I bought a mobile Coffee unit...

Something like this (IMO) would require serious planning if it's going to be a success.

At a minimum you would need to make a list of places from which you could trade from and then rank each in accordance with footfall across different periods of the day.

I would also be in touch with local community groups etc as there's always at least 1 major event happening in a county every week.

However to start with I would just concentrate on a route and build up your trade. TBH I would not even think about going down the route of catering for private functions unless this is going to happen after hours (I assume 7am - 2/3pm) or until you get a second vehicle.

In addition, whilst the van is nice and all, you do need to put some art work on it.

Very nice unit.

I'd suggest getting d-cal stickers put on the trailer. Cheap and you can give it a bigger impact, with a logo, and making it clear what it is, and pricing on the side...i'd suggest your logo be a characture of a coffee bean man, possibly with a top hat.

Agree with what others said about finding regular pitches- coffee is addictive for some people and we are creatures of habit so you need to be tapping into that.

However Im gonna give you some advice for the weekends or outside office hours. If you harness these opportunities correctly they'll be the nice bonus on top of your 9-5 day. Look at major events in your area or beyond. I'm thinking along the scale of the Ploughing Championships (I ain't a culchie but I hear its massive- 100k+ heads there over 3 days). The Fleadh just gone is another huge event though I think its up north next year so maybe too far.

Trading on the streets of Dublin is illegal except for permit holders. However you can get a casual traders license for major events. I last did this about 5 years back, cost was 25 quid for the day or evening from DCC and the permit took about a week to come through.

Consider the Point Depot. I used to trade there for a bit. Don't go in for smallish concerts, not worth your while. But if someone like Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, etc is playing 3 nights in a row in winter get your ass down there sharpish. Was at a gig there last winter and despite lots of buses running after it most people walked to the city center. Its a long stroll, about 20-25 mins and there are very wide footpaths by the riverside on the northside all the way. I think people enjoy walking it after gigs (this is just my thinking, check it out yourself, research it for a few nights soon) That van would fit on one of thse wide footpaths no probs and you might make a killing (I have to add that this coming winter is the first one we'll have with the new Luas extension so it remains to be seen). But you get my drift, think along those lines for easy extra cash in the evenings/weekends. Another consideration here is that there might now be a double whammy to be had by the Point- the new Grand Canal THeatre has just opened across the river- so if a play/musical is on then chances are it'll finish 30-45mins before a gig in the Point. If that's the case you can hit both large crowds in the space of 90-120 mins.
If you hurry now you might make the All-Ireland finals at Croker (though permits are limited AFAIK so you may have missed out already), check it out nonetheless as it'd be a bumper day if you could get a nice pitch.

Another regular Sunday hit for you should be th kitesurfers on Dollymount Strand. Right throughout the winter there'll be 40+ kitesurfers in pretty cold water every Sunday. They're a hardy bunch but a hot coffee is always appreciated when your hands are blue. There's another few kitesurfing and windsurfing spots around Dublin, google 'em.

Another daytime possibility is the NCT centers. Constant stream of cars going in for tests and they are based in an industrial estate so it might be possible to rock up and park there all day. I'd say the one near Liffey Valley does 100-150 car tests per day and then you've also got business from staff working at all the outlets. You might need to check who owns.manages the park, they may have a say but if you could pull it off it might be your Mon-Fri 9-5'er without having to move all day. The NCT centers do have coffee machines but the coffee is Nescafe sh1te. Park that van in a conspicuous place so they all see you on their way in and bobs your uncle.
If you pull a gig like this then I'd also think of selling limited amounts of newspapers. Car tests take an hour or so papers could work. I'd advise to buy them from the students union on uni campuses where they sell for 50% of the RRP, then flog on for the normal price in all other shops, just don't get caught=)

Forget about the idea of baking all your own pastries. I know you want to provide a quality product but you need to be outsourcing this. There's plenty of good suppliers who can furnish you with really tasty pastries (haha tasty pastries! I call dibs on that=) Unless you have a partner you'll spend way too much time baking at home, your time is better spent on the road selling than slaving in the kitchen. Division of labour, comparative advantage of suppliers and all that. Don't just sell chocolate and cakes- stock up on fruit in Aldi/Lidl and flog that too at 50% mark up from CP.



I think your strategy should be to get a regular pitch(s) 9-5 Mon-Fri. Remember less moving=less petrol=less overheads. Then be on the lookout for bonus money where crowds gather in the evenings and weekends.

Finally I'd say be ballsy. Skirt the law on occasion if you have to make a quid- pitches are often a greyish area. Your primary concern is you're not bothering anyone or any other business. Once you do that you've a good chance of being left alone. And get that van done up - it looks like a Dublin City Council street rubbish van. You are on the road all week so you're a moving advertisement- why aren't Lavazza branding you in some form or other ?

Best of luck with it man, keep us updated.

ps you owe me a coffee Mr. Bean=)

Great idea - Sandycove at the Children's Beach (around the corner from the Forty Foot) - and make sure to be there on Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day for the Christmas Swim. With hot mince pies.

Fungus wrote: »

Do the IFSC between 7 AM and 9 AM daily, undercut the other coffee shops. You will make a killing.

He'll get moved by the cops if he sets up in the IFSC where coffee shops pay thousands a year in rent.