Competing with Starbucks can feel like an impossible dream for independent coffee shops, but Wheely's Cafe could make an impact on this particular scene. It is a sustainable and affordable coffee cart that can be posted at equally, if not better, locations. What makes Wheely's Cafe stand out from similar mobile enterprises is its branding, social media, pricing and product development, which all take cues from bigger brands.
Developed by the Nordic Society For Invention and Discovery, Wheely's Cafe is currently being crowdfunded on Indiegogo. The early bird price is an impressive $1800. Wheely's Cafe is run off of kinetic energy, which is generated via the attached bicycle. It generates enough power to run the coffeemaker, sink, storage and umbrella. Per Cromwell, co-founder of the Nordic Society, says, "We think we’ll challenge Starbucks more with a branded coffee instead of an unbranded one. The last 40 years has seen this huge success of the global brands."
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Sustainable Coffee Shops
- Opportunities for developing sustainable coffee shops that can compete with bigger brands by utilizing eco-friendly practices and affordable, efficient technology.
- Branding for Independent Coffee Shops
- Opportunities for independent coffee shops to level the playing field against bigger brands by employing branding strategies that can make their products more appealing and recognizable to consumers.
- Mobile Coffee Vendors
- Opportunities for the development of mobile coffee carts like Wheely's Cafe, which provide affordable, convenient, and eco-friendly options for consumers on the go.
Where This Applies
- Coffee Shop Industry
- Opportunities for coffee shops to differentiate themselves from bigger brands by employing sustainable, eco-friendly practices and employing branding strategies to make their products more appealing to consumers.
- Mobile Vending Industry
- Opportunities for businesses to develop affordable, eco-friendly mobile vending solutions that offer convenience to consumers.
- Eco-friendly Technology Industry
- Opportunities for the development of affordable, sustainable technology like the Kinetic Energy system used by Wheely's Cafe, which can power small businesses and help them compete with bigger brands while minimizing their environmental impact.
