Opening a coffee shop is a very exciting thing and something that can be very lucrative if done right. One of those important key factors in getting it right is developing your USP or Unique Selling Point. Your unique selling point is what helps you stand out from the crowd and attract customers despite the other coffee shop businesses that may spring up around you.

But how important is it? Is it worth spending a lot of time on or can you just improvise and hope for the best? Or maybe even create it on the fly?

In terms of determining the value of building your USP when opening a coffee shop, think about your favorite coffee shops to visit. If you’re new to the coffee scene and you’re jumping in because you see how lucrative it is to open a coffee shop, think about another type of business that can range from generic to specialty. What attracts you?

Personally, I believe that developing your own USP is absolutely crucial for success. It’s what helps set it apart from big coffee giants like Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts. And if you notice, they both also have their own unique selling points. If you’re thinking of specialty coffee, Dunkin’ Donuts probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But if you want a donut and coffee on the go, Dunkin’ Donuts may be just what you need. Dunkin’ Donuts is also a great option if you want to get in and out and don’t need a specialty coffee like a mocha or latte. Now, if you want a mocha or latte, Starbucks will probably be one of the first places you head to, if you don’t know any better.

I know, that wasn’t nice. But it’s true. Starbucks has a great coffee menu and often offers some stellar specialty drinks, but I’m sure I don’t think they’re a coffee giant because they serve the best coffee, or even because their baristas are the most talented creators of specialty coffees. . In fact, when I lived in Portland, OR, Starbucks was only used as a last resort. Why? Because another coffee company, The Coffee People, had better coffee and a better USP. His motto was “Great coffee without the contradiction.” Their baristas were a bit more edgy, and even though I’m a pretty conservative girl myself, I liked it. Then there was their drink menu, my favorite mocha being the velvet hammer. They also made milkshake versions of their coffee drinks and used top-of-the-line ice cream and Adams peanut butter. I’d drive 25 minutes out of my way just to get one of those sweet little pieces of heaven. No strings attached.