JULY 2024
CONTRIBUTING EXPERT: JOY ZHOU, SALES SUPPORT AND MARKETING MANAGER | EIS CHINA

Finding unconventional ways to serve customers – particularly in the foodservice and the coffee and tea industries – became a popular method for survival during COVID-19 and the shutdowns it caused. Evidence suggests this trend has staying power. 

The idea of a cozy coffee or tea shop where you can sit at a table all day with your laptop for work or a good book still persists. But there has always been grab-and-go clientele who aren’t interested in a carefully curated atmosphere for lounging around - people who want to grab a beverage while on the go. 

So, how do you make it easier for those movers and shakers to take advantage of your services? Well, you set up shop where those people already are. And you make it so they don’t even need to open a door to access your service counter.  

Coffee carts, coffee stations, and mobile carriages 

In China and other Asia-Pacific markets, Elkay Interior Systems has introduced a foodservice mobile carriage, coffee cart (essentially smaller versions of the carriage), and a kiosk – also known as a coffee station – and brands are snapping them up.     

Leading global brands have ordered more than two dozen mobile carriages and carts. They’ve also installed a couple dozen coffee stations.  

These brands are taking the carts out to public parks and other outdoor spaces. They’re literally taking their services to where the people are; offering a quick refreshment to those who aren’t necessarily seeking these services, but who appreciate having the option without disrupting their day.  

The kiosks aren’t mobile, but they can be placed in pedestrian areas where passersby can be lured by the promise of a quick, convenient stop for service before continuing on their way. And they can be installed relatively cheaply and quickly – usually within just a couple of days. 

“The investment of time and money for kiosks and carriages is lower than to decorate a store,” said Joy Zhou, Sales Support and Marketing Manager of Elkay Interior Systems in China. “They provide more flexibility, too. For instance, when a customer needs to renovate their old store, they can put a carriage or kiosks near the old store, so they can keep selling coffee or snacks.” 

The beauty of these mobile solutions is their customizability. A skilled designer and manufacturer can apply their experience designing and manufacturing interiors to outfit these carts, carriages, and kiosks with the necessary functionality to meet the client’s needs.  

These solutions can be designed to fit in with clients’ brand standards, too, so they provide patrons with a familiar brand experience on the go. 

Growing the industry through innovation 

In March 2024, EIS introduced the mobile carriage and coffee station designs at HOTELEX Shanghai 2024, a conference the highlights the latest in China’s hospitality, retail, and catering industries.  

The concepts proved to be a hit, winning the HOTELEX Innovative Product Award for their ability to positively impact how the coffee and tea industry reaches and serves customers. And organizations are starting to take notice, too! 

A common bit of wisdom that has pervaded for hundreds of years is “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” It’s believed to have first been published in Miguel de Cervantes’ “Don Quixote” all the way back in 1605. Some of the world’s biggest brands are applying this advice to the concept of location, as customers relish being able to enjoy their food and drinks in places other than the inside of a restaurant. 

About Elkay Interior Systems   

Elkay Interior Systems (EIS) is a tight-knit team of industry-leading designers, commercial-grade manufacturers, innovative engineers, resourceful project managers, and sourcing experts committed to every stage of your project by guaranteeing quality and reliability. We stand out from the crowd with our 40+ years of global experience in the restaurant, hospitality, retail, and education markets. We believe in simplifying the complicated.