Jackie Williams from David Barke Appliances.
The coffee category is a strong performer for David Barke Appliances and sales manager for coffee, Jacqui Williams does not foresee a slowdown in sales; rather an upturn for the years to come as Australians love for their caffeine hit and café culture continues.
“Customers continue to search for that perfect cup of coffee they get at their local barista. Quality has definitely become the most important factor when purchasing a machine,” she explained.
“It is not unusual for consumers to come into our store with a price point in mind, but once asked about the household size, how many cups are consumed per day and what the favourite coffee type is, that they end up spending more than their budget,” she continued.
Williams has witnessed a shift from pods and fully automatics to manual machines, as they offer “a more hands-on experience, are more versatile, and give users more control.”
“It is very important to inform customers on the features and benefits of different machines and educate them on how to operate various functions, including steaming the milk and cleaning the machine. We don’t want our customers to get home with their machine and be disappointed,” she said.
In order to do this, David Barke Appliances performs in-store demonstrations on featured coffee machines. “Not only does this teach customers about the machine, but using fresh beans produces a beautiful aroma and more inviting atmosphere for the store,” Williams noted.
When asked about key players in the category, Nespresso was hands-down the retailer’s best-selling brand thanks to its “strong advertising campaign, regular cashback promotions, service support and exclusive Nespresso Club membership.” However, the Breville Oracle and Sunbeam EM7100 have also been successful performers and are a personal favourite for Moses. “These two machines provide everything at your fingertips, offer a great taste, thick crema, and look amazing on the benchtop,” she said.
David Barke Appliances, formerly David Barke Retravision, is located in Rosebud, Victoria, approximately 90km south of Melbourne. The retailer has been servicing the Mornington Peninsula for over 25 years.