses of all shapes and sizes, whether you’re a national brand or an up-and-comer just starting out.

Start Selling Coffee Online Today With Joe’s Garage Coffee

Starting your coffee business online is an affordable way to break into the coffee industry and establish your coffee brand. With hard work and dedication, your coffee brand can grow into a lucrative business that turns your love of coffee into money in your pocket. When you choose Joe’s Garage Coffee as your coffee supplier, we can help you join the ranks of coffee business owners in mere weeks. Our private label experts will work with you to develop the perfect coffee blend for your company. Our custom packaging will make your brand shine, and our delicious coffee will make your customers smile.

Trust Joe’s Garage Coffee as your coffee provider for fast turns, low minimums, great service, and quality coffee. Contact us today to get a quote or hear more about why Joe’s Garage Coffee is a leading private-label coffee supplier.