New Internet Cafe... Any Ideas???

[Kamakazy]

Hi all,

I am planning to open an internet cafe here in Muscat, I was wondering what extra stuff to add to the internet cafe to make it a success...

i already got high end computers, P4, some Flat Screen some 19" etc

what else is needed? what will draw costomers in, the location is a happening day so there is no problem with the location...

any ideas???

[arabian-brain]

Salam Kamakazy

Good luck in your Internet coffee

Is it coffee that service food and drinks also?

Why don't go and take a little tour other Internet coffee shops and see what they offer and study them. Perhaps also you could visit Dubai and see more different styles.

[Quick Silver]

why don't you conduct a survey and ask the customers themselves what they desire....sounds silly, but I am sure you will get a lot of feedback from the prospective customers....

[qais]

AN INTERNET CAFE IN MUSCAT!!!!!!!!!!
ALL I COULD SAY IS GOOD LUCK MAN.

[Arabian Princess]

Well, you could advertize it as a place for women also to go .. maybe a special corner for women ..
make sure the coffe is good there too :)

[patriot]

salam
well it is a good idea but have you studied it from the business point of view, becasue i think we have enough cyber cafes inOman especially Muscat and most of the internet riders do have computers at their houses.
there are somanythink sthat you could do, butth ebeter wayis paya visit to some cybercafes and check what do they have and what is missing, like you could provide microphones and cameras and a small cafeteria, and make sure it is different and special..
all the best

[DorellaM]

How bout High Speed Internet!!!....some internet cafe's dont have that here:6: But most do

[IceTea]

I don't think the internet cafe is a good idea, why ?
Because in Oman the internet tariff is cheaper now compared to before, and people going to internet cafes are decreasing as they find it expansive. The question which u should ask yourself and is it worth, I mean what will be your percentage return per month for example from such business.

[Kamakazy]

thanks all for your ideas which some of you provided, i will add what you mentioned and inshallah '7ar...

i still need to check other interent cafes

i am looking to make at least R.O 600/- per month

[qais]

oman doesnt have network gaming ..... so you could do that

[Don Khaled]

talk to the other guy, he has an internet caffee

[Don Khaled]

get yourself "deepfreeze", a security program, which when you make an image for all computers, then you install it on the comp, so whatever someone does on comp, deletes files, install programs, dumps viruses, and reboot comp, original image will come back. i believe it saves an image of the whole on the virtual memory.

[Don Khaled]

don't you think it was a bad idea to get high end computers, p4's, worthless cpu's, expensive ones, for an internet caffee? Why didnt you look for athlonXP's? atleast half price, better performance and more reliable.

even for gaming they are way better. I am pretty sure your are not gonna overclock them, so why p4

[Don Khaled]

optical mice will be way less headache than the balls, another good one.

[Kamakazy]

valid ideas Don, i was thinking to go for AMD's since they are faster and cheeper, let me search for the athlon XP in this market we have here in Oman...

ur right about the optical mouse, less hassell...

about the deepfreeze... i was going for w2k on all the machines where the user has no right to install, delete, anything, its either w2k or the good old win98

[ReVeLuTiOnAl^]

Kama.

I got this idea.

* Make something like membership card. So that for example you offer those who have membership with you about 400Bz/hour, with a monthly payment for example OR5.

* You may also do training courses for those who want to learn about computing and using the net.

* Make some days specially for girls.

* start the first 3 days with lower rate, say 400 Bz/hour, this will give impression to the customers even when you raise the price later on.

* If you can afford advertising, don't hesitate to make it.

* fit a fridge in one corner with cold drinks such juices and soft drinks.

* if you have good capital money, try to decorate the shop from the inside, decoratives affect very much sychologically. Try also to lighten the outside baord that shows the shop's name, so that people can see it from a distance.

* try to make other advertisement inside the shop such as free mobile tunes and the like.

Finally, wish you good luck.
:) :cool:

[Don Khaled]

Originally posted by Kamakazy
valid ideas Don, i was thinking to go for AMD's since they are faster and cheeper, let me search for the athlon XP in this market we have here in Oman...

AMD is not faster than Intel, it's just that AMD produces better performance. And don't forget, you are making an internet caffee. You nee reliable, better, cheaper computers. AMD would be your ticket man.

Don't go for win98, believe me, you will have MORE headache than mice with balls. Because win98 is full of fatal, death screens, the BLUE SCREEN. And it will be slower on network with other computers.

Go for win2k, and don't think about winXP, always try to have an O/S which had it's final release of package.

I hope you didn't get the most fance video cards?

Anyways I have an idea for you. Why not have some X amount of computers for internet, and get yourself like five computers which are HIGH END specs, and make them for gaming? It will be awesome man ! Getting AthlonXP 2100+ with GF4 Ti4600, and great CRT's (not LCD's).

And oh yea, why did you get a 19" for monitors?? It's gonna be only for internet, so 17" will be more than enough.

Always think what your customers would be using computers for, not WHAT you think is the best in the market or so. After all, you wanna make business run smooth.

If i was rich, I would have opened long time in oman an internet caffee, but unfort, can't even afford a car :|

[ReVeLuTiOnAl^]

Don, as you are a compuetr expert, what do you think of my ideas, i am looking at the project from an economic point of view.

[Don Khaled]

I studied economy too, interesting field. Well let me now mix the econmy with the computer field, and get some conclusions maybe.

1) * Make something like membership card. So that for example you offer those who have membership with you about 400Bz/hour, with a monthly payment for example OR5.

There is a greater idea, why not make membership fees. Let's say, pay some X amount and come as much hours in a week/month. Yearly would be harder, because maybe this person ends up every day or so.

What i believe would be successful, as Rev^ mentioned, get a membership, and instead of paying 3X for internet, pay X, that means 1/3 cheaper (for example).


2) * You may also do training courses for those who want to learn about computing and using the net.

This is excellent idea. Now you need someone will train, and this person will need a salary. Think about it, you are in Oman, not in usa, so you will have some fixed salary. But if you can do a deal with the person as hourly pay, will be WAY better. So you won't loose, and the other person won't get too stressed.


3) * Make some days specially for girls.

Rev^, are we making an organsation now for girls? No. We are doing business. SO forget that, but a suggestion, you can make a special room for ladies who wanna use the internet and take thier hijab off. Good idea. Maybe a small room, with few computers, or even a closed section.

4) * start the first 3 days with lower rate, say 400 Bz/hour, this will give impression to the customers even when you raise the price later on.

Naah, never start with low rate and then go up. That is WRONG strategy. Don't give a hot deal, then suddenly blow it up. Prices should NEVER go up, except if an economy problem happens or recission. Although prices going down will be nice. Satisfy your customer first !


5) * If you can afford advertising, don't hesitate to make it.

You have EnglishSabla, you can advertise on it. You have my website too!


6) * fit a fridge in one corner with cold drinks such juices and soft drinks.

Where are you living man, in south pole! This is a wrong idea, and not accepted. In internet caffee, drinks, food, or such should NOT be allowed! Let's say she spills the pepsi by mistake on the keyboard? After all, we are not in shawarma coffee shop!


7) * if you have good capital money, try to decorate the shop from the inside, decoratives affect very much sychologically. Try also to lighten the outside baord that shows the shop's name, so that people can see it from a distance.

Firstly, make sure who works as the consultant not to stink, some indians are ****... don't let me continue! Hey no offense, but i've experience alot of them :|

Secondly, making the place friendly will attract MORE members. Make the place ALIVE, not dark. Don't forget, the 1st time the person will enter your shop, will attract them 1st the look, if they don't like it, there is NO second time for them. Rule of thumb.


8) * try to make other advertisement inside the shop such as free mobile tunes and the like.

Good idea too. But still, let's emphasise more on the computer zone first.


I hope i answered your questions Rev^! And Kamkazy, don't worry, just take few of tips and inshallah you will be fine ! Good luck man, and i am REALLY looking forward to see your business in a success. Maybe i'll join you one day, and offer me a good positon :)

[Don Khaled]

this is sweet, but you can way more than this

http://www.dansdata.com/images/atlasmod/amodglow500.jpg

check this out http://www.dansdata.com/altindex.html#reviews

[Don Khaled]

for your main server, would be sweet if you can get it a water cooling system, will work smoooth and forever.

http://www.dansdata.com/images/senfu/monster400.jpg

[ReVeLuTiOnAl^]

Don Doneh,,

Kama seems giving us no face..:p

[Don Khaled]

Rev, am pretty sure kamkazy is too good for us, so our help is nothing to him :| But no wonder he was printing this thread ;)

[Kamakazy]

thanks all for ur input, we had some similer ideas, and once the cafe is open, all sabla members will have special prices ;)

i was just concered with the AMD, and though it would give me some conflic on the network or with some software/hardware...

Don gave me all the clarification i needed, thanks...

oh yeah, Don, i didn't print this page, YET... :wink:

[Nimr Mal Zibala]

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