Cafes are quite popular in Vancouver, British Columbia. So much so, that many café owners are desperately looking for ways they can stand out amongst the sea of competitors. The solution may be coming from the burgeoning mobile marketing field. QR codes are becoming popular not only for their prowess and versatility in marketing, but also because they are undeniably unique. The Ethical Bean Coffee Company, a three-store chain of cafes in Vancouver, has taken a liking to the codes for this very reason.
Nearly eight months ago, the store began using the codes in their ads. Since that time, CEO Lloyd Bernhardt says that business has doubled. “We catch people who are on the go and
don’t have a lot of time,” he notes. The prevalence of smart phones is giving those with busy scheduled more ways to connect with business. For them, the codes have a particular allure.
The QR codes at Ethical Bean Cafes link to a digital menu where customers can place their orders in advance, picking up their drinks when they arrive at the store. Customers will also be able to obtain special discounts through using the codes.
Of course, implementing the codes has been something of a challenge. Ethical Bean has to train its employees in how the codes are used so that they can, in turn, assist customers if need be. Programming and creating the campaign, while relatively inexpensive, can be quite time consuming. Overall, however, Bernhardt believes that the company’s QR codes have been well worth the effort.
