WiFi access: Why we don’t allow it at Coffee#1
One of the most frequent questions we get from customers online and offline relates to our in-store WiFi internet policy. We thought it was high-time we tried to explain our position.
To those who don’t know, WiFi internet access isn’t enabled in any Coffee#1 store. This in essence means that you can’t logon to the internet from your laptop or phone while sat at one of our tables.
For a company that is an enthusiastic supporter of social media, this may seem like a strange decision. And apart from anything else, it could well make financial sense for us to introduce wireless in-store and so attract the people who currently go elsewhere.
But we firmly believe our policy is both complementary with our support for social media and the right decision for Coffee#1 and our customers.
Let me outline our thinking.
Firstly, once you stop being a traditional coffee house and become a wired coffee house, you risk alienating the majority of people who have no interest in going online while having their coffee.
Studies have shown that people spend much longer at their tables, and in an independent chain like Coffee#1, that inevitably means less space for customers.
If you implement some kind of time limit for users, all you’re left with is a kind of unhappy compromise that nobody likes.
Our stores are generally busy anyway, and given the space we have available, a slower turnover of tables means that there will be more people unable to enjoy the Coffee#1 experience.
Secondly, as New York coffee houses have found, the atmosphere changes when you allow wireless access. Instead of popping in because of the quality of your coffee, more people pop in primarily because of the availability of your bandwidth.
The coffee house experience that we try so hard to foster, one that’s founded on creating not only the finest coffee but also the best surroundings and environment, would suffer. It’s reasonable to believe then that the community of passionate supporters that we’re lucky enough to have at Coffee#1 would not value us in the same way they do now.
We’ve always strived to do things differently at Coffee#1, but this isn’t just a case of us stubbornly going out on a limb. We want to continue growing Coffee#1 in the style our customers love, not change simply to fit in.
We’re not saying our policy will never change. But for the time being, we want to preserve Coffee#1 as the fantastic coffee house experience it is. We’d welcome your thoughts.
I personally believe that coffee one are taking the right stance by not having wifi, I come in to enjoy the coffee , the company, and get away from computers..
It is also, as rightly pointed out, often the case that people using laptops are using up space over extended periods when other people want to just sit and enjoy a coffee, especially when it is busy, or as now too cold to sit outside.
so bravo for supporting the coffee drinkers.
I am a one of the Coffee Drinkers Mike refers to…and I love the atmosphere in Coffee #1. However, I also work using my laptop a lot, and wifi access would mean a great deal to me. On the other hand many people do abuse the facilities.
Have you considered a paid service? For instance, £1 + a large hot drink gives you 30 mins access?
I think that would only encourage people who wanted to use both the bandwidth AND enjoy the coffee. If the funds arent required by Coffee #1 directly, maybe they could be donated to the Fair Trade organisation or to charity?
As it stands, I use my laptop in my local Coffee #1 almost everytime I go in (with my 3G adapter). I would much rather be contributing to you guys than my mobile provider however….
I am the sort of person who has coffee on a drip e.g. a large latte will last half-hour max and if I am still wanting to sit there, I simply buy another one…
I spend hours on end in coffee shops working. Often much easier to focus than being in the Office…
It is frankly a hassle if I go to the only coffee shop in the locality and find that I have to wire the laptop up to my mobile for a connection. Given the choice I go to the Starbucks with the free wifi…
According to my watch, it is currently 2010. If you want to sit on the wrong side of progress, that’s your business. But the use of laptops, iPhones etc is increasing all the time and will continue to do so – making us use 3G will eventually reduce your clientele to those sorts of old people who just sit there and complain about the price of your coffee.
Coffee #1 is one of my favourite haunts for having a coffee and doing some work on my novel on my netbook, and I’m really glad there isn’t any wi-fi because it means I don’t have the Internet to distract me (like it’s doing now!)
I do not think it essential to be connected 24/7 in fact it is great to escape the wireless electronic world sometimes. I use Coffee no1 in Cardiff because you serve the best coffee in a relaxed setting and have friendly competent staff. Stick to the policy