Safari Blend

Good Morning, Coffee Crew,

We are appreciating the warm, sunny days and happy that summer has arrived.  I am enjoying a cup of Safari Blend this morning.  This “wild” coffee has hints of citrus and cane sugar sweetness which pairs well with peanut butter and honey on whole wheat.  Safari Blend is a nice coffee on ice for an afternoon treat as well.

I read recently about a coffee shop that offered daily yoga sessions in their meeting room.  What a great idea!  Are you in a shop with space for a meeting room?  If so, you have an opportunity to open it up to the community for events such as book clubs, knitting classes, yoga sessions, Bible studies,  story times for kids, movie nights for families, teen nights, Monday night football, salsa dancing, nutrition and natural health care, support groups, college study groups, chess club, photography club, hiking groups, car buffs, and the sky is the limit.  Now, many of you don’t have meeting rooms, but you can set aside an area in your shop for events such as these.

And don’t forget about coffee tastings.  Making money while serving the community is always a good thing.

A customer shared with me that she has been asked to provide iced tea in pots to a beauty salon a few doors down from her coffee shop.  Consider the opportunities you might have with business offices, retail shops, etc.  These business owners will benefit with your great coffee or tea and appreciate your customer service.

We have talked about gift certificates and here is a new twist to consider for your business.  Consider other businesses you work with who are fans of you and your coffee.  Offer free gift cards to them to pass out to THEIR customers.  Now you are reaching out even further than your current customer base.  For instance, your pastry vendor, milk vendor, where you get your office supplies/business cards, your quick lube shop, beauty salon, health club, business next door, florist, hotel, and the list goes on.  I read about a partnership between a limo service and quick lube that did this and the limo service increased business by 20% in this economy.

“A coffee fanatic is a person who is enthusiastic about coffee”.  Let’s be fanatical about our products and opportunities available to us.  We must be creative and diligent.

Make it a great week!

Peggy Sue Ennenga