How can you find a gap in the market in 2018

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

I reckon any city based coffee-on-the-go shop that undercuts the crazy prices charged for coffeee is likely to be onto a winner

Like McDonalds have tried? They have the best coffee on the high street (in my humble opinion), and they're certainly one of the cheapest. Yet Starbucks and Costa are always busier for coffees.

 

[UKSBD]

I've never been a coffee person or gone in to places like Starbucks before but there is one within the hospital I go to.

Day I went in hospital we called in to it, there was an open piano in the corner with a chap playing it, we sat in an old chesterfield like sofa, it was lovely and spacious and staff were great

I paid about £3.00 for a hot chocolate which was worth every penny and more.

Although I'm not eating or drinking at the moment, if I've someone with me when I go I'll buy them a coffee there just for the experience of flopping on the sofa and relaxing.

It's the ambiance and comfort I'm paying for.

 

[tony84]

@Gordon - Commercial Finance im sure there are a few reasons for that.
Snobbery - people would prefer to say they got their coffee from Costa/Starbucks rather than Maccy D's.
Familiarity - people know what they are getting in Costa/Starbucks because they go all the time.
Choice - I am guessing there are more choices in those coffee shops. Now a days people have weird milks, flavours, toppings etc.

Personally, I think there is too much choice so I just get a tea or coffee. KFC do a decent tea btw.

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

@Gordon - Commercial Finance im sure there are a few reasons for that.
Snobbery - people would prefer to say they got their coffee from Costa/Starbucks rather than Maccy D's.
Familiarity - people know what they are getting in Costa/Starbucks because they go all the time.
Choice - I am guessing there are more choices in those coffee shops. Now a days people have weird milks, flavours, toppings etc.

Personally, I think there is too much choice so I just get a tea or coffee. KFC do a decent tea btw.

You're probably right about the snobbery...but I reckon in terms of familiarity, McDonalds actually has a much more consistent coffee. Go to Starbucks, and the taste of your coffee depends greatly on which branch you're in, and who is on the bar that day, and how much sleep they got or if they're hungover even (I know this because I worked in Starbucks while I was at University). Go to McDonalds and your coffee is the same wherever you are in the country!

I'm starting to sound like I'm getting a referral fee....I'm not.

 

[Financial-Modeller]

That actually sounds pretty good. Would work well in places where there was a decent financial district I reckon.
I heard about a bar in London I think that all the drinks were traded on an exchange, and the price was determined by market forces....so if someone bought 6 bottles of Corona, the market would respond an the price of Coronas would go down, etc etc

The Market Bar in Crutched Friars!

Great idea and apparently well run, but the fact that it closed within a year of opening, and to my knowledge, hasn't reopened or been copied, tells us something unfortunately.

 

[Noah]

The Market Bar in Crutched Friars!

Great idea and apparently well run, but the fact that it closed within a year of opening, and to my knowledge, hasn't reopened or been copied, tells us something unfortunately.

It tells me I was right when I thought "Gimmick bar." when I first heard of it. Sounds fun indeed, but fraught with risk and niche marketing.

 

[EmployMe]

There are the gaps everywhere! There is a lot of companies (sellers, manufacturers, agencies, online service providers etc) but only several of them are really leaders, innovators and professionals. What are you interested in? You need to take something that you are passionate about.

 

[cal900]

You're probably right about the snobbery...but I reckon in terms of familiarity, McDonalds actually has a much more consistent coffee. Go to Starbucks, and the taste of your coffee depends greatly on which branch you're in, and who is on the bar that day, and how much sleep they got or if they're hungover even (I know this because I worked in Starbucks while I was at University). Go to McDonalds and your coffee is the same wherever you are in the country!

I'm starting to sound like I'm getting a referral fee....I'm not.

Spot on, McDonalds has the best standardization practices in the world. A big Mac or coffee tastes the same in Rio as it does in London as it does in Hong Kong. It also has the same set up, structure etc right down to the time food is displayed to the way the floor is washed. Its PERFECT!

 

[Noah]

Spot on, McDonalds has the best standardization practices in the world. A big Mac or coffee tastes the same in Rio as it does in London as it does in Hong Kong. It also has the same set up, structure etc right down to the time food is displayed to the way the floor is washed. Its PERFECT!

Yes, like Budweiser, the standardisation is impressive in its own right. Pity about the end-product though; all seems a bit pointless in that context.

 

[fisicx]

Spot on, McDonalds has the best standardization practices in the world .... Its PERFECT!

Except of course for the quality of the products. They are as bad as they ever were.

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

Except of course for the quality of the products. They are as bad as they ever were.

That's a matter of taste though - I love McDonalds....

 

[Noah]

That's a matter of taste though - I love McDonalds....

Chacun à son goût - as we won't be allowed to say in Britain soon (well, maybe in Scotland)...

 

[billybob99]

Except of course for the quality of the products. They are as bad as they ever were.

Eating at McDonald's is for people who literally have no regard for hygiene and health and just like to eat crap, whilst only spending 99p.

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

Eating at McDonald's is for people who literally have no regard for hygiene and health and just like to eat crap, whilst only spending 99p.

If I came out of McDonalds having only spent 99p I would be onto something! I always spend at least £10.
£20 if my family is with me.

 

[Mr D]

Except of course for the quality of the products. They are as bad as they ever were.

As bad as they ever were - yet manage to sell so much of it eh?
Must be great marketing campaigns then.

Or maybe they are catering to tastes other than yours. I rather like Mcdonalds. I'll go eat out there at least once every few months, probably spending £15 a time for the two of us.

 

[Mr D]

Eating at McDonald's is for people who literally have no regard for hygiene and health and just like to eat crap, whilst only spending 99p.

So if the places don't meet hygiene requirements they will get shut down by the council. Report the ones you know are offending.
Health? Wasn't aware that fast food was required to meet some health requirements beyond the legal ones.
Are there any places with regard for health providing fast food in a popular form to people in your area?

 

[billybob99]

So if the places don't meet hygiene requirements they will get shut down by the council. Report the ones you know are offending.
Health? Wasn't aware that fast food was required to meet some health requirements beyond the legal ones.
Are there any places with regard for health providing fast food in a popular form to people in your area?

It depends if you like spotty teenagers sneezing into the grill and touching their face whilst making your burger. Each to their own I guess.

And by health, I'm was talking about a healthy diet.

 

[Mr D]

It depends if you like spotty teenagers sneezing into the grill and touching their face whilst making your burger. Each to their own I guess.

If that is a problem at your local place then perhaps try a different one.
Then again have you checked out the people working at every eating place you ever use?

 

[billybob99]

If that is a problem at your local place then perhaps try a different one.
Then again have you checked out the people working at every eating place you ever use?

No, I stopped going to these kinds of establishments after the spotty teenagers/sneezing scenario.

 

[Mr D]

No, I stopped going to these kinds of establishments after the spotty teenagers/sneezing scenario.

So you never eat out?
Or you eat only at places where you have vetted the kitchen and wait staff?

 

[billybob99]

So you never eat out?
Or you eat only at places where you have vetted the kitchen and wait staff?

As shocking as that sounds I don't eat out. I have a personal chef that comes in twice a week.

 

[Mr D]

As shocking as that sounds I don't eat out. I have a personal chef that comes in twice a week.

Us less fortunate mortals occasional have to eat out.
Sometimes its nice to meet up with a group of friends and go out for a meal or a romantic dinner for 2.
And sometimes travelling long distance there is no desire to head off the motorway and find somewhere nice in a strange town, motorway fast food places at least have standardised food and pricing. KFC at Keele services is probably our most common place to eat despite not living anywhere near Keele.

 

[billybob99]

Us less fortunate mortals occasional have to eat out.
Sometimes its nice to meet up with a group of friends and go out for a meal or a romantic dinner for 2.
And sometimes travelling long distance there is no desire to head off the motorway and find somewhere nice in a strange town, motorway fast food places at least have standardised food and pricing. KFC at Keele services is probably our most common place to eat despite not living anywhere near Keele.

Can't argue with that.

At the end of the day, I'm sure there are many people who eat at these places and don't see if someone has sneezed, dropped an item and put it in the burger (not saying that happens), but what you don't know, doesn't hurt you.

Problem is I've seen it now and I'm OCD. And I should have mentioned my ever growing meat-less lifestyle, is not catered for in most of these places now anyway.

 

[Mr D]

Can't argue with that.

At the end of the day, I'm sure there are many people who eat at these places and don't see if someone has sneezed, dropped an item and put it in the burger (not saying that happens), but what you don't know, doesn't hurt you.

Problem is I've seen it now and I'm OCD. And I should have mentioned my ever growing meat-less lifestyle, is not catered for in most of these places now anyway.

Yes, same as people eating out at cafes and using takeaways or restaurants without investigating what the staff do or the hygiene of the food preparation.
For most people it isn't a problem.

OCD - cannot argue with that.

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

We've gone way off topic here, but I remember a couple of years ago I had a few occasions when I was driving from Scotland to somewhere in England within a few weeks of each other. Each time (way down and way up) I stopped at Annandale services near the border for the McDonalds there. I got the same as I get every time I go to McDonalds, and I noticed that every time, the cheeseburger tasted more of salt and pepper than normal. It wasn't bad, it was just different, and only at that particular outlet. I reckoned that their seasoning mix machine was probably needing calibrated. it remained like that for a while every visit, and then they must have fixed it, because last time I was there it was spot on...

 

[Noah]

OCD - cannot argue with that.

Yes you can - interminably.