You may think that we see other coffee shops in the locale as deadly rivals, there to be shot down.
The reality can be very different.
At early events as mobile caterers, we’d been primed to expect hostility or at the very least, the cold shoulder, from other traders. Instead, the first thing that struck us was the number of times the hand of friendship was extended by fellow traders. They knew how hard a game it is, (especially for newbies) and they knew how far a little practical help or morale support would go. It’s a principle we have applied ourselves and, having gained some experience, we’ve offered more a little help and encouragement to a couple of recent, promising start-ups who, on paper, will be direct and aggressive competitors!
The same can be true with the ‘shop side of things and the prime example for us is our enduring friendship with Caffe Velo Verde over at Screveton.
Truth is, there is no ‘manual’ for how to do what we do, no script to follow. It might be different if we bought a Costa franchise or similar, but that’s not where our heart lies.
Thus, it has been brilliant to have Paul and Jane at Caffe Velo Verde to lean on at times. They share so much with us, for example, their love of good coffee and good food, their high standards, their love of cycling and – fundamentally – their wish to create a welcoming ‘hub’, above their wish to make tons of cash.
We swap notes often. If I’ve had a fault with the grinder, chances are Paul has been there, fixed that. If we’ve had a tough trading day, chances are Paul and Jane have too and we can commiserate together.
There are two things I admire most about this team: for one thing, they went from concept to opening in an incredibly short space of time and considering their lack of experience in the industry, I found this astonishing. From nothing, they’ve built a strong brand, a loyal following and consistent leadership on Trip Advisor.
The second thing is Paul’s unending ability to come up with great and innovative ideas. He loves the process of making the coffee and the interaction with his customers, but there is also a strategic and creative business brain constantly at work.
Yesterday, Paul and Jane announced that they are handing over the reins at Caffe Velo Verde to Bill and Vini, as they take a well-earned break before moving on to tackle new projects.
We want to wish Bill and Vini tremendous success – and we salute Paul and Jane (and their team) for all they’ve done to create a fabulous coffee shop and a true hub for cyclists…