Tuesday, June 29, 2010

BIGGBY COFFEE Opens in Downtown Arlington Heights



Tim Mickelson really missed Biggby Coffee shop when it closed more than a year ago in downtown Arlington Heights. His craving for the brew prompted him to purchase a franchise.

The Arlington Heights resident recently reopened Biggby Coffee at 21 S. Dunton Ave.

"Like many others, I was upset it closed. I saw it as a great business opportunity," he said.

Customers lined up outside the shop when it opened Tuesday. Mickelson said he heard great comments about the shop's return.

"One woman said, 'I've waited over a year for this cup of coffee,'" Mickelson said.

He said he wasn't sure of the details around why the shop suddenly closed more than 12 months ago.

The store offers pastry, cookies and scones in addition to tea and hot and cold coffee drinks. A cup of coffee starts at $1.59.

In addition to the coffee, Mickelson added that customer service sets the business apart from competitors.

He added that his wife and 11-year-old son assist in operating the community-focused coffee shop.

Before starting the business, Mickelson, 41, was in commodity trading. He even traded coffee futures, but was never involved in the retail operation of the beverage.

He spent several years working in the San Francisco Bay area.

"Business took us out there and family brought us back here," said Mickelson, adding that his wife grew up in Arlington Heights.

When the Michigan-based coffee shop first opened in Arlington Heights and around the country several years ago, the stores were known as Beaner's Gourmet Coffee. The company started changing the name of the company stores in 2007 when it received complaints from customers who found the original franchise name offensive.

The switch, not provoked by lawsuits or complaints, was simply a move to avoid offending anyone, the company has said. The change didn't stunt the growth of the company as Biggby has doubled its store numbers every two years since the company began franchising in 1999.

Mickelson says it's not easy launching a new business in a down economy. However, he says that if you believe in the product, it makes the process a whole lot easier. He added that it's tough seeing other stores close down around you.

"It weighs on you," he said. "If I had not been a customer before, I wouldn't be able to do this."

The shop is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the week and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sundays.

GO TO Daily Herald article

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

BIGGBY COFFEE East Lansing -- where it all started (and continues to grow)

You know, coffee is the real thing, or, should I say, Biggby's is the real thing. With the plethora of drinks now available, by setting the menu free and allowing a profound number of items available, Biggby's, in my mind, has surpassed the competition and is forging new ground as to the meaning of "coffee shop".

If I don't buy as much from Biggby's as I maybe once did, I plead my case to the ruler of the economy, whomever that may be--I simply love to stop in but I just have to save my money at times.

In fact, Biggby's customer service is over the top and rivals Zingerman's of Ann Arbor at what you guys and gals do. Keep up the good work--and to think that it all started in East Lansing :-)

--Mark

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

This just in...You fixed the BIGGBY song! Yay!

I'm currently at the Biggby in Grand Rapids... I hear the Biggby song again and I was dreading having to suffer through the tone-deaf whistling part at the end of the song, when, the song suddenly stopped right before it became awful.

I'm so happy you switched the song.

Yay.

Now I don't have to cry silent tears of frustration over the crappy part of that song, I'll just cry tears of joy, or tears of deliciousness, or tears of bemusement. OK, I'm not going to cry at all, which is a good thing.

Thanks for fixing the song.

-rob

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Now Hiring! Now what?

Do you feel a sense of loss when you reach the bottom of your BIGGBY cup? Perhaps a loss of direction? You need to take the BIGGBY Aptitude Quiz to give your life in coffee a sense of purpose.

For each question below, select the answer that best fits your personality, and then total your score at the bottom to see where you would best fit in the BIGGBY world!

1) When the alarm clock goes off:



2) My closet is:



3) When I’m at a party:



4) My favorite class in school was:



5) If I was one of the Seven Dwarfs, I would be:




6) You’re on the freeway, 45 minutes into your trip. You are:



7) Pick the game you most liked to play as a kid:



8) You have to give a toast, you:



9) When eating out at my favorite restaurant, I am:



10) Pick the statement you identify most closely with:


Score your responses as follows:
1) A:1, B:3, C:5, D:1   2) A:10, B:5, C:1, D:10   3) A:5, B:10, C:1, D:3      
4) A:5, B:3, C:3, D:10, E:5  5) A:5, B:1, C:3, D:10, E:1  6) A:10, B:3, C:1, D:5       
7) A:10, B:10, C:1, D:5, E:5    8) A:10, B:3, C:10, D:5, E:3    9) A:5, B:1, C:3, D:10    
10) A:10, B:3, C:5, D:5, E:1


Now, tally your score and see where you fit in!

10-20 points: Hoist a cup! You’re born to be a BIGGBY fanatic! Your next step: Sign up for E-wards to get some BIGGBY Love!

21-40 points: You must look good in an apron! You’d be an incredible BIGGBY Barista! Your next step: Send your application to a store!

41-60 points: You are equal parts purpose and fun—Hello Franchise Support Team (and we’re hiring RIGHT NOW!) Your next step: Check out our job posting with the BIGGBY COFFEE Operations Department!

61+ points: Your “i”s are dotted and your sock drawer is organized. You will rock as a Franchise Operations Specialist (and we’re hiring for this position too!). Your next step: You also need to check out our job posting with the BIGGBY COFFEE Training Department!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Another 'BIGGBY WAY' Story -- Feathers in Cap!

Ali and Theo were great, real teamwork and very hospitable, with connection issues, inventing a drink for me (skinny skinny Vanilla Chamomile latte--stressed out today!) and a toasted cookie (great idea, new to me) I even threw mixed currency and lotsa change at them and they were so nice all the while. I feel very valued. Feather their caps, please!!

Video Pandering can B-effective Go BIGGBY, Go Tommy and Brook ... STAR 105.7 in GR :)

Thursday, June 10, 2010

The BIGGBY way .... Again !! :) Grandville, MI

I wanted to tell you that I stopped in the Grandville Biggby today at 3:00. I have never been treated by two more friendly baristas and left feeling like I finally had found someone who knew how to treat a customer. Kudos to them and their manager
.

Thanks for dropping us a line Crystal

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

TEDxLansing - Bob Fish - Random Thoughts of an Entrepreneurial

Lydia and Zac -- BIGGBY COFFEE is My Happy Place

My favorite line "...and now seven minutes of Whistling!"