Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders

Making hasty decisions about who you put into what position has always been the Achilles heal of the cafe. As we work to put our shops back together we are going to be under even more pressure to fill positions throughout the organization and the temptation will be to do this faster than may be healthy. Today we are going to talk about the importance of slowing down to make good decisions on who you bring back and put in place in the cafe so you can Both fill a need in the moment without a lot of regret later on. Related Episodes: 018 : Hiring, Culture, and the Future of Your Shop My Favorite Interview Question Elevate your to-go coffee! Ground Control Cyclops Brewer Amazing grinders making great coffee easy to achieve! BARATZA GRINDERS

Oh boy is this a critical episode! Which one of us does not want to have more financial security? Especially these days? It is not an understatement to say that the future of your cafe hinges on how well you manage your money now and how well you understand money's role in your business. So many of us are rebuilding from the COVID crisis and in need of guidance on how to create financial resiliency in order to both thrive in the coming recession and be prepared for other normal financial challenges that come our way. Today's episode is going to deliver an extraordinary amount of information and actionable insights for you to build a financially sound business in the midst of uncertain times. We are joined by financial planner, CPA, and consultant Andrew Carroll of www.cfoandrew.com Andrew Carroll has been advising people on business and their financial lives for over ten years. He has helped countless people and businesses with their taxes, investments, insurance, business strategy, operations, mergers and acquisitions, and accounting. As a CPA he specializes in personal finances and also specializes in management accounting where he helps bring understanding to how we use numbers to make decisions. He has an incredible gift of being able to articulate and break down financial concepts into language that is not only relatable and understandable, but really connects to the heart of what we need to hear. This conversation is value-packed with insights that will change the way you see and run you business for the better. We discuss: Our relationship with money and why money isn't real How to build a war chest Creating financial strategy Creating resiliency Why you need to raise your prices Profitability and managing profit Zombie businesses PPP and EIDL Loan guidance Self-insurance and the waterfall system How to set your business goals Links: www.cfoandrew.com Means of Production Podcast Related episodes: 160 : The Smart Way to Approach Money w/ Jill Schlesinger 202 : Mastering your Finances and Accounting w/ Keila Hill-Trawick of Little Fish Accounting 184 : Making Great Business Decisions w/ Dave Stachowiak 210 : The Future of Retail w/ Doug Stephens | CEO of The Retail Prophet 211 : Straight Talk from the Retail Doctor, Bob Phibbs The BEST in commercial coffee equipment www.prima-coffee.com/keys Want the best plant based beverage for your coffee drinks? www.pacificfoods.com/food-service

You won't get it right...at least not right away. This is the nature of our pursuit in coffee and the relationships we have within it. These days we are surrounded by opportunities to engage in ways that can lead to greater depth o of relationship and a better quality of experience in the cafe. The problem is, we are often paralyzed by fear. Fear of failing, fear of saying the wrong thing or doing the wrong thing. We want to wait until we have the perfect or the best, before we engage. Today, we are going to talk about the idea of taking action to achieve higher degrees of imperfection and how we can work toward a goal with grace to produce an outcome that builds up and deepens everything around us. Links: Fear and Trust Feedback Culture One on ones Difficult Conversations about Race and Justice The Art of Deep Listening w/ Oscar Trimboli Example > Words Elevate your to-go coffee! Ground Control Cyclops Brewer Amazing grinders making great coffee easy to achieve! BARATZA GRINDERS

Throughout history the coffee shop has been a catalyst for conversation. The subject of that conversation is as wide and varied as your clientele and your community. There are subjects of conversation that are very niche and only apply to a few people, and then there are subjects that are happening on a large scale and are relevant and impactful to everyone. Race and Justice is one of those subjects and the cafe as a modern 3rd place institution needs to be able to interact with it well in order to serve well. We have several different relationships that we manage in the cafe space. Employees, customers, followers, and purveyors. As leaders we need to make space for, and engage in, these difficult conversations. Today we are going to discuss how to approach these difficult conversations with my good friend, Kwame Christian, Director of the American Negotiation Institute. Kwame is best selling author of the book Confidence in Conflict, a sought after speaker, and the host of the worlds #1 negotiation podcast Negatiate Anything. Kwame is dedicated to empowering others and has helped countless individuals overcome the fear, anxiety, and emotion often associated with difficult conversations through a branded framework called Compassionate Curiosity. As an attorney and mediator with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology, a Master of Public Policy, and a Juris Doctorate (Law Degree), Kwame brings a unique multidisciplinary approach to making difficult conversations easier. In this episode we are going to explore how to approach these difficult conversations and the issues that can arise around them. In this conversation we will cover: The importance of Empathy Compassionate curiosity Creating space and generating understanding Consequences of inaction How to gain self awareness Embracing awkwardness and imperfection Owning issues and building relationships Addressing social issues Emotional labor Links and resources: www.americannegotiationinstitute.com Free Negotiation Guides Related episodes: 183: Exploring Diversity w/ Phyllis Johnson 125: Finding Confidence in Conflict w/ Kwame Christian 159: Addressing Unconscious Bias w/ Lauren Lathrop 116: Understanding Gentrification w/ Dr. Stacey Sutton 139: Founder Friday w/ Phil Sipka, Kusanya Cafe 220 : Founder Friday w/ Sarah Barnett Gill 067: 6 Truths about Power 165 : The Art of Deep Listening w/ Oscar Trimboli The BEST in commercial coffee equipment www.prima-coffee.com/keys Want the best plant based beverage for your coffee drinks? www.pacificfoods.com/food-service

In this time we need to take a good look at ourselves and how we are using the power we have been given. In the cafe, authority and power is a gift that is meant to be you used for the benefit of others. Yet, just we have seen in recent days, power often corrupts and is used as a weapon against those for whom it was supposed to benefit. What is the purpose of the authority we have been given? How do we view and use the power we have in the cafe? Today I am re-airing an episode called "6 Truths about Power" from 2018 that I believe will help set us on the right course. The principles here are applicable both in the shop and beyond. My hope is that we can refine our approach and actions to build a better future. Related Episodes: The Broken Chair Systems as Care The Art of Deep Listening w/ Oscar Trimboli Example > Words The Power of Good Authority w/ Jonathan Raymond Exploring Diversity w/ Phyllis Johnson Founder Friday: Kusanya Cafe Elevate your to-go coffee! Ground Control Cyclops Brewer Amazing grinders making great coffee easy to achieve! BARATZA GRINDERS

We are in the people business. Having a great people program is a critical part of being able to thrive as a small business since the degree to which you care for your people, and they feel cared for, directly impacts how they care for the business and its customers. Now, more than ever, we need to lean into creating a people-first strategy for doing business in the future and today we will be learning from one of the best in HR the foundational elements that contribute to a great people program in your shop. Dana Goodwin is an HR consultant working with clients in specialty coffee, food service, and retail. She partners with leaders to create intentional people programs and help find solutions to HR challenges. Her specialties include workplace culture, recruiting operations, and retention strategy. Dana has been working in retail and hospitality for over 20 years. She holds a master's degree from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Colorno, Italy and has led teams and recruiting and HR operations at Eataly, Dickson's Farmstand, and Blue Bottle Coffee. This is a very good conversation the covers a wide range of HR related strategies, and concerns. I hope this empowers you in your efforts to truly care for your people in a systematic and intentional way. You will learn about: Communication and transparency Leading while being vulnerable Approaching your staff in a crisis Creating space for focusing on people Asking questions and listening The power of consistency and follow up Managing the tension of the employer-employee relationship Setting expectations and giving clarity Planning and systems Tracking Navigating legalities Links: Dana is offering the KTTS audience free 30 minute advisory calls! Contact her here: LinkedIn Dana@danazgoodwin.com More resource: EEOC Website Related Episodes: 123 : The 10 Essentials of a Barista Manual 104 : How to Deliver Difficult Feedback w/ Tom Henschel 151 : How to React and Respond to Negative Feedback The Affirmation Vacuum Feedback Culture 194 : Encore Episode! Leadership in the Cafe 213 : Coping with Corona using Emotional Intelligence w/ Andrea Hoban Join the community! Keys to the Shop on Mighty Network The BEST in commercial coffee equipment www.prima-coffee.com/keys Want the best plant based beverage for your coffee drinks? www.pacificfoods.com/food-service

This Founder Friday is a wild, unique, and refreshingly honest experience. Today we are going to be talking with the one and only Sarah Barnett Gill, the owner of Mama Mocha's in Auburn, AL. Sarah has been in coffee since 2003 and for the last 7+ years has been operating one of the most unique, authentic, and welcoming coffee shops around. Mama Mocha's is a beacon of diversity, love, and simple honest enjoyment of people and coffee. In the pursuit of this Sarah has worked hard to grow her business from a small roastery in a $200/mo room of a bookstore to an established community icon of great coffee and charming hospitality that wins peoples hearts and taste buds. This conversation covers a wide range of topics from the expected to the quit un-expected. Sarah is not afraid to take bold stands and is equal parts serious business woman, and fun loving protector of the marginalized. Plus, like me, she loves a good dark roasted coffee. So, buckle up, this is going to be a refreshing and wild ride. You will lean about: Starting small and building slowly Facing initial challenges Rejecting the 3rd wave Taking bold stances Diversity and Inclusivity Fighting cultural ignorance The balance between love and ass kicking Establishing a Unique Culture Dark roast revival Dealing with COVID and caring for your people Links: www.mamamochas.com Instagram Related Episodes: 183 : Exploring Diversity w/ Phyllis Johnson 108 : Founder Friday w/ Dorian Bolden of Beyu Caffe, Durham, NC 155 : A Conversation w/ T. Ben Fischer of Glitter Cat Barista 159: Addressing Unconscious Bias w/ Lauren Lathrop 116: Understanding Gentrification w/ Dr. Stacey Sutton 139: Founder Friday w/ Phil Sipka, Kusanya Cafe 067: 6 Truths about Power 165 : The Art of Deep Listening w/ Oscar Trimboli Join the community! Keys to the Shop on Mighty Network The BEST in commercial coffee equipment www.prima-coffee.com/keys Want the best plant based beverage for your coffee drinks? www.pacificfoods.com/food-service

Everyone in the shop is on high alert! Updates and changes to rules and regulations are happening almost daily and we are, as staff, very tuned into to the landscape of how things should be done in the shop. What about the customers though? Should we expect them to be just as vigilant and aware? How do we empathetically enforce the new normal with our patrons? Today we will be talking about the COVID communication bubble and how we can get out of it when our customers come back in. Related Episodes: Communicate, Duplicate, Repeat : Key habits that make information stick Being the Point of Clarity Elevate your to-go coffee! Ground Control Cyclops Brewer Amazing grinders making great coffee easy to achieve! BARATZA GRINDERS

Coffee shops are not necessarily known for having the best food in town. That is the way it has been for a very long time. Recently though, we are seeing in increase in the number of coffee shops investing time, money, and passion into their food programs and customers are taking note. It is so critical, especially now to create a food program that is marked by intentionality and excellence. To help us develop a winning food program we are talking to Marilei Denila, the Culinary Research and Development Manager for the amazing Go Get em Tiger in Los Angeles ,CA. GGET has become the standard bearer for high quality coffee and food in the specialty coffee world and their menu items are frequently winning top spots in "Best of" lists in LA. Marilei's leadership and discipline have played a huge role in this process and in this conversation she will be sharing with us a ton of foundational insights that will equip you in creating a next level food experience at your cafe. You will learn about: Community specific menu design Systems for inventory and Quality control Staffing and scheduling Being creative and still relatable Should you chase trends? Managing the financial realities Smart product ordering and use Links: www.gget.com Instagram Related Episodes: A Conversation w/ Kyle Glanville and Charles Babinski of G&B and Go Get em Tiger Coffee and Cocktails Coffee and Chocolate Systems as Care Communicate, Duplicate, Repeat Feedback Culture Working Clean Your Inventory Counts The BEST in commercial coffee equipment www.prima-coffee.com/keys Want the best plant based beverage for your coffee drinks? www.pacificfoods.com/food-service

As shops slowly start to open to customers there are a ton of things to keep in mind and manage. Many of those things we have covered through other episodes or interviews some of which are available below. This time I want to cover 3 things that will be crucial to get right to welcome back those customers and take advantage of this 2nd chance to make a first impression. We will be talking about why cleanliness, clarity, and creativity are crucial to the success of your business and how to execute on them to make lasting impact. Related Episodes: Elevating Cold Brew/Matt Bushman Coping w/ Corona using Emotional Intelligence w/ Andrea Hoban Harnessing your Emotions at Work 10 Essentials of a Barista Manual Working Clean Simple, Powerful, Hospitality SOPs 10 Reasons to Love the Customer Batch Brew like you never thought possible: Ground Control Cyclops Brewer Amazing grinders making great coffee easy to achieve BARATZA GRINDERS