Switched our cafe's playlist from chill jazz to 80s pop and saw a 15% jump in afternoon sales

We have a small spot in Echo Park and our afternoon slump was killing us. A regular joked that our music was making people sleepy, so as a test, I made a playlist of upbeat 80s pop and synthwave for two weeks. I didn't tell the staff about the change. The first day was strange, but by the end of the first week, our 2-5 PM ticket averages went from about $12 to nearly $14. People stayed longer but ordered more refills and pastries, and the energy in the room just felt different. I think the faster tempo subconsciously kept people more alert and social. It was a cheap fix that actually worked. Has anyone else messed with their cafe's background music and seen a real change in how customers act?

2 comments

2 Comments

haydenbutler6d ago

Tried lo-fi beats for a study crowd once and it just made everyone talk quieter (and buy less coffee).

claire_walker6d ago

Honestly, @haydenbutler, maybe that's why lo-fi backfired, but 80s pop just makes people want to move and spend.