Every Saturday for the past three weeks I’ve been meeting various (two) people for a coffee to talk business. Now these three weekends in a row I’ve Lulu’s in Melrose Arch.
There are two reasons for this location: The first is that it’s very cool and the coffee is good but secondly, and most importantly, there is free Wi-fi when you buy something. For a geeky guy like myself this is obviously critical. While I do have an HSDPA modem, I don’t like using as it’s my “emergencies only” backup connection.
Stores that provide Wi-fi are particularly forward thinking and smart. Stores that give you free access when you buy a product at that store are even smarter. Lulu’s makes at least R40 a weekend from me and a similar amount from my companions. The cost of an uncapped Internet connection is fairly reasonable and can only get cheaper when new broadband gets less legislated and cheaper next year. Why there isn’t more stores that offer Wi-fi access out there is a mystery.
So here’s a top business idea for anyone who cares. Start a company that installs Wi-fi hotspots in stores but ad an extra twist allowing it to be free for everyone. The way you make money would be to insert adverts on the landing page where one puts their username and password in.
Someone is going to run with an idea like this soon and it’s all going to be my fault that when you join a Wi-fi network you’ll get a reminder to “Drink Coke Zero”.
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I totally agree! Free Wifi is the way to go. Luckily our local coffee shop (Not a franchise) has free wifi, and that place is booming, being good friends with the owner, he informed me that it brings in good business!
It’s so bizarre how everyone hasn’t caught on to this? It’s the way to bring nerds to your venue who will spend money to keep the Wi-fi flowing!
Heh 1) why is it that so many people in the blogging, social media space refer to themselves as nerds? and 2) You are spot on! There is a massive opportunity in this space and not only for restaruants… 3) where’s this place?
We call ourselves “Geeks”. We beat up the nerds for their lunch money.
Lulu’s can be found in Melrose Arch and in Parktown North. There are other ones but I end up at those.
As RedButton we have rolled out Free WiFi at 40 to 50 locations nationwide, although mostly in Cape Town, and its growing quite fast. At this stage most restaurants limit the free allocation to say 20MB but that is still great since its more than enough for most patrons.
Free Wi-Fi Hotspots Directory in South Africa http://www.freewi-fi.co.za