Business planning: The Rules

Are you planning to lay down some rules in your business?

As you know I am not a great fan of Business planning at the early stages of starting a business so I thought you would enjoy this from DeeDee Cuddihy.

“During a number of brief visits to Brussels over the past few months, I’ve stayed in the same B&B which has built up a reputation for being clean, comfortable and peaceful – but rather eccentric due to the personality of the owner, Madam Miriam, and the decor which reflects madam’s love of Victorian-style soft furnishings and knick knacks (and plenty of them). Read more

What’s a ‘Foto Barista’??

Blending Coffee and Photography

Here’s a surprise (not): a place I walk past any time I am in Glasgow has finally closed down – after less than a year in business. It was called “Foto Barista.” I know – I didn’t have a clue what it was and, apparently, nobody else did, either. I  think it was a juice/snack bar/cafe that had a machine for turning digital camera images into ‘fotos.’ Read more

Business Ideas #1: Child-friendly cafes

Does a child + friendly + cafe = good business idea?

A friend was singing the praises of a London suburb where, he said, there was even a cafe that catered for children. That’s nothing new, I told him, they’ve got one of those in Glasgow. But even as I was speaking those words, “Theo’s Coffee Shop and Playroom” was closing down, after 2 and a half years in business. The notice on their website read: “Our bold venture has been a success on so many levels but despite our best efforts, we are unable to continue.” Read more