One of the big trends of the last few years in coffee has been the rise of third party subscription services. I’m talking about services like Fellow Drops, the Matchbook Coffee Project, or even the La Marzocco Home espresso subscription. (Our advice is less relevant to services like Trade that act more like replacements for your website.)
When you’re sending your coffee out through another party, you have an opportunity to market your own brand uniquely. Here are a few ideas.
Introduce yourself
When selling your coffee through a third-party subscription service, you have a unique opportunity to market your brand and make a lasting impression on customers. One way to do this is by introducing yourself and telling your brand story. This could include information about your coffee roasting process, your mission, or any other unique aspects of your brand. Don’t forget to link to your website so that customers can learn more about you and your coffee.
Foster a relationship
Another way to encourage customers to come back and purchase from you again is by including a coupon for free shipping on their next order. This shows them that you value their business and want to make it easy for them to continue enjoying your coffee. By offering a free shipping coupon, you can also entice customers to subscribe to your coffee service directly, rather than going through the third-party subscription service.
Educate
To ensure that customers have the best experience possible with your coffee, consider including brewing instructions in each package. While you may have brewing instructions available on your website, including them in the package ensures that customers have all the information they need to make your coffee at home. This can also help to differentiate your brand from others and make your coffee stand out.
Have fun
Finally, consider adding a little something extra to each shipment, just for fun. One subscription service we use throws in a random item with every shipment, which adds an element of surprise and delight for customers. This could be a small sample of another product you offer, a branded mug or coaster, or anything else that aligns with your brand and makes the experience more memorable. By going the extra mile, you can create a loyal customer base that will continue to purchase from you and recommend your coffee to others.
