Thoughtful detail
Did you know that 68% of customers base their loyalty on how welcome they feel in your establishment? Creating a welcoming ambiance isn’t just nice; it’s crucial for building connections and ensuring everyone feels valued. In this guide, we will explore various strategies to transform your approach and learn how a simple cup of specialty coffee can contribute to making others feel welcome. From the nuances of personalized greetings to the power of an inviting space, we’ll equip you with practical tips and insights that can leave a lasting impression on your guests and customers.
Cups
We all have a favourite mug at home, right? It’s worth taking time over your decision of what cups to use. If you have capacity, use real cups. You’d need someone willing to wash them up, and somewhere to store them, but this is both efficient and more of a treat experience for the congregation.
Another option is disposable cups and the choice of a lid. This can be useful if people can take drinks through into the church, or have small children tugging on their legs! Ethically there is no simple solution yet so look into what is best for you, perhaps something can be recycled locally.
You could also ask people to bring their own travel mug. This can be a simple solution but there are a couple of things to remember; have a solution for new people, you don’t want to feel like an odd one out. Is there somewhere people could rinse their cup out when they’ve finished? Does it feel like enough of a treat, don’t let it become to self serve and impersonal.
Something sweet?
Would you like to offer something alongside the drinks? Perhaps fruit, croissants, cake or donuts? Do you have people who would appreciate a gluten free option, how about Childrens snack? Do you have a couple of keen bakers in the church? This can be a good way of people feeling involved. If time is a challenge, why not use a good cake supplier and keep a stock in the freezer? We recommend cakesmiths.com
Chairs
If you’re having some seating, make it welcoming. Cafe style groupings are less intimidating than a big circle. Comfy ones are a winner too. If it’s a permanent welcome area, maybe arm chairs or sofas. You don’t need to have a big comply chair per person. You could have a stack of stools as extras to pull up, or some standing height tables. Variation in height can help the area feel less formal.
Ice breakers?
I know the thought of this can be cringy, but sometimes, a little something fun and none embarrassing can be helpful to spark conversation. Maybe some cards with funny facts, or Trivial Pursuit style quiz questions. Or how about something that ties in with the current theme for church? This could get people thinking before they hear the talk or sermon.
Drinks
This one you would expect me to ask, but what drinks are you serving? Do you know where they come from, and the ethics around them? Do they taste great, would you pay for it in a cafe? We all know that budget is a huge factor in the life of the church, and there are so many priorities. Ethical choices however are an important stand to make, and a visible way of showing we value people being paid and treated well. Speciality coffee and tea is traded well. It may not all carry the Fair Trade logo (that’s a conversation for another time), but it will always pay fair trade standards, and usually surpass by paying much higher. The care and attention to the whole process on well produced drinks, means a great taste too! And yes you’ve guessed it, all CLO coffee, teas and hot chocolates are ethically traded and we can tell you about the origin of all of them.
Culture is thankfully demanding better trade and higher standards of ethics. People like to know where things come from. We used to be pleased with a bargain cuppa for a quick, but now this is beginning to make us ask why and how it can be so cheap. As the church, let’s be on the front foot with these important issues. If something is cheap to you, they’re paying for it at the farming end of the chain.
Access
Would you consider leaving some drinks available through the morning? This could give an area of breakout for people needing a chat, or with a baby to attend to. Maybe you could video stream the service through to the coffee area, or have a speaker there, so people can still feel involved but able to sit less formally.
Keep it relaxed
For some people, the hardest environment can actually be the one we’re outlining as the ideal! Particularly if someone is having a difficult time. They may want to bypass this social situation all together and go and find a seat on their own. It may be appropriate to go and check on them, it may also be best just to give them the space they have chosen. If it is easy to opt in to the coffee and chat type environment, they will opt in when they’re ready. At least you know it’s nothing to do with them not feeling welcome.
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This Blog is brought to you by Church Coffee by CLO. You find more church hospitality resources and wholesale coffee supplies from our website ChurchCoffee.co.uk