The large number of daily coffee drinkers makes the coffee industry incredibly profitable. You can find money-making opportunities surrounding this caffeinated beverage virtually everywhere. Whether you start a coffee shop, do mobile espresso catering, open a coffee drink drive-through or sell coffee gift baskets through mail order, there are customers who want to buy what you sell.

If you love coffee, you can most likely find a lucrative coffee business opportunity that will fit your start-up capital and your lifestyle. You can start with a mobile service, upgrade to a kiosk or invest in a high-traffic storefront. In addition, you can partner with other companies to cut your expenses and grow your profits – such as event planning businesses, catering services or hotels.

No matter what type of coffee business you decide to start, free samples are always a good way to get your business name out there and get your foot in the door with prospective customers. With a café, you can entice new customers with special events that feature local photographers, painters or musicians. You can often provide this “entertainment” for free, as these artists welcome the opportunity to promote their own talents.

In addition to the traditional advertising opportunities you have in the yellow pages, local newspapers and radio stations, you can print low-cost coupons to bring in new customers. Hold monthly drawings for a “free coffee drink” to get customers to give you their contact information so you can build a mailing list. Another simple technique is to offer discount coffee cards (“Buy 8, get one free”) to encourage people to become regular customers.

Delivering free coffee to a radio station is another inexpensive way to get your business name out there – in front of lots of people. Submitting a press release is a great example – the media will promote you for free if you send them a great news story about your business. This could be as simple is having your friend write a review about your “Café Opening” and sending it to your local paper.

So how do you actually start your coffee shop?

1. Learn your business – different coffee flavors, the various ways of preparing coffee, caffeinated beverage trends and new and different coffee products. Your knowledge will help your business stay competitive and profitable. Get an inexpensive start-up guide on how to start a coffee shop or interview a coffee shop owner who can give you first-hand advice.

2. Discover who your customers are. Obviously, they are most likely caffeine addicts – but what else do they want, and what are they willing to pay for it? (i.e. social atmosphere, relaxing work space, fast drive-through service, healthy meals, late-night hours) When you can create a unique café that offers value to the community, you’ll find it much easier to win over customers.

3. Find out which licenses or permits you need from your local government office. Talk with an accountant, insurance agent and banker (you can get referrals from other local business owners or friends) to get helpful tips on financing, tax issues, insurance and business management that will save you time, money and hassles down the road.

Get Started!

Coffee is generically everywhere. People will pay for something a little different. Use your creativity to design a truly unique coffee service or café environment, and you’ll find that customers come flocking to your door. Businesses that provide coffee products or services can flourish even in a down economy, so if you want to start your business – go for it!

The holiday season is one of the most popular for engagements. Whether you are planning to propose under the Christmas tree, pop the question on New Year’s Eve, or ask her to marry you on Valentine’s Day, you will be in good company. For many men, the most nerve-wracking part of the whole thing is not popping the question, but picking the ring. These are some tips on buying the perfect engagement ring.

One thing that really gets guys nervous about buying an engagement ring is the cost. After all, this piece of bridal jewelry is likely to be one of the most expensive purchases that you make. That, along with the pressure to pick a ring that is going to please her, can be really stressful for the average man. First let’s tackle the question of cost. There is an old ad campaign that says a man should plan to spend about 2 months’ salary on a diamond engagement ring (brought to you buy a diamond company, naturally). Do you really have to go with this rule of thumb? The answer is no! Of course not. If you don’t have it and can’t get it, no way should you base your budget on a promotional campaign.

On the other hand, many men have some savings that they can tap into, and will choose to spend considerably more than the suggested formula. Size and quality definitely do matter when it comes to engagement rings, so you should buy the best that you can; just don’t put yourself deep into a hole trying to meet some artificial guideline. Keep in mind that the engagement ring is the most sentimental gift that you will ever give, so it is worth it to make it a total “wow”…just be realistic about what you can afford.

With your budget established, it is time to start looking at styles. Most engagement rings will feature a central diamond. When it is one diamond, the ring is called a solitaire. Other popular styles include the three diamond ring or a diamond with smaller side stones running down the side of the ring (often set into a channel). Antique inspired engagement rings are very, very popular. One of the most admired styles by both men and women is a central diamond encircled by a row of tiny pave diamonds. Women love the sparkle and beauty of this gorgeous design, and men love the fact that they can get a big diamond look for less money than buying one single larger diamond.

A great tip to pick out the style of engagement ring that will most delight your intended is to secretly enlist the help of one of her best friends or her sister. They are likely to have a good sense of her taste in jewelry, whether it is classic, vintage, modern, or eclectic. Another time honored trick is to see what catches her eye in the window as you stroll by jewelry shops.

Finally, before plunking down a large sum on the bridal ring at a jewelry shop, make sure that you have a firm understanding of how to choose a diamond. The most popular shape is the classic round brilliant diamond. Some other options include the princess cut, emerald cut, Asscher cut, and the oval. The basic formula to determine the value of a diamond is the carat weight, color (from colorless to more yellow), clarity (number of inclusions and whether or not they are visible to the naked eye), and cut (which refers not to the shape of the stone, but the precision of the faceting). This is not as intimidating as it sounds. The information can easily be found online, or better yet, visit a quality jeweler and simply ask them to educate you on diamonds. They will be happy to oblige, in the hopes that you will return to them when you are ready to make your engagement ring purchase.

While it can feel intimidating when you get started, picking the perfect engagement ring is well worth the effort. With a little advance legwork, you will be able to choose that one ring that will truly dazzle your beloved. And coming from you, it will be even more special to her. Congratulations and good luck!

Heres my problem. For most holidays i get gift cards, thats great but i would love to find a gift card that i could use to pay my bills. So heres my question, if someone gets me a Simon (visa) gift card can i use the amount on that card to pay say my Chase bill? Or if i get a american express gift card can i use that to pay my Discover card bill?

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So long as the gift card has the appropriate credit card company (at least for VISA or Mastercard) you can use them to pay bills.

are there any gift cards that can be used online? like i want to order these shoes but dont have a credit card so if i get one of those gift cards can i use them online?

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Yes you can go to your bank and for a charge you can get a visa or mastercard gift card. It can be used anywhere even on on-line orders. Also if you have a simon mall in your area you can buy them there at the customer service kiosk.

If you have ever used a Hollister gift card online on their website to buy something, can you please tell me how to use it, and any other details that would be helpful. Im thinking of asking my dad one for christmas, because we dont have a Hollister in my province, and mom doesnt want to give her credit card number out. The person with the most detailed answer on how to use the gift card gets best answer! Please add details or information about using the gift card online. Thanks!

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go through it buy them and it should have choices for pay with credit card paypal or giftcard