In the early twenty-first century, the coffee industry exploded. If you enjoy coffee, you might want to consider working as a coffee supplier. To be successful in this job, you must become an expert on coffee beans and business supply lines. Helping customers find the perfect cup of coffee could be your reward.
Although there are no formal educational requirements to become a coffee supplier, this does not rule out the use of skills learned in school. Math is essential for budgeting, purchasing, and selling products. Understanding how to sell coffee beans will benefit from marketing and sales courses. Strong written and oral communication skills will also help you communicate with customers and distributors in person, over the phone, and via email.
Learning about coffee is the most important educational aspect of working as a coffee supplier. You must be a coffee expert in order to sell beans to coffee shops, cafes, restaurants, and stores. You must become knowledgeable about various beans and the flavors they produce, as well as coffee blends, roasts, and regions. If a customer wants to know the difference between a Columbian and a Nigerian blend, for example, you must provide expert advice and insight.
You’ll need contacts within coffee distribution companies to become a coffee supplier. A supplier’s role is primarily that of a middleman who obtains the beans and assists in their distribution to coffee shops. The distributor obtains beans directly from farmers, and cultivating relationships with specific distributors can help you secure a niche that other suppliers cannot.
If you want to be a coffee supplier, you must also be a great salesperson. To maximize your sales potential, you’ll need to find every possible coffee outlet in your area, including cafés, restaurants, bars, and bean stores. You’ll need to visit these locations and establish a relationship with the coffee buyers, as well as present your products and explain why that business requires them. Following the sale, you must work with your distributor to ensure that you have enough coffee to deliver to your customers.