Leading lights of the UK coffee scene will be revealing the secrets to success at the Caffè Culture Show (#CaffeCulture2015) in May. With an exciting line-up that includes passionate coffee aficionados, independent café owners and industry advisers, the show’s Business Theatre will be the place to be for invaluable advice, inspiration and knowledge-sharing.
Introduction to coffee
Leading UK barista trainer for the Speciality Coffee Association Europe (SCAE) and owner of The Espresso Room Ben Townsend takes centre stage to launch the Caffè Culture Show’s speaker programme. His Introduction to Coffee session offers a taste of the SCAE’s education programme, exploring taste and flavour, processing and roasting, brewing and cup tasting. It’s a must for those new to the coffee industry or those looking to improve the quality of their coffee offering.
Barista trainer, World Barista Championships judge and Head of Coffee Training & Development at BaxterStorey Tim Sturk takes the reins for this session on day two of the show.
Top tips
Sharing top tips on how to get more customers through the door will be reputation management coach Alan Stevens. In his Coffee, Coffee, Buzz, Buzz session, Alan explains simple ways for café owners to raise their profile and footfall.
Johnnie Richardson and Hugh Gilmartin, the much-acclaimed Coffee Boys, will be on hand to offer Lessons and secrets from the best coffee shops in the world. After asking some of the best coffee shops and cafés in the world two simple questions – ‘what do you wish you’d known before you opened?’ and ‘what do you believe is the secret to your success?’ – the boys reveal their fascinating findings. Surprising, insightful, amusing and enlightening in equal measure, this session is a must-see for visitors planning to start their own business or for established businesses looking for support.
It’s Evolution Baby!
That’s what UK barista champion, coffee producer and café owner Hugo Hercod says. Since opening Relish Food & Drink in Cornwall in 2006, Hugo has kept his head above water by constantly evolving his business. In this session, he shares the ups and downs, good choices and bad, which have helped and hindered the lurching evolution of his business.
In a second session, Hercod extols the virtues of The importance of being average in a world where the most innovative, unusual, on-trend or cutting edge gets all the attention. This thought-provoking session calls on freakonomics, Top Gun and a Jack Russell called Bonny and is a must-see for those with dreams of opening a café.
After hours
For café and coffee bar owners looking to generate additional revenue, the After Hours panel discussion is a must. Hosted by the editor of Caffè Connect, Helen Marriott, the session features business owners who have found innovative ways to broaden the scope of their core offer to increase profits. Founder of nail bar London Grace, Kirsten Hazell, and others discuss how to build a successful after-hours alter ego for your business.
Understand and meet customers’ needs
Put yourself in your customers’ shoes, says customer service guru Rosy Holt, in her show session How understanding are you? This step-by-step guidefor café and coffee shop owners provides expert advice on how to understand and meet customers’ needs, how to motivate them to spend more and to ensure they return.
Start ups
Leading coffee bar adviser and all-round industry bigwig, Paul Miekle Janney, runs the definitive session for every café start up – Three things you must do to make your café successful! Paul uses his vast experience and expertise to explain the essential factors to consider when opening and improving a café.
Make your own business even better
Event Director Cheryl Carroll says: “Coffee is the focus for this year’s show and our speaker line-up represents the UK speciality coffee industry’s leading talents. We get great feedback from visitors about our Business Theatre sessions and I have absolutely no doubt that everyone listening to the collective wisdom, knowledge and advice of these amazing speakers will be inspired to make their own businesses even better.”
The Caffè Culture Show takes place at London Olympia on 13-14 May 2015. It attracts thousands of visitors that share a passion for coffee from across the UK including baristas, café and coffee shop owners, and senior industry buyers. As well as a full speaker programme, the show features national barista competitions (#CIGS2015#CupTasters2015), artisan food and drink products, and the latest kit from hundreds of leading wholesalers, equipment manufacturers, technology companies and suppliers to the café industry.
For full details of the Business Theatre programme click here
To register for free advance tickets for the Caffè Culture Show click here