What would a coffee shop need in order to attract your business?

I own a drive-thru coffee place and my business is steadily oing down hill since Thanksgiving. I don't know what to do to attract new customers.

I offer any espresso based drink you can order at Starbucks as well as muffins, bagels w/ crm cheese, breakfast sandwiches and real fruit smoothies. I am open 6 days a week, 6 am - noon but will be extending until 2 after the new year

advertise,I cant believe that your shop is going down hill. a drive through thats almost impossible.. add some fresh bakery items ,maybe cigarettes as well .. things that people dont want to get out of their cars for..We are all lazy .I would go everyday where I could get drive through coffee and also fresh bakery items and even cigarettes.. maybe add a few frozen treats such as yogert and ice cream, something that would want to make people come there and then buy some 30 second or 10 second spots at rush hours in the morning or evening to say ,hey come try our stuff and they will come..

Create a Survey Form and give it to your customers. Maybe the taste of the coffee is not good, perhaps the staff are rude. Look at your business model and re-evaluate what you were and are currently doing.

did a new starbuck's just open around the corner? you need to look at what your competition is doing and try to offer similar products without incurring great costs for new equipment.

hehehe: i wish your store were not a drive-thru, because what i really wanted to say is that if i could find a cafe that would allow me to sit, drink my coffee, and smoke my cigarettes, it would forever have my loyalty!

good coffee and a variety of flavors and a peaceful atmosphere where the lights arent bright and i don't feel rushed

open a Tim Hortons

Maybe punch cards, after so many punches you get a free cup of coffee of your choice. Or have Moca Mondays where you get a sometype of discount on that day.

Distrubute phamlets together with sort of discount coupons to offices or houses near your shop.

Review menu - you can include a copy of menu in the pamplet as well, so that ppl know what they can get before they drive thru.

Offer special meals or tea menu eg: coffee + cake, coffe + sandwich... etc.

Who are your target market? what age group? cater something to fit that age group.

ADD NEON LIGHTS OR HAVE SOMEONE DELIVER CUPONS BUY ON GET ONE FREE

OR

PUT BALLONS SO PEOPLE WILL KNOW IS THERE

ADS ON NEWS PAPER WITH COUPON

OR LOOK IN YELLOW PAGES AND SEND COUPON BY MAIL

I also own/operate a coffee shop and I can tell you from experience...avoid punch cards...you would just be giving your existing customers free coffee. I think that you should first look at your coffee. Is it really good? Maybe it's time to re-examine your product. People are becoming very picky about their coffee these days (as they should) and they want a quality product. Contact some new coffee suppliers to sample some different coffees.
In addition, do you have appropriate signage outside of your business? Do people know what you have to offer? It's important that they do. Also, do you offer espresso based beverages? They are much more profitable than coffee and the younger generation love them compared to coffee. Do you offer fruit smoothies? These are also profitable. If you do offer these items, I would suggest promoting them. Try to get people to buy them. Have specials available. But remember, you must have a quality product in the first place for people to come back.
In addition, is your staff friendly? This may be the key to success in some cases. Make sure that each of your staff greets each customer with a smile.
Also, do you offer any food items? Evaluate your hours of oparetion. Are you open during breakfast? If your place is not equiped with a food preparation area, do you offer fresh baked goods? If not, contact a local bakery and see if you can order wholesale. People love fresh baked goods with their morning coffee.
Good luck to you!

A nice place to meet with prospective customers. Having wireless internet access is a great thing, but you have to watch out for the computer deadbeats that use your wifi and don't buy anything. However, for mobile business folks it is a great draw.

Is it possible the current lull is related to the holidays? The two coffee shops I frequent have also been experiencing a lull.