Coffee shops have become “home offices” for freelancers

The key, the manager says, is to talk to the customer

Last week, a video clip spread on social media in which A The bakery owner was fired With a piece of wood in hand, the customer left notebook Open on the table. There is no law in Brazil regarding the release or prohibition of the use of electronic devices in commerce, so each entrepreneur determines his business strategy.

Paolo Gabriel, training manager for the Sofá Café franchise, is accustomed to receiving consumers who spend the entire morning or afternoon at work. He is in charge of four cafés, one in Pinheiros, on the corner of Avenida Faria Lima, the country's financial center, and another in Villa Olimpia, which is full of commercial buildings.

For Gabrielle, it's normal to ask customers sitting at tables with three or four chairs to change seats during peak service times. He says the conversation is done “with a lot of respect” and works most of the time. He stresses that few people complain.

Who is in a commercial area [Faria Lima e Vila Olímpia] They are usually in a hurry and order coffee because they need to get back to work quickly. The client is here [na unidade da Santa Cecília, inaugurada há dois anos] Come and feel more comfortable because you will likely have more time.
Paolo Gabriele, Training Manager at Sofa Café

Further from the centre, Espaço Sophia, which operates as a café, co-working space and library on the same property, has a loyal clientele from the Anália Franco neighbourhood, east of the capital. Owner Thais Guimarías Pimentel says that since it is in a more residential area, it is necessary to win over the customer.