Unique Cafe  

I think it is an interesting idea, except for a few things, nowadays most magazines are online, and you can get the information for free, second I can go to the newsstand to purchase a magazine for a couple of dollars and read it in the comfort of my own home, and I would not want to spend my whole day in a cafe reading a bunch of magazines in order to recoup what I spent for admittance. Realistically it may work, if you give them something else in addition, such as food that they can eat while reading or make it a coffee house and have deals where they can get coffee at a discounted price while reading the magazines of their choice. That would be nice.

hello.. i have thought of this before too. because when i was in college, i often went to our library to read those imported magazines which are expensive to buy. but dismissed the idea because i think it wont click because internet now is better, and you can also read magazines in a cafe. but if you tried and it clicked, please PM me. goodluck!

I prefer to read books and magazines for free rather then having to pay myself. This is one reason I like the library. Your idea kind of sounds like a library you have to pay to get into and stay there to read the materials.

It seems it would need to offer something just besides being able to read magazines or books. You will have to add more something of value that will justify people spending money to spend their time there.

I would not want to go to a cafe to read magazines or books and have to pay for the time I spend there. I would rather goto the library or bookstore.

I actually go to the bookstore and sit in there and read books without buying them. I only end up buying the books that have information that I feel I might want to read over again or in another case if I were to need a book for class then I would buy it. Another reason would be if I am studying something on my own then I might need the book so I will buy it.

I have a feeling that if all you offer is the opportunity to browse and read magazines and books you will not find many people willing to pay for this when there are so many more free options they can do to read or browse magazines or books or get the information they need elsewhere.

So I think your concept is good but you either would need to find a way to add more value to your offer or find something else to offer in the cafe that people are more willing to pay for their time using or doing or whatever you can come up with.

Although it could work if maybe if it offered a little bit more maybe it was like you were charging a fee to enter the cafe and they could do the reading and maybe offer a snack bar. As long as you could make it worth the value you are charging your customers. The only problem with offering the food is you would have to try to separete them a bit so people don't spill on the magazines and books or read while thier hands are dirty.

Don't give up on your dreams. Maybe you can find a way to make it work that makes your customers happy too! Just keep looking for ways to make it work!

Jen aka Kittykat7983

This is a really neat idea!!! However, if you want business, I'd encourage people to bring in their computers, but also advertize your books and magazines for rent as a perk too. Maybe pay a bit to use the net, or pay a bit to use a magazine (if you charge for one charge for both).

The reason why I suggest not eliminating the net alltogether is that it's important to draw the attention of people who already go to cafes in general with stuff they know, but once you snag the customers, draw attention to your library.

In advertizing put "internet access is available" as the small print, but the books and magazine aspect as the main selling point. That way, you draw in customers, no atter what. I never take my computer to the coffee shop anymore, but there are people who won't leave the house without their laptops. I don't think you want to alienate customers, and since all the cafes these days seem to have the internet, not offering it might cut off some customers. Again, just don't make it your main selling point.

As for magazines, I subscribe to almost a dozen magazines, and I read them all. My local cafe has a magazine rack, and when I am finished with my mags, I cleanly cut off the address label, so people can't come and find me (LOL), and I deposit them in the magazine rack.

If you choose to ahve subscriptions for the cafe of new magazines that's great. However, you could also ask people to bring in new magazines they subscribe to at home (and newspapers) that are in new condition minus the address labels of course, and your customers could read those. This is a wonderful form of recycling. I like doing this because just because *I* have finished reading my magazine does not mean the magazine is nolonger useful, as your very business idea would suggest.

Are you trying to open a library business? Magazines, comic books and books for rent? Now, if you are not sure whether this idea is feasible, then why not make it a 2-in-1 business? You can serve hot coffee and hot chocolate beverage as well! There is a probability your coffee shop will thrive profitable and you will end up lending your magazines to your coffee shop customers for free!