INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Start by searching on auction sites, such as eBay, to see what the product or similar products in your category are selling for. For example, try to find the price range for your particular brand of electronic headphones as well as the larger price range for headphones in general. If you can find the price for your particular brand of headphones, take note of both the highest and the lowest price listed for the item. With this knowledge of the price range, you can start thinking about how much you will ask for your item. If your item is in better condition or has something different from the others on the list, you may be able to price it in the higher price range. If the item is pretty much the same as the other items listed, you may want to set it at an average price. Looking through the online listings for your item on the auction site, such as eBay, you should see how much people have actually paid for the item. Taking this price into consideration, think about how much you could sell your particular item for. If you are using eBay, scroll down to the 'show only' options on the left side of the page, towards the bottom of the listings page. Click on 'sold listings' and then review the items in your category (e.g., headphones) that have sold. Reviewing the prices of sold items, determine what you think you could sell your dollar store item for online. If you cannot find your item on eBay or other auction sites, try searching for similar items. For example, if you found a particular brand of faux wood headphones at your local dollar store but cannot find the same brand on eBay, see if there is a similar pair of faux wood headphones. Taking into consideration the current price range for your product category (e.g., headphones) and the prices that your particular item has sold for, set a price for your item. Price your items competitively. Taking into consideration both how much you paid for the item at the dollar store and the current price range for the item on eBay, try to set a competitive price that will get the item sold quickly and efficiently. If you are using eBay, you can set a reserve price which is the lowest that you would be willing to sell your item for online. On eBay, you can use a fixed price which means that there will not be any bidding on your item. It will be sold, or not, at the fixed price you set.

SUMMARY: Inquire into the price range for your product category. See how much your item usually sells for. Set a price for your dollar store items.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If no one knows you are going to be opening soon, you won't have the customer turnout you desire and need. Start spreading the word early and often. Use press releases, social media, word of mouth, posters, and any other method you can think of to help people learn about your new cafe business. While spreading the word, try to remain consistent with your brand identity in your promotional materials. How to Open a Small Business provides a strong collection of information on preparing for your business' opening. Look particularly at Part 3 or the article, for information such as: Establishing a marketing budget for your grand opening (which some say should be 20% of your first year's marketing budget). Using traditional media, like TV, radio, and newspapers. Using digital media like social networks, websites, and advertising technology such as Google Adwords. These people will be the backbone of your business. You will rely on your kitchen staff to make everything to the customers' liking, and you will rely on your waitstaff to give the customers a friendly and pleasurable experience. Familiarity with the cafe business is of course helpful, but pay at least as much attention to personality, temperament, and attitude. Conduct thorough interviews, and ask insightful questions (how they have dealt with adversity before and how they would deal with a particular example in the cafe, for instance). Remember, on the rare instances when you are not in the cafe, your employees will be the face of your business. Once again, How to Open a Small Business provides useful information on hiring employees, including details on your initial responsibilities as an employer. Once everything has been completed and your business is ready for the public, open the doors. Be prepared for kinks in the process, but take action to resolve them quickly so everything can run smoothly. You want your official grand opening to go as flawlessly as possible, so it may make sense to do a "soft opening" beforehand as a practice run. Invite a small group of guests, maybe even just friends and family, and run through the operation of your cafe. See what works and what doesn't before the official grand opening. Make your grand opening "grand" with ample advertising, giveaways, and whatever else will make people notice and be curious enough to stop in. Also think about the best day and time to officially open. When will your target clientele be most likely to come in? A workday morning? During the lunch hour? Weekend brunch? Getting customers into the door once is only the beginning, of course. Most cafes rely on a repeat clientele to survive. A great product, nice ambiance, helpful staff, and reasonable prices will all help, but don't be afraid to get creative in finding ways to turn customers into repeat customers. For instance, offer a loyalty program. It's not just a way to retain customers, it's also a good tool to understand them and build strong relationships with them. The lure of a free coffee after all the spots on a card are punched out can be enough to bring people back until it becomes a habit. Beyond simple punch-cards or coupons, there are a number of loyalty platforms using QR code.They make it very easy to offer a loyalty program and they are also cost-effective. Whatever method you use, do not see a loyalty program as giveaways. Rather, see it as a powerful marketing tool.

SUMMARY:
Market and promote your cafe. Hire and train your kitchen and waitstaff. Open for business when you are ready. Keep them coming back.