Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders

521: Founder Friday! w/ Bow Smith of Rowan Coffee, Asheville, NC

Jan 30, 2025

Bow Smith, founder of Rowan Coffee in Asheville, NC, shares his journey in the coffee industry with nearly a decade of expertise. He emphasizes the importance of fostering a positive work culture and the role of empathy in hiring for enhancing customer experiences. Smith also discusses the balance between consistency in product and the significance of memorable interactions. Delving into community resilience, he reflects on how his café acts as a hub for connection, showcasing the value of building trust and meaningful relationships in coffee culture.

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Intro

00:00 • 4min

Brewing a Culture of Hospitality

04:12 • 20min

The Intuition Behind Effective Hiring in Coffee Shops

24:15 • 3min

Optimizing the Hiring Process for a Growing Café

27:34 • 3min

Resilience in a Coffee Culture

30:09 • 14min

Building Trust and Communication for Successful Business Growth

43:50 • 2min

Experiencing Community Through Coffee: A Visit to Rowan

45:55 • 3min

Coffee shops are created through intention and reflect the values and often the personality of first the ones who begin them, and then those who work in them and the community that makes it their regular destination. There is a mix of service and transaction, with various layers of relationship built on trust.

Today on Founder Friday we explore the story of one coffee shop and roastery that does a great job embodying these elements to serve both the locals and tourists with warmth and provide a sustainable and fulfilling vocation for their staff.

Thrilled to welcome to the show, Bow Smith of Rowan Coffee!

Bow Smith is a coffee professional in Asheville, NC with nearly a decade of experience of barista work, roasting, and cafe management. Smith founded Rowan Coffee in 2020 with the goal of building a cafe and roastery grounded in integrity, hospitality, and creativity, while fostering fulfilling and lasting coffee careers.

In this conversation we talk about:

Bow's Experience as a Coffee Pro and Teaching Coffee
The Ephemeral Nature of Coffee
The Collaborative Efforts in Establishing Rowan
Trust Is Crucial and Leadership in Coffee Shops
Why Empathy in hiring is crucial for enhancing customer experiences
Why Consistency in product is important, but experience is equally vital.
Creating a Unique Cafe Experience
Resilience in Community After Helene
Building Culture in Business

Links:

www.rowancoffee.com

Instagram: @rowancoffee

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