Digg Café

[danboodro]

For whatever reason, I've been thinking all morning about a wonderful, exciting place for Diggers to hang out and just chill. Hundreds of ideas are just swirling around in my head, but I can't quite put it all together.

What I've come up with so far is a 3 level corner cafe.

If there was a real Digg Café, what would you expect it to look like, where would you expect it to be, and what would you expect to find there? Be as descriptive and creative as possible. Let your mind run wild...

What you have to work with is a basement, 1st level, and 2nd level. Pictures are welcome.

Have fun!

[sgregory416]

the basement has to have some sort of dark geekyness going on like a d&d game with a 32 inch standard definition tv with a screwed up clothes hanger antenna playing star trek deep space nine. dont forget the washer and dryer from 1975.

[tokenuser]

First up, I'd be changing the name so I didn't get into any legal trouble ...

"DIGG, DIGG IT, DUGG, DIGG THIS, Digg graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, scripts, and other service names are the trademarks of Digg Inc."

That would also mean changing the logo, and probably abandoning the domain name as well.

The place would be wired as well as wifi.

When you fire up a web browser, you would be given a web page that has the menu items listed - and you could order straight from there for table side delivery.

There would be a ban on speakers (headphones only), but you could add tracks from your laptop/device to the current playlist piped over the speakers. If it is a really really crappy song, the patrons in the cafe could vote it down to get it off the playlist. At the end of the year, the top 20 songs would be compiled into the annual christmas albumn and offered for sale via iTunes (proceeds to the CAD ToyDrive).

All tables will have RJ45 jacks, as well as power outlets.

There will be a "protolab", where you can go to try out the new toys and gadgets ... including a versalaser where you could engraved your stuff ($1/minute of engraving time ... bookings taken in advance, no walkins).

[esophagus]

I think I should be taking notes. If I had a shit ton of money, that Cafe would be an awesome business venture (Token's, that is).

[heyseuss]

At the door, a guy that says "first" when you walk in followed by a hallway lined with people who say, "fuck you noob" as you walk by.

[kahunablair]

I think I should be taking notes. If I had a shit ton of money, that Cafe would be an awesome business venture (Token's, that is).

Darn right it would be. Nice ideas, Token!

[Bohemian_Beauty]

I love the idea... I'd spend all my time there if I didn't have kidlets.

[skyz]

I think I should be taking notes. If I had a shit ton of money, that Cafe would be an awesome business venture (Token's, that is).

write ;) up a great business plan and see if you can get vc money

don't forget token's royalty share for the original well thought out idea :D

you could end up with franchises all over the world

electronica companies could probably be induced to provide free toys for the costumers to peruse

i'd think up a good name for you but you would have to pay me :cool:

[ariastar]

Um, where are there enough Digg fans in one location that a three-level café would have enough patronage to stay open? Realistically speaking, would there be enough revenue to pay the overhead associated with this, or are we talking you inherited a billion dollars and don't care? :)

I'd like to see a bunch of recliners with dim lighting and blankets so I could curl up and BS around online.

[skyz]

Um, where are there enough Digg fans in one location that a three-level café would have enough patronage to stay open? Realistically speaking, would there be enough revenue to pay the overhead associated with this, or are we talking you inherited a billion dollars and don't care? :)

I'd like to see a bunch of recliners with dim lighting and blankets so I could curl up and BS around online.

i think the consumer base could easily be enlarged to include 'digg type' fans of which there should be enough

[Bohemian_Beauty]

Beat me to it. :Pi think the consumer base could easily be enlarged to include 'digg type' fans of which there should be enough

[esophagus]

Um, where are there enough Digg fans in one location that a three-level café would have enough patronage to stay open? Realistically speaking, would there be enough revenue to pay the overhead associated with this, or are we talking you inherited a billion dollars and don't care? :)

I'd like to see a bunch of recliners with dim lighting and blankets so I could curl up and BS around online.Short of needing some sort of VIP Digg Membership to get in, I think this place would hold a pretty broad appeal.

[tokenuser]

I had those ideas many, many years ago. It was a basic model for an internet cafe. They call those places "Starbucks", "Panera", or similar these days.

I feel the only thing missing fom those places is the power outlets (it is a reason why I travel with a power strip - esp in airports) so that you can share your outlet with others. Wifi is catching up in speed, but RJ45 data ports would be welcome for high speed connections.

[danboodro]

Well, in all honesty, the whole reason I started this thread was because I'm very much thinking about the possibilities of starting some kind of Digg style iCafe. I think the biggest thing that comes into play with this idea though, is location. I thought for a while about LA. I'm sure there are tons of diggers in Cali, but there's tons all over the world. The best place would obviously be the area with the highest concentrated population of diggers and tech savys. IMO central California. And if that cafe becomes ridiculously successful, expand to other large cities, either across California first or other states like New York, Illinois, etc.

The potential for overwhelming popularity and success is there, it's just, how do we go about getting it. Us, as diggers and the like, we know what kind of people we're targeting, so that's a big plus for us. We know who they are, what they like, what they don't like. But then you have to think, Digg isn't just for a specific group of people, it's for everyone. And having the cafe for "everyone" will generate much more business.

I know I'm speaking the obvious, but just thinking out loud.

[ariastar]

Well, in all honesty, the whole reason I started this thread was because I'm very much thinking about the possibilities of starting some kind of Digg style iCafe. I think the biggest thing that comes into play with this idea though, is location. I thought for a while about LA. I'm sure there are tons of diggers in Cali, but there's tons all over the world. The best place would obviously be the area with the highest concentrated population of diggers and tech savys. IMO central California. And if that cafe becomes ridiculously successful, expand to other large cities, either across California first or other states like New York, Illinois, etc.

The potential for overwhelming popularity and success is there, it's just, how do we go about getting it. Us, as diggers and the like, we know what kind of people we're targeting, so that's a big plus for us. We know who they are, what they like, what they don't like. But then you have to think, Digg isn't just for a specific group of people, it's for everyone. And having the cafe for "everyone" will generate much more business.

I know I'm speaking the obvious, but just thinking out loud.

Central California generally refers to the valley (not San Fernando, the big valley in the middle of the state. Seriously, forget that area. I think you meant NorCal or the Bay Area. Home turf of Digg. You might even get the guys to be regulars.

Thing is there already are internet places here, so you'd really need something that makes it special. Outlets at every seat, better seating than hard wood, perhaps a weekly showing of the most recent episodes of Rev3 shows.

[mikec]

First up, I'd be changing the name so I didn't get into any legal trouble ...

"DIGG, DIGG IT, DUGG, DIGG THIS, Digg graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, scripts, and other service names are the trademarks of Digg Inc."

That would also mean changing the logo, and probably abandoning the domain name as well.


Unless you could work out a licensing deal. Do you remember the show "Cheers", mid 80's US TV, I think it was on NBC. Someone involved "owned" the rights to the name "Cheers" and licensed bars to use that name. That person made lots of $$$.

Digg has to protect their trademark but a license agreement would be a form of protection.

[skyz]

Well, in all honesty, the whole reason I started this thread was because I'm very much thinking about the possibilities of starting some kind of Digg style iCafe. I think the biggest thing that comes into play with this idea though, is location. I thought for a while about LA. I'm sure there are tons of diggers in Cali, but there's tons all over the world. The best place would obviously be the area with the highest concentrated population of diggers and tech savys. IMO central California. And if that cafe becomes ridiculously successful, expand to other large cities, either across California first or other states like New York, Illinois, etc.

The potential for overwhelming popularity and success is there, it's just, how do we go about getting it. Us, as diggers and the like, we know what kind of people we're targeting, so that's a big plus for us. We know who they are, what they like, what they don't like. But then you have to think, Digg isn't just for a specific group of people, it's for everyone. And having the cafe for "everyone" will generate much more business.

I know I'm speaking the obvious, but just thinking out loud.

thinking out loud is good

write it all down and do research and keep all the links ( i have a private blog for my venture)

but not to be disloyal to digg thing think more inclusively pop urls (http://popurls.com/)

research everything that is already being done that is similar

study starbucks

think about the separate factors that are important

focus on what is being done that you can do as well or better

think about what could make you unique

think how you are going to attract the talent you need from legal to food to style

me i am good at style and branding i could help you there

everything counts the name the logo the architecture the colors the sound system the lighting the size of the tables the comfort of the seating la la la

from one of aria's post i saw that there was a niche between staying home lying on my bed perusing the net for fun and profit and getting up getting dressed up and going to a cafe

if you can come up with something that is almost as comfy as home but more fun you win

your idea gets tested if you can get vc money to back you

if you can use other people's money and your own imagination and bring together talented people you have nothing to lose

[danboodro]

I think it would be great to work out a licensing agreement with Digg or Revision3, Benefiting both them and myself and the others I decide to work with on this. But of course I'd have to make sure that the cafe runs strong with little to no problems at all, just to keep a good name for Digg, which I would be loyal to.

I was browsing around Barnes and Noble a bit yesterday looking around for "starting your own business" type books, but I had no idea what I was looking for. If anyone else has started their own business, what did you know prior and was it enough? Any recommended books or resources you think would be helpful for me?

[skyz]

ggogle is your friend (http://www.google.com/search?q=selling+your+million+dollar+idea&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GFRG)

forbes is friendly too (http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/)

you don't need to be a spin off of digg your idea needs to be able to stand on its own

though you can have special events for 'diggers' or 'rev3' or host a taping etc.

think instead of becoming so successful that you can be a rev3 sponsor :cool:

[danboodro]

Oh no no no, Google is my companion. :) But rather than browsing sources which may be completely unreliable, I was looking for more of a narrowed down resource, like a specific book or site.

I have seen a couple books with "Forbes" on it, but again, rather than reading books that may be completely irrelevant to my goals, I'd rather just find one that is either close or right on to what I'd like to do. But I guess it would benefit me more than anything to read anything on business, just to expand my knowledge and prepare myself for any future goals.

Skyz, you seem like you know what you're talking about. The idea of becoming more than just a "spin off of digg", like a sponsor, would benefit the cafe much more because we could also look to other online companies and internet social groups. Removing that small barrier could open it up to an extremely LARGE population, in return giving the cafe more business, which could then lead to massive expansion. Imagine hundreds of these cafes across the US and then thousands across the globe.

But, like everyone is saying already, it's going to have to be something more than the average corner coffee house or Starbucks.

[skyz]

Oh no no no, Google is my companion. :) But rather than browsing sources which may be completely unreliable, I was looking for more of a narrowed down resource, like a specific book or site.

I have seen a couple books with "Forbes" on it, but again, rather than reading books that may be completely irrelevant to my goals, I'd rather just find one that is either close or right on to what I'd like to do. But I guess it would benefit me more than anything to read anything on business, just to expand my knowledge and prepare myself for any future goals.

Skyz, you seem like you know what you're talking about. The idea of becoming more than just a "spin off of digg", like a sponsor, would benefit the cafe much more because we could also look to other online companies and internet social groups. Removing that small barrier could open it up to an extremely LARGE population, in return giving the cafe more business, which could then lead to massive expansion. Imagine hundreds of these cafes across the US and then thousands across the globe.

But, like everyone is saying already, it's going to have to be something more than the average corner coffee house or Starbucks.

thank you kindly sir :)

i studied music for years then i started taking music BUSINESS and i was stunned to realize 'you can make serious money' :cool:

i even had a subscription to harvard business journal

branding is powerful - there is a reason why people go to starbucks - it isn't just by chance

since you are creating something that will exist in the future you can think of evolving trends to incorporate in your idea

you would want to be very green (re cycled paper solar panels and such) and the tech needs to be very clean

and the company needs to have attractive employee benefits and a visible social conscience

good luck

[tokenuser]

I am a technology guy (software engineer - 20 years experience) working in a software company, but mainly on the sales and marketing side of the house these days. Since that is NOT my background (and despite colleagues encouraging me over to the dark side, I maintain that I would suck at sales), I read a lot of marketing books so that I at least know what they are talkign about.

Selling software is a little different - it is largely "Selling the Invisible (http://www.amazon.com/Selling-Invisible-Field-Modern-Marketing/dp/0446520942)" (ie - selling people on the idea of what the software can do for them), but the idea of "Positioning (http://www.amazon.com/Positioning-Battle-Your-Mind-Anniversary/dp/0071359168/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208356327&sr=1-1)" and and knowing that "Your Marketing Sucks (http://www.amazon.com/Your-Marketing-Sucks-Mark-Stevens/dp/1400081696/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208356449&sr=1-1)" are universal for anyone starting out in business. You need to know branding, learning from the mistakes of others, and importantly if you are trying to attract investors - how to communicate the brand, image, and concepts to them so that they get it.

Each of those books are on my bookshelf. They each have important lessons in them for sales and marketing. If you go into your local B&N or Borders, you will find other books on the subject on the shelves around them. Its all good.

BUT - Remember that the failure rate of restaurants in the first 12 months is roughly 1 in 2 (sorry - no source of that number, its just one that stuck in my head). You need cash reserves to get you past the first 12 months until you figure out what you are doing and make it profitable. A cafe is just a restaurant with a limited menu. Having a specialised hook is good, but you still need to make it appealing for people to come in and stay and spend money - you don't want it to be a substitute for the local youth club and get used as a hangout for people who are going to just get "cups for water".

[danboodro]

Yea Token, I'll take a drive over to Barnes today and look around for those books. I also found a few books there last time for just starting a restaurant, but I think I'd rather keep myself open to all types of business, although I'm sure there are plenty of nice tips that would be helpful for starting restaurants that I may not find in the general business books. Hell, I'll just buy both. :)

Also wanna say thanks to you guys for helping me out so far. It's nice to get some good insight from people who know what they're talking about. Very much appreciated.

A few things I'm a bit worried about right now for this whole plan is location. I'm only 19 years old, live in Michigan (where the economy is at its lowest), I'd be taking a huge risk in moving out to somewhere like California, obtaining financial stability, and being able to "live" comfortably out there. I don't have too much money as of now, and if I were to apply for a business loan, I can't be sure if I'd be looked at seriously by the banks.

I'm not too sure where to start. Obviously I'll start learning as much as possible, but once I have that wealth of information locked up in my head, where do I go from there?

[tokenuser]

At 19, going for the 3 storey megaplex is not going to happen. Noone wil lend you that type of money. Think shopfront internet cafe instead, try out your ideas, tweak the concept, then move on up. I am not sure where in Michigan you are, but something like what you describe in the downtown campus area in Ann Arbor would probably go down well too - and with college students, its an instant market.

[skyz]

At 19, going for the 3 storey megaplex is not going to happen. Noone wil lend you that type of money. Think shopfront internet cafe instead, try out your ideas, tweak the concept, then move on up. I am not sure where in Michigan you are, but something like what you describe in the downtown campus area in Ann Arbor would probably go down well too - and with college students, its an instant market.

all he needs is some success - a tiny place that becomes the 'in' place and then he can get $

think of it as building a model like a model that an architect would build to show off a mega $ project

and don't forget that old dinosaur known as the library

i go through books like babies go through pampers and some are very pricey so i use the library - inter library loan can get your pretty much anything

business magazines are very concise and up to the moment with their articles

[radzack]

Haha. I love this....great minds...

Those of you who know me know that I actually already have money in a venture like this....should be verrrry interesting....lips are sealed as of now. I'm glad everyone is excited!

[danboodro]

At 19, going for the 3 storey megaplex is not going to happen. Noone wil lend you that type of money. Think shopfront internet cafe instead, try out your ideas, tweak the concept, then move on up. I am not sure where in Michigan you are, but something like what you describe in the downtown campus area in Ann Arbor would probably go down well too - and with college students, its an instant market.

oh god no, i don't expect that so soon, just an example of what i'd like to end up with. i live up in the thumb a bit, by the Blue Water Bridge. Ann Arbor isn't too far away from me, but far enough to where i'd have to move there to run a business. Grand Rapids would be a great area too, but thats even further.

all he needs is some success - a tiny place that becomes the 'in' place and then he can get $

think of it as building a model like a model that an architect would build to show off a mega $ project

and don't forget that old dinosaur known as the library

i go through books like babies go through pampers and some are very pricey so i use the library - inter library loan can get your pretty much anything

business magazines are very concise and up to the moment with their articles

jeez, i haven't been to the library since I started getting serious into computers about 4 or 5 years ago. i should look around though, forgot that place existed.

Haha. I love this....great minds...

Those of you who know me know that I actually already have money in a venture like this....should be verrrry interesting....lips are sealed as of now. I'm glad everyone is excited!

though i doubt we'll ever cross paths later on and become rivals, i respect you keeping your ideas to yourself. i was kind of weary about posting mine as well, but when you really think about it, out of the people that actually would steal an idea like this, how many would actually go out and do it. anyone could read this and say "hmm...I'm gonna do that in my area and make millions!", but i doubt they actually would. i added you on pownce, hopefully we can talk a bit.

[tokenuser]

i was kind of weary about posting mine as well, but when you really think about it, out of the people that actually would steal an idea like this, how many would actually go out and do it. anyone could read this and say "hmm...I'm gonna do that in my area and make millions!", but i doubt they actually would. i added you on pownce, hopefully we can talk a bit.I hate to say it, but your idea isn't particularly unique or novel. It is a concept for an internet cafe, and every major city in the world has them. Take a trip to Tokyo, and you will see the exact concept you are striving for in Ginza or Akihabara. They exist in major US cities as well - in fact, I was in a Borders Cafe this morning doing some work in an environment not unlike that which you have described.

Setting up an internet cafe like this is cool, but as I said earlier, it is neither unique or novel.

BTW - I was going to a place called BarCode (http://barcode.melbourneaustralia.com.au/) in Melbourne (Australia, not Florida) back in the mid 90's that embodies some of what you want, with the added bonus of alcohol.

[skyz]

I hate to say it, but your idea isn't particularly unique or novel. It is a concept for an internet cafe, and every major city in the world has them. Take a trip to Tokyo, and you will see the exact concept you are striving for in Ginza or Akihabara. They exist in major US cities as well - in fact, I was in a Borders Cafe this morning doing some work in an environment not unlike that which you have described.

Setting up an internet cafe like this is cool, but as I said earlier, it is neither unique or novel.

BTW - I was going to a place called BarCode (http://barcode.melbourneaustralia.com.au/) in Melbourne (Australia, not Florida) back in the mid 90's that embodies some of what you want, with the added bonus of alcohol.

that is true but he could make it novel if he was really into it

there are lots of good ideas

there is a lot of entrepreneurial spirit here

but you have to be really really into it

there are a lot of fashion 'brands' making a lot of money

each has their devotees

it is how well done it is that makes the difference i think

if it were me rather than alcohol i would serve the eco health and beauty set

i would frequent such a place

[tokenuser]

Drinking age downunder is 18, and we are for the most part pretty responsible about it. For the environment (the first barcode was in the Crown Casino complex) it was appropriate, but it doesn't fit a US market particularly well because of the drinking age. In Cali a smoothie/juice bar, coffee shop, exotic softdrink selection would go down better.

Again, harking back to my days in Melbourne, we used to haunt Daimaru's food hall area (unfortunately, the Japanese deprtment store closed down at that location back in 2002). They imported softdrink/soda from around the world. Our office reserved one of the first cases of Jolt imported into Australia.