Coffee Roasters Discovery & Marketplace Platform

Problem (Pain Point):

Coffee enthusiasts face difficulties discovering local and online coffee roasters, while small roasters struggle with visibility and customer engagement. Traditional marketing channels are expensive and often reach non-targeted audiences. Roasters also lack efficient tools to announce new products and maintain customer relationships.

Proposed Solution:

A specialized marketplace platform that aggregates coffee roasts from various roasters, allowing customers to discover and purchase directly from roasters while providing roasters with tools for product listing and customer engagement.

Overview:

• Core Features:

  • Detailed roast profiles with filtering options (origin, roast level, location)
  • Location-based roaster discovery
  • Automated notification system for new releases
  • Roaster subscription/following system
  • Customizable roaster storefronts
  • Analytics dashboard for roasters

• User Experience (UX):

  • Customers can browse roasts by various filters
  • Save favorite roasters and receive notifications
  • Direct links to purchase from roaster websites
  • Personalized feed of new releases
  • Easy search and discovery tools

• Benefits:

  • Increased visibility for small roasters
  • Targeted customer acquisition
  • Simplified product discovery for consumers
  • Automated customer engagement
  • Cost-effective marketing channel

• Technical Approach:

  • API integrations with e-commerce platforms
  • Automated inventory sync
  • Location-based search algorithms
  • Push notification system

Target Audience Personas:

1. Coffee Roasters:

   • Small to medium-sized roasting businesses
   • Limited marketing budget
   • Need for customer acquisition

2. Coffee Enthusiasts:

   • Regular coffee buyers
   • Interest in specialty coffee
   • Preference for local or artisanal products

Market Gap:

Existing solutions like general marketplaces or social media don't provide specialized features for coffee roasters. Direct-to-consumer platforms lack discovery features and community aspects.

Implementation Plan:

1. MVP Release:

   • Basic roast listing functionality
   • Location-based search
   • Roaster profiles
   • Customer accounts

2. Phase 2:

   • Notification system
   • Following/subscription features
   • Enhanced analytics

3. Phase 3:

   • API integrations
   • Automated inventory sync
   • Advanced marketing tools

Tech Stack:

• Frontend: React.js with Next.js
• Backend: Node.js with Express
• Database: PostgreSQL
• Search: Elasticsearch
• Hosting: AWS
• Maps: Google Maps API

Monetization Plan:

1. Subscription Tiers for Roasters:
   • Basic: Limited listings ($29/month)
   • Pro: Unlimited listings + analytics ($79/month)
   • Enterprise: Custom features ($199+/month)
2. Sponsored Listings
3. Featured Roaster Spots

Validation Methods:

1. Landing page with email collection
2. Direct outreach to local roasters
3. Coffee enthusiast community surveys

Risks and Challenges:

1. Roaster adoption and content maintenance
2. Competition from existing marketplaces
3. Integration complexity with various e-commerce platforms

SEO + Marketing Tips:

1. Target keywords: 'local coffee roasters', 'specialty coffee near me'
2. Partner with coffee bloggers and influencers
3. Create educational content about coffee roasting
4. Leverage local SEO for roaster discovery
5. Develop a coffee community newsletter