According to the World Coffee Portal, the UK’s brand coffee shop market is now worth over £5.3bn and is expected to keep growing. The UK coffee franchise industry is ripe with opportunities; it’s no wonder more and more entrepreneurs are seeking success with a coffee shop business.
We are currently looking to establish new stores across the country and are particularly interested in developing Esquires stores in the North East. If you’re keen to build a business in the area, opening a coffee shop may just prove the ideal investment.
Why Choose Franchising Over a Startup?
While running your own independent business is an attractive prospect, it is not without its risks. This is why opting to invest in a franchise can be beneficial. You still get all the perks of being your own boss and running the day to day, but there is a higher chance of success from the start, not to mention all the support you’ll receive.
Franchising comes with several key benefits that make it more desirable than going it alone with an independent store:
- Built-in brand recognition and customer loyalty
- Market expertise and a proven business model
- Ongoing business support and training
- Reduced failure rate
- Increased buying power and better access to resources
- Higher profits from the start
- Opportunities for growth
The coffee shop market is notoriously competitive so it is particularly well suited to the franchise business model, ensuring budding entrepreneurs can get a head start.
Why Open a Coffee Shop in the North East?
Finding the right location is an important factor to consider when investing in any kind of franchise. The North East of England offers a wealth of opportunities for prospective franchisees. With several thriving cities and towns, the area provides great communities of potential customers and the chance to establish yourself as a central local hub.
There are a few key reasons that make the North East an especially good place for your new coffee shop:
- Regeneration efforts & renewed investment in the area
- Well connected
- Hub of activity
- Good retail market
- Attracts a range of visitors
- Engaged coffee drinking community
Regeneration & Investment in the Area
In recent years, the area as a whole has seen a range of regeneration efforts and investment in various sectors, making it a more attractive place for people to work and live and encouraging a range of new businesses to contribute to the local economies.
The North East has benefited from a range of urban regeneration projects worth hundreds of millions of pounds, with various industrial, retail and residential spaces getting a makeover.
The North East of England is among the UK’s fastest-growing economies, so it makes sense to get in on this growth!
A Well Connected Area
The North East region comprises a network of four counties:
- Northumberland
- Tyne and Wear
- Durham
- North Yorkshire
Within these counties are numerous prosperous and densely populated towns and cities, including key hubs like Newcastle upon Tyne, Durham and Sunderland. The large urban areas of Wearside, Teesside and Tyneside also contribute to a major part of the population.
With a proud heritage of industry and innovation, the area has good connectivity to global markets as well as offering easy access to the surrounding hot spots.
A Hub of Activity
The North East is a bustling hub boasting historical and cultural significance, urban centres and natural beauty spots, providing the region with thriving communities and plenty of reasons for visitors to come and explore.
Key attractions that encourage locals and tourists to get out and about include a range of museums, galleries and castles along with the picturesque coastline and Northumbrian islands.
With plenty to do and see, there’s usually a good level of foot traffic around the region’s major hotspots, providing your coffee shop with plenty of opportunities to market to potential customers.
A Good Retail Market
The area also has a strong market for various retail outlets, with key retail destinations like the Metrocentre in Gateshead, Central Arcade and Eldon Square in Newcastle and various quirky, independent shops across different town centres.
Again, this opens the door for lots of opportunities to capture everyday foot traffic, cultivating a store that becomes a local favourite and a convenient pit stop for tourists and visitors.
An Area That Attracts a Range of Visitors
With numerous cultural and historic attractions, retail destinations and the proximity to stunning natural wonders, the region sees a good level of tourism and visits from neighbouring counties throughout the year.
Along with this, the region has a good urban population and around 2.6 million residents, providing a great customer base for new stores.
An Engaged Coffee Drinking Community
You’d be hard-pressed to find somewhere in the UK where coffee isn’t popular, but various spots in the North East boast a partially engaged coffee community, with coffee lovers on the lookout for the next best brew.
The area’s thriving coffee culture is evidenced by the range of festivals and events, which encourage people to get together and share their love of coffee.
With an eager community of coffee lovers like this on hand, an independent-feel coffee shop that prioritises delicious Fairtrade coffee has a lot of potential.
Apply For an Esquires Coffee Shop in the North East
Ready to establish a thriving business in the North East? We are currently offering a range of franchising opportunities in the area, so if you’re interested we’d love to hear from you!
To find out more about us and our ethos, see our article on why you should franchise with Esquires.
If you’re ready to start your journey and become a franchisee, please apply below.
