As vaccines slowly quell the coronavirus pandemic, the classic coffee shop experience that we know, love and miss may soon arrive before our eyes. It will take time, but it will happen. One day soon, you will walk into your local coffee shop, and it will finally feel like a coffee shop again. That said, there will be some changes—all of them for the better.
Personal Space
Previously, the most popular coffee shops were known for being crammed and crowded. That won’t be the case any time soon. Even when indoor capacity limitations are lifted and social distancing dwindles, expect coffee shops to be more spacious with their layouts. Having adapted with curbside, contactless and 100% to-go business models, shops will be willing and able to sacrifice some occupancy to give customers more breathing room.
Retail Rollouts
During the pandemic, coffee brands have evolved to function almost exclusively as retail brands rather than restaurant locations. In turn, their shops are going to look more and more like retail stores, promoting take-home products for purchase aside from or in addition to the day’s cup of Joe. Look for more space to be dedicated to displays featuring pre-packaged coffee, branded merch, coffee makers and more. Continued growth in retail will also reduce the pressure to pack shops with people.
Uplifting Visuals
Customers want to get back to the simple pleasures of being out and about, like grabbing a coffee with a friend or coworker. Likewise, coffee shop owners are excited to welcome customers back for more than a masked grab and go. As brands revamp their stores for a true new normal—emphasis on normal—we’re excited to see creativity shine in the visual experience, from custom wallpaper and large format graphics to architectural design, lightboxes and more. See how Duggal has partnered in the past with Starbucks to create engaging environmental graphics that impart a sense of comfort, community, and brand loyalty.