Text, tap and go service a winning strategy for Stafford Heights cafe in COVID-19 era

GIVING customers a way to stay out of her cafe is proving to be a winning strategy for one business owner battling the effects of the coronavirus lockdown.

Lisa Carlone takes delivery of a coffee from Ivy Espresso owner Nicole Lewis who introduced a “text, tap and go” service in response to coronavirus.

A suburban cafe has exploited its ample parking to offer customers a safer way to buy coffee and food during the coronavirus crisis.

Ivy Espresso at Stafford Heights introduced ‘text, tap and go’ two weeks ago and owner Nicole Lewis said it was proving popular with existing customers, and had even attracted some new ones.

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Customers could text their order, then park in a designated spot and have their order taken to their car where they paid via a contactless transaction.

“We’ve got a lot of new faces that are doing the text and go. So that’s excellent,” Mrs Lewis said.

“I think it will be here to stay when life gets back to normal.”

Ivy Espresso had taken a “small hit” to turnover, and she had to give fewer hours to her casual employees, but had survived relatively unscathed.

Mrs Lewis thought her location was a big key, with customers not having to go to a busy shopping area, and perhaps thinking the suburbs might be cleaner.

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