Network
We have a good relationship with ABIC, the English school we taught at for 3 years. We also have good connections with several lawyers, civil rights advocates, and media representatives.
Read More »Marketing
For initial marketing, our primary strategy would be offering free samples and promotions such as giving free English lessons for winners that get specially marked cups. Although we may utilize some traditional marketing methods such as billboards and paper ads; we feel that these methods are overused, so they would not be our primary strategy. We would also use some modern methods such as Google adwords, Yandex ads, Facebook ads, and 2 GIS ads. We would like to have a big Grand Opening, with a program featuring a local Bashkir music group such as Argumak. For ongoing marketing, we plan to use modern marketing methods including social networking sites (Facebook and VKontakte) for advertising and discounts, mass SMS to send discount coupons to cellphones, Bluetooth advertisement for localized marketing to passersby, discounts for bringing a friend, loyalty cards,...
Read More »Sales
Once a customer is in the door, our sales are driven by our cashiers and baristas. We would train our baristas to provide top-notch customer service and reward them with 5% commissions on their gross sales plus quarterly bonuses based on net profits. We will aim to find tri-lingual baristas (English-Russian-Bashkir/Tatar). We would train them to educate the customers on specialty coffee: the significance of freshly-roasted coffee, the origins of our coffee, and other aspects. Our 10-year sales...
Read More »Communications & PR
Our communications and PR strategy:
Read More »Branding
See Business Idea. Planning a Western theme interior design. Would like to get handmade clay mugs with our logo like Zootown Coffee has in this...
Read More »Management & Accounting
The Treasurer of ABE would be responsible for the handling of ABE finances and associated bookkeeping and reporting. This involves reporting to the IRS, sending out dividends to investors, depositing investments, wire or other international transfers, etc. Larry Rink of Overland Park, KS has accepted the position of Treasurer. He has many years of experience in banking and real estate, and can be counted on to meticulously carry out his duties. He has already set up the ABE accounts on Quickbooks Online. The Assistant Manager of Chat House would oversee the accounting and reporting for the coffeehouse in addition to assisting the Operations Manager with management responsibilities. We have offered the Assistant Manager position to Elina Gaskarova, a local friend with accounting and administrative experience. We plan to use the industry-standard R-Keeper POS software and Storehouse inventory module. We are also considering an accounting software that provides both GAAP reporting and also complies with Russian accounting...
Read More »