With 40% of U.S. professionals working remote at least once a week since the height of the pandemic, cafes have become a popular workspace as the industry experienced a 10% customer surge in 2022.
How Coffee Shops are Reinventing Themselves In The Work From Home Era
When the pandemic started, many non-essential businesses had to shut their doors to the public - including their own employees. This lead to a remote-first revolution across the industry where the workforce operated out of their homes. However, as restrictions loosened, many started visiting cafes to do their work. For them, cafes aren't just coffee shops. They are becoming a "third place" which promotes focus and collaboration.
What is a Third Space?
Your first place is home, your second place is the office, but what is the third? A third place is a public area which promotes collaboration, discussions, and civic engagement often by serving as a neutral meeting ground for people across society. It's where professionals meet their clients, job candidates, and future partners.Â
Remote workers have growing needs in these new spaces. Active Wi-Fi and an open table is not good enough. This leaves many having to compromise between a functional work experience and their third space.
Why Remote Workers? They're Loyal Customers
Guests using Wi-Fi spend an average of over $70 per month compared to just $15 for non-Wi-Fi users. Indicating that laptop users tend to be more loyal and repeat customers.
Despite misconceptions, laptop users spend 4.5x more than casual consumers in cafes. This figure is expected to grow as the remote work concept implants itself across the economy. Long term, public spaces will need to invest in these working professionals as they are a driving demographic in operational success. Leaders in the coffee space are already embracing this industry progression: Wi-Fi access is better, lounge rooms have more desks and tables than ever, and electric outlets are found on nearly any seat.
With FOCUS, you can enhance your accommodations by offering a dedicated workspace for your patrons. We provide the platform and support, while you enjoy the added benefits and increased value that comes from this unique feature.
