I did an extremely soft opening of my shop on Tuesday. I didn't promote it to any of my friends or patrons of the place I worked at before. Sales were lame but I mostly wanted to see what was fucked up before I got busy.
Wednesday sales doubled from the day before. Several repeat customers. There were multiple mentions on the site "Next Door" announcing my opening. Around six people said that they came because I was mentioned on "Next Door." Wasn't planing to announcing on the internet that I was open until Friday or Saturday so I could find my feet but "Next Door" seems to be very popular in the area. People were very kind about the shop online.
I announced that I would give a one dollar discount to anyone who came in and mentioned the site, we'll see how that goes. Several people said they would be coming in soon.
I tried a shit ton of coffee before I opened and ended up going with a roaster that only makes single origin coffee. They are more than fair trade (which wasn't by any means a goal but I dig it). For at least one of the varieties of coffee I'm serving I know the name of the farmer who grew the beans, seems crazy to me that I have some kind of direct connection to a farmer in Guatemala. The roaster I'm buying from distributes mostly by bicycle, the owner is a super nice guy who I couldn't be more happy to give my money to.
If there is one thing I'm most worried about it's success. I don't want to run out of shit and it's hard to predict how much I'm going to go through day by day. I know it's something that will even out in a few weeks but every patron you disappoint is lost revenue going forward.
My milk steaming skills are shit... Ok they could be worse, but my friend who has tired to train me produces perfect velvety milk in perfect proportion to the drink he is making every time and it's been a long time since I haven't been very good at my job. I hate not being good at what I do. I think that I found the one place a median distance from downtown Portland that doesn't have a coffee shop within eight blocks. There is one good coffee shop in the area but the other competition is Starbucks (if you dig it good for you, but thanks for burning the shit out of your coffee and making my roaster look like a fucking genius).
I've got a dope record player and amplifier from the mid seventies and have mostly been playing old R&B and soul records. Most people don't seem to have realized that music is a major component of what I have going on but a few people seem to be in the groove.
I don't know what else to say. I'm looking at 70 hour work weeks for at least a month. Feeling healthy, hopeful and strong. I'm already tired of listening to my own bullshit but it's probably because the nuance of the bullshit is novel now that I'm an owner of capital.
There are many ways in which I think my shop is lame right now. A guy who owns a coffee shop told me that it should take me about three years to make enough money to do all the things I want to do to the shop and enjoy any money that I might be making, so that gives me some heart.
I'll leave you all with a little anecdote. My landlord came in with a fucking giant bouquet of pink flowers today for my opening (he is a super nice Asian guy, his wife is a hard bargainer and I am mostly glad to be giving them my money). Later on my Asian health inspector came in (he's been my inspector at my last job for years), looked at the bouquet and said "You have an Asian who loves you." I'm like "WTF are you talking about?" He says "Asian's always give pink bouquet's." It cracked me up, who knew.
I won't post the name of my shop or the address as I want to maintain some Hubski anonymity. Sadly I think Hubski has become a less friendly place these past few months and I don't trust someone with an ax to grind to not do me wrong online. If I know you well and you are coming to Portland drop me a line because I'd love to meet almost all of you. My Hubski time is at about a tenth of what it normally is, I miss it but it's good to know you are all here when I have the time.
XOXO cgod.
Why the fuck is it that as soon as I bitch and whine about being useless when it comes to projects everyone fucking comes out and talks about the crazy, life-changing, "this is my moment" projects they've been doing.
Alright, I'm ready, who's next. Who built a plane? Who just finished their movie? I know Klein's got a novel stewing, is that shit gonn miraculously publish itself tomorrow? FUuuuckin HIT ME hubski, I can take it
e: no wait guys I was joking
Yo, I'm forty years old, I've worked my ass off for this to happen.
I've lived so much of my life as a useless wastrel...
Just getting my shit together right now.
You seem to have yourself together much more than I did at your age and you look much better in a suit than I do.
Don't despair.
I've been paying rent on this space for just over a year. My finances are devastated. I've got so many battle scars from dealing with the city. I don't know if I had it to do over if I would, but here I am.
If anyone asked me what I thought of you I would say that you are a smart, articulate, handsome man who is passionate and good at expressing himself in the written word. You have at least one niche that you are destined to fill and will probably inspire many people to reach for something more than they would have without you.
We haven't had many direct interactions on Hubski but I always take note of what you have to offer and it has sadden me whenever you have drawn away from the community because people are shitty. There is something good waiting for you, hope you see it when it pops it's head up.
OK, so I should add this to the Slogo and Lo-Gans. I mean logos and slogans.
Hubski: Paling your achievements in comparison -- since 2010
Don't think of it like that!
You're not wrong about the trend here lately with so many prominent community members making distinguishing victories. But guess what? You're one of us, and just as likely to hit the Hubski life-lottery (terrible analogy, sorry) as anyone else. And when we win, we seem to win pretty big around here.
We all know you're capable of incredible things. It's not like Hubskina was your last act; you've only just begun to fight, young 8bit.
Keep incubating. I'm really sorry to hear that shit's fucked for you at the moment, bruh. :(
e: woosh
I built a plane. jk i can't even build a cogent sentejkhgjksdgh
(but actually i forgot the order of the alphabet this morning d'oh)
Congratulations, brother. No matter how this plays out (and if anyone can succeed here, you will), this makes perfect sense to me. You have a vision and will that is best suited to ownership. You've done a lot of owners good, and it seems right that you get your turn. Now get yourself a young cgod on staff.
This warms my heart.
As for the bump in toxicity, I am determined to give us all we need to feel that we can sideline it as much as we do offline. I don't care to support opinions alone, I want to support thoughtful conversation. If someone can't express their opinions in a thoughtful manner, everyone should have the choice not to suffer them.
cgodspeed!
I coulda swore I've posted this like five times on Hubski, but it ain't showing.
I coulda swore I've made you read it at least three times, in which case, apologies for the fourth.
- According to recent figures from the Specialty Coffee Association of America, 57 percent of the nation's coffeehouses are still mom and pops. Just over the five-year period from 2000 to 2005—long after Starbucks supposedly obliterated indie cafes—the number of mom and pops grew 40 percent, from 9,800 to nearly 14,000 coffeehouses. (Starbucks, I might add, tripled in size over that same time period. Good times all around.) So much for the sharp decline in locally owned coffee shops. And prepare yourself for some bona fide solid investment advice: The failure rate for new coffeehouses is a mere 10 percent, according to the market research firm Mintel, which means the vast majority of cafes stay afloat no matter where Starbucks drops its stores. Compare that to the restaurant business, where failure is the norm.
I would bet on a coffee shop before I'd bet on anything else and I'd bet on a coffee shop next to a Starbuck's before I'd bet on a coffee shop somewhere else. Let them do the market research and then bleed customers to shop owners sick of burnt beans.
And hey. Maybe in a few months me and ButterflyEffect will hop on the train and come visit your ass. I've just got to open my own ridiculous six-figure venture first.
Congratulations. It's gonna be awesome.
You'll like this, Starbucks trying to negotiate the purchase of a plot of land down the block from my shop. Lots of neighbors are unhappy about it but I've repeatedly said there is plenty of room for me and a charcoal water shop in the area.
Don't think I've mentioned it but there is also a 5000 student Catholic University near by to which I'm the closest coffee shop not run by their commissary.
- You'll like this, Starbucks trying to negotiate the purchase of a plot of land down the block from my shop. Lots of neighbors are unhappy about it but I've repeatedly said there is plenty of room for me and a charcoal water shop in the area.
Yeah, companies like Starbucks are notorious for pulling crap like that. It sounds like this might actually be a mixed blessing for you. If the idea is already upsetting your neighbours, it sounds like they're supportive of local businesses and just by choosing to exist in the same neighbourhood, Starbucks is helping you ossify loyal customers. At the same time, Starbucks is insanely popular and they get BUSY. During their peak hours, they'll have lines out the door. This could be an actual win for you, because once people start to know that you exist, during those peak times they won't want to wait at Starbucks so they'll come to you. I can honestly say, half the time my lunch decision is based solely on which restaurant seems the least busy at the moment.
- Don't think I've mentioned it but there is also a 5000 student Catholic University near by to which I'm the closest coffee shop not run by their commissary.
Shit. That sounds like shooting fish in a barrel right there. Have you thought about what you'll do to market to those students? Like maybe an open mic night or something?
- Shit. That sounds like shooting fish in a barrel right there. Have you thought about what you'll do to market to those students? Like maybe an open mic night or something?
Probably by screaming strange things and discounts on YikYak at them. They don't seem like a big open mic crowd.
- Probably by screaming strange things and discounts on YikYak at them.
"CAFFEINE BITCHES! COME GET YOURS! 20% OFF YOUR FIRST CUP OF COFFEE! YOU WANT IT CAUSE REDBULL TASTES LIKE SHIT!"
"FUCK CORPORATE AMERICA! TELL STARBUCKS TO SIT ON IT AND SPIN! BUY MY COFFEE INSTEAD!"
"FINALS DRAGGING YOU DOWN? TRY COCAINE! DON'T HAVE ANY? I HAVE THE NEXT BEST THING! MUTHAFUCKINGCAFFEINEDAWG!!!!"
Hell yes we will. I'm glad locally owned places are thriving. I've actually found a great roaster over in Olympia. Working in the industry is weird because ultimately the stuff cgod and other locals are doing is what I love, and yet I'm the competition to that. Hard to resolve.
First of all, congratulations. This post makes me incredibly happy brother.
I'm looking forward to talking with you more about it as time goes on.
- I don't know what else to say. I'm looking at 70 hour work weeks for at least a month.
I predict more :)
- A guy who owns a coffee shop told me that it should take me about three years to make enough money to do all the things I want to do to the shop and enjoy any money that I might be making,
Not sure how well it maps, but this is precisely in line with my wife's retail shop.
- There are many ways in which I think my shop is lame right now.
Just today I was installing some security systems in the shop and M said "If I had a fucking week to close down and hole up in here, I would transform this fucking place into the coolest fucking shop on the planet that would blow everybody's mind." Worth noting that her customers already think it is, but she is never satisfied with the status quo and intimately aware of every tiny place it falls short in her eyes.
Life goals: Sit at cgod's counter and have him make me an espresso. Luckily this is an easy one.
Congrats cgod. I have some experience opening a restaurant in New York with some acquaintances recently. It's been about 6 months since it opened and the most concise advice I can give is keep costs low, have enough capital to survive twice as long as your worst case scenario, and market yourself to as wide an audience as possible.
It sounds like you are prepared to personally put in all the TLC that a budding new business needs and this is the most important thing of all. Best of luck and enjoy yourself.
Holy MOLY good for you! There's a really cool coffee shop in Baltimore called Red Emma's that popped into my head when you mentioned your new perspective on capital as a newfound capitalist! Ok, you didn't say quite that, but if it interests you, here is an article about how Red Emma's funded their expansion restaurant. I even think it was posted on hubski before. They share how important it was for them to work with and how hard it was to find ethical lending institutions to create their vision.
Anyways, best of best of luck. I don't know when I'll next be in Oregon, but if so, I'll drop you a line and come find your groovy shop.
Congratulations cgod! I'm super excited to hear how things go down the road. Just got into specialty coffee this past year (and roasting my own beans thanks to ecib's popcorn popper guide putting the idea in my head) and actually convinced the school to fund my coffee club (so now I get a budget, and some extra equipment......hehe).
Let me know how things work out. I'd love to come by your shop next time I'm in Portland, though who knows when that'll be haha :)
Holy shit that is awesome! I am so happy for you. One of the things I do for a living is help people open businesses, Congratulations.
This shop sounds awesome cgod, I can't wait to make a trip to it. The music sounds rad and you probably have a lot of ideas for that alone.
When you say more than fair trade are you referring to direct trade? Next question is if you've done any of the SCAA courses and certifications?
Warning: if we meet I might have a million questions, what you're doing is a dream of mine. Best of luck and given what little I know of you I think you'll be successful in time.
More about my roaster http://www.couriercoffeeroasters.com/wordpress/
Glad for you, pal! That's great, having your own shop; one of dreams of mine is to have antique shop of my own.
Wayward winds to your journey! You talk about it with such enthusiasm that I'd be glad to visit it if I wasn't on the other side of the planet, even if I don't drink coffee.
Besides coffee drinks, Tea, Pastries, bagels, muffins and cookies.
If you come to my shop for a reason other than coffee you are probably coming for the wrong reasons.
I've said before on Hubski "Don't go the steak house and order fish, don't go to the fish house and order steak." This is very food oriented advice but abandon the food orientation and apply it to life generally. Don't try to get that which is elusive in a situation, find that which is good and enjoy and embrace it.
If you are at my shop because you are hungry for good food you are at the wrong place. If you are hungry for good music and good coffee than I hope to have you covered.
While that advice is true, a nice biscuit is typically a pleasant addition to a hot drink. But you already stated that you serve pastries so this isn't advice specifically to you and your shop, just a statement about biscuits. And hot beverages.
- a nice biscuit is typically a pleasant addition to a hot drink.
Are you a fellow Brit, by any chance?
No, but I spent a long time there, and spent a long time thinking I would move there. A chocolate hobnob and a cuppa are alright by me.
- A chocolate hobnob and a cuppa are alright by me.
- spent a long time thinking I would move there.
- Sounds like it might be time for a hubski snack exchange! Does this exist?
Snack exchange sounds excellent. What snacks would you want from California? I'd put in a request for Crunchie bars, too. My sister brought some back from her trip to London this year but I'm nearly out.
- Anything particular that prevented you from settling here? other than the rain, obviously... :D
Is there a small-time bakery anywhere in your area? If you haven't already, I'd try to get their food in your place.
Obviously you know more about this than I do, but my thought is that It will be mutually beneficial for the two of you if they have a reputation for good cookies or something. It means you don't have to worry about making the food, but can be confident in the quality.
food for thought? Idunno.
Congrats on the coffee shop. I wish you immense success!
- up and coming shop
that sounds like the sort of people to associate yourself with!
Fuck the word hipster.
Substitute the word nigger, cop or Jew and use it so lightly.
I look at it as a derogatory term for any one that is different from me.
I'm a Fourty year old mostly square guy and I despise the term.
Not trying to rag on you, but you should be careful with how you malign others.
Thank you. I have the craziest mix of emotions right now, I'm filled with simultaneous fear and hope, but the positivity and help I've received by so many people has kept me afloat. I am awed by how many people have shown kindness and good will, I know I love people and at the same time they seem to still exceed my expectations.
This is so great, wish you all the luck and success. It seems people are being little diverted from the actual appreciation you deserve for doing this on your own. You need a pat on the back and a big congrats for this new venture. Hope it'll be the huge and people will love to visit it often.
I really want to do this! It's great that you actually opened your own shop. If you don't mind me asking, how much cash did you need to plunk down up front?
Way more than I thought I would. The majority of which is due to the city and permits. It took a long time to get open. I probably lost two months paying rent because I was dumb and didn't know what I was doing. I lost at least four months battling the city and it's constantly changing permit requirements, probably more if I sat down and carefully accounted for each time they kicked me in the ass, changed my requirements, just sat on my next round of change submissions, caught me up in a small needless legal wrangle or just didn't show up for an inspection.
The build out was way more expensive than I expected, most because of recent changes in building codes, primarily in plumbing regulations and garbage area regulations. My tiny trash area ended up costing me over 4k in plumbing, structural and permits.
Actual coffee making equipment, tables and chairs, paint, counters and what not was probably only about 10% of my final costs.
I went into the process a hard core labor Democrat but have to say I'm leaning so far right after forking tens of thousands out for permits and questionable regulations that feel like I hardly know myself.
If I had it to do again I don't know that I would
On the upside, I've only got about 6k in debt right now. I'm sure that I'll have more before I become profitable enough to pay myself but it's not a bad place to be. I expect that it will take me three years or so to do all the improvements I want to make on the space, but I'm OK with that.
Awesome! Congrats!
- I've got a dope record player and amplifier from the mid seventies and have mostly been playing old R&B and soul records.
I think more people realize than you think. There's a coffee place by me in Philly that is rather...unique for a lot of reasons I won't get into, but the owner plays Opera all day. I think it defines a lot about the vibe of that place.
How is your food? For me its all about the pastries. All the local coffee shops have acceptable coffee but I only go to the ones with good food because when I need coffee it's usually because I'm running late and I need a quick breakfast to go with it.
Congrats! Working for yourself is always better than working for someone else. The friends of mine that are self employed are the happiest people I know (although they also work the most hours).
I'm gonna be in Portland in a couple weeks, I'd love to check out your shop! (PM me?)
Good luck!