Is this a dumb idea?

[MummyDrinksWine]

An ice cream van came up for sale in my area and I joked with my sister that we could buy it and serve together and actually go to the places people want, not just a usual set of stops.. serve by demand! We decided it probably wouldn’t last long because winter.

Then I thought. Why not a coffee van.. the ice cream equivalent but with nice hot drinks, not just a quick Nescafé you get from a burger van.. but nice coffee, herbal teas, iced coffees ect. It would suit all seasons.. and I’ve not seen anything like it that drive around.

With more people working from home than ever before, I feel like it could work! What’s better than not having to make your own latte? Having one served to you practically on your doorstep, no?!

please tell me I’m onto something 😂 AIBU to want to do this?!

cant see it being financially lucrative to drive around burning petrol for a 1 coffee sale, sorry. Equally wfh I have a kettle, plenty of people have coffee machines. Sorry

Nothing ventured nothing gained!

its not something id be interested in tbh
drinking fancy coffees/hot drinks not made at home would be one of the first things id cut out if im in need to curb spending

You need a business plan. The issue is that residential areas are spread out with fewer people per sq ft than retail areas. Meaning the coffee would have to be very expensive to pay for transport to people. And vans use more petrol than a car (Skip the Dishes style). You might be able to do lunches (toasties, bagels etc) for a bit more income.

However, business plan.

With more people working from home than ever before, I feel like it could work!

My question would be: if they are at home, why would they spend shop prices when they could just make their tea/coffee etc at home?

People that want nice coffee at home usually have the means to make it already. People that don't probably couldn't justify the price.

Having said that, I don't like coffee, so I could be wrong. I think you need to do some market research.

Where I used to work we had snack vans that came round - so they did coffees, hot pastry's and crisps and chocolate. It's fine for a remote business park like we were on but I wouldn't pay £3 for a latte from a van. It'd be cheaper to buy a half decent coffee machine over time.

Or sell drugs for extra cash like ice cream people do now!

Sounds like it could be fun and hopefully profitable for you. I know lots of people in recent years seen to love a costa/Starbucks but wether that'll change with the cost of living crisis who knows!

when I was young back in the early 80's we had a mobile pie and peas van, mobile fish and chips van and a mobile shop. There were also mobile video cassette rentals.

We’ll this humbled me in approximately 30 seconds 😂

Maybe I’ll just go back to my day job after maternity ends after all! 🤭

There is one there drives round the area I used to live in. At the weekend it goes to the farmers market and serves drinks there, and at lunchtimes it goes to the business parks and does cake and hot drinks. We had a field wedding and they came and served drinks there too.

Its very, very niche but might work in some areas…

Or become a van for hire at weddings/ kids bdays etc.

I've seen coffee vans at events. But I don't think I'd be running out in my slippers to buy a latte from one driving up the street.

I might add; I live in a very rural area surrounded by lots of small villages so it wouldn’t be too easy to just ‘go for coffee’ Which I guess is why I thought it might work.

I didn’t think about costs however. I just kept thinking about me in my coffee van serving my regulars 🤣🙈

If you sold "naice" stuff I might be tempted to pop out to a van for a hot cheese and onion pasty on the odd occasion. But not a coffee.

I think you're on to something, although I'm not sure what!

Well I didn't go to Harvard Business but I think it's a bit more complicated than that.

You need a proper plan not just driving about.

Regular dog walking spot 7-10am.

Then a social media push on what areas you’ll be in on each day Mon-Fri - industrial estates etc - so people think ‘Ooh, Weds thr coffee van’s here I’ll treat myself’.

Then a post-school run park spot 3-5pm.

More dog walking 5-7pm!

A coffee van does the rounds where we live, kitted out with all the gear.
On the days it is scheduled to be here people place orders over an app and then they would deliver. If you are a regular customer but haven't ordered they knock on the door.

Never used it myself but then I have never really "got" coffee shops or machines and settle for a mug of instant!

The industrial estates or large office blocks where there are lots of workers with limited access to making their own drinks. But in the residential areas people have their own kettles or coffee machines and wouldn't walk out their front door to get an expensive coffee from a van.

I did know someone who does (did?) a version of this. Not an ice cream van but like those hot dog stands you see in NY. He ground the coffee fresh by cycling the pedals and did position himself as gourmet coffee. He started out at fairs/weddings/sport matches etc. It was a side hustle though. I think covid may have crushed it.
While my kids would go to the park for a Mr Whippy and I may get a coffee if out and about, I wouldn't go out specifically to have a coffee from a van - I'd want a nice place to sit with it. I have a coffee/latte machine at home anyway.

Rural by us this could definitely work if you advertised it and made it sociable. There’s a pizza van who does a pop-up on a weekly basis by us, and a fish & chip van. If you scope out the right places at the right times I can see it.

The other thing to bear in mind is that you work like a dog for very little money. Which is great if you love it.

A lady who lives in my town has done this! She drives the coffee van to our local football and rugby pitches and serves tea, coffee, buns etc to all the diehard mums and dads! She seems to be doing a roaring trade, especially when there are matches on!

Hmm I sort of think it's a good idea but some things to consider

• current cost of living crisis luxuries like coffee on the go may be the first thing people cut back on

• cost of petrol to drive vs what you can earn.

• consider traybake treats too. But then you need to either source these or bake your own in which case you will need food hygiene and home inspection. I suspect you will need food hygiene certificate anyway.

• how much is public liability insurance?

• how much would it cost to run on daily basis?

• how much would you pay yourselves?

I think the suggestion of dog Walker/ school run regular spot is good

• how good are you at social media and promoting business etc.

• sketch out a rough business plan.

I like it in theory.

Also cheeky plug... if it does work out I'm a great baker and can supply you lovely cakes

There was a coffee van that went around the streets by us during lock down. They normally cater events etc but obviously couldn't do that. They didn't seem to have many customers tbh and since events started running I've not seen them so I guess it wasn't lucrative even when there were lots of people at home. Sorry.

There is also a traditional sweet van that went around for a while but I've not seen that for ages.

Neither were something I'd buy. Sorry.