Monday, March 15, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
This Just In...another story about the BIGGBY WAY thanks for sharing Elan!
I just wanna let y'all know, the other day I was absolutely miserable. Nothing was going right, and all I wanted was a bloody cup of strong coffee to help get me through the rest of a dreary day. Anyway, one of the baristas, went out of her way to chat with me, joke around, and talk to me about the rain cloud hanging over my head. I just wanted to let y'all know, I truly appreciated the fact that she spoke to me like I am a real individual, and not just another customer, and she went out of her way to try to make me laugh. And I have to say, that made all of the difference in the world. It was good to have the caffeine, but Hannah really made me feel better.
I am just hoping there is some way to let her know that I truly appreciate the energy she puts out.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
This Just In...The BIGGBY WAY....from the school of hard Knox, thanks Mark
I think I'm in love with Biggby's. I mean, all the symptoms are there: giddiness, forgetfulness, laughter (in the rain), the pain of separation (when I have to leave the store after buying my drink) from my beloved, giving all my money to my beloved ;-) Say you'll be mine, Biggby's!
Mark
btw...we love you too Mark :)
Biggby Coffee Celebrates 15th Birthday with Free Drinks
Biggby Coffee Celebrates 15th Birthday with Free Drinks
The Michigan-based coffee retailer thanks customers with drinks on the house on March 15.
-- Chain Leader, 3/8/2010 3:11:28 PM
PRESS RELEASE: East Lansing, Mich., March 8, 2010 - Michigan-based BIGGBY COFFEE celebrates its 15th year of business this month by offering a free tall drink to all customers on the 15th of March.
BIGGBY COFFEE is coming off its best year to date in 2009, with positive same store sales during the latest 12-month period and growth of nearly seven percent in the past three months. The positive news contrasts a study issued last week by the Michigan Restaurant Association (MRA) that reported a 3.26 percent decline in retail food and beverage sales in 2009.
As a special thank you to their customers all participating BIGGBY COFFEE stores will offer a free tall drink on March 15. To receive the free drink, customers must be current "E-ward" members. Membership sign up is free at www.biggby.com. In addition to the free drink offer this month, E-ward participants will receive free gifts or coupons on the 15th of every month throughout the year.
BIGGBY COFFEE partners Bob Fish, Mary Roszel, Michael McFall and Sandy Green will be on hand for a special birthday party on March 15 at the original BIGGBY COFFEE in East Lansing where the "Big Orange B" got its start. Anyone visiting the café at 270 West Grand River Avenue in East Lansing will be offered their drink of choice for free from 8 a.m. to noon as a special thank you for being a friend of BIGGBY COFFEE.
"That store represents the birthplace of BIGGBY COFFEE, so we're excited to get everyone back together to celebrate with our friends and supporters who've been with us since day one," said Fish, CEO and founding partner of BIGGBY COFFEE.
When BIGGBY COFFEE opened its doors in 1995, partners Fish and Roszel did so with the desire to demystify the "gourmet coffee" approach that relied on unpronounceable drink names and an air of exclusivity. Instead, the Company relied on an inclusive approach complete with fun drinks with names like Caramel Marvel and Teddy Bear, and inviting, friendly staff.
The uniquely fun approach and locally-owned and operated stores has allowed BIGGBY COFFEE to open 107 stores in five states.
"We couldn't have done it without our amazing franchisee family," noted Fish.
"When we opened our first store we adopted simple set of values that included making friends, loving our customers, having fun, being happy and making great coffee," said Fish. "That approach allowed us to differentiate ourselves from competing coffee shops in the area, and it's what continues to fuel our growth today despite the challenges most retailers face in today's economy."
BIGGBY COFFEE's sales have grown 65% in the past three years-from $23 million in 2006 to more than $38 million in 2009. The Company continues to grow and will add three additional Michigan locations next month including new coffee shops in Birmingham, Ann Arbor and Lansing.
About BIGGBY COFFEE(r)
East Lansing, Mich.-based BIGGBY COFFEE opened a single store in March of 1995 based on the founding principal that coffee-lovers and coffee-curious alike would benefit from a less pretentious approach to the standard gourmet café paradigm. BIGGBY COFFEE introduced connoisseur-worthy drinks only with pronounceable names like Teddy Bear and Caramel Marvel, and barista staff surprised guests with simple gestures like free kazoos and bouncy balls for no other reason than to brighten their day. The "Big Orange 'B'" caught on, and today BIGGBY COFFEE has 107 cafés across five states including Michigan, Ohio, Alabama, South Carolina and Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.biggby.com
www.biggby.com
Friday, March 5, 2010
Being Friendly Goes a Long Way
Being Friendly Goes a Long Way
Posted using ShareThis
by Sarah Worsham on March 4, 2010
I was in the grocery store the other day and this nice older gentleman was driving around his shopping cart. As he passed people he would say hello or stop to chat for a minute. I doubt he knew many of them, but just about everyone responded with a smile and walked a way a bit happier. Think about your favorite businesses. Do you go back just because of the quality of their products or do the people that work there make a difference?
BiggbyBob has built a network of coffee shop franchises (Biggby’s) based on a friendly, welcoming place to have a cup of coffee or work out of the office. Every time you go in, you’re greeted by the staff and you can stay as long as you want (although I think they require you to purchase something, which is reasonable). BiggbyBob uses social media to build relationships and have conversations with customers, but he also travels around to individual franchised stores to converse with customers in person (and franchisees).
Our favorite local bagel shop, Blazing Bagels, operates under similar circumstances. A loyal group of regulars comes in every week to get a bagel and coffee and have a chat with each other and the owner. Another local favorite, Pastries by Ellen, also has a friendly and welcoming environment. You’re always welcomed with a smile and treated with respect.
Do all these places have great food and drinks? Yes. Could you get similar food somewhere else? Probably. But there’s something to be said for treating customers like people and being friendly. You give them a reason to want to come back. Sure, your competitive advantage may be in your awesome soup, but someone else is probably making better soup. People will be loyal to the places where they’ve built a relationship, and they’ll tell their friends (free advertising!). Being friendly can go a long way – and it costs so little.
What are your favorite places? What makes them stand out?
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Guest Blog #6 from twitter handle @danmoyle Thanks Again!
So I love coffee. I mean really ... I adore the java. Coffee drinks from latte to cappuccino ... drip coffee to espresso... it's all fantastic. The aroma of roasting beans makes my day! It's why I began going to Biggby (back when it was another name!). Of course, I keep coming back because every franchise makes me feel like family. You all up in the corporate offices do too! But I digress; the bottom line is that I love so many things about about coffee. So the other day when I stopped in to get a pick-me-up from my usual Biggby haunt - the one on Westnedge by Kilgore - I surprised myself by asking about something besides coffee. *GASP* Yes! Really! Well Kaitlin and Haleigh were very helpful. I asked about the Pomaberry Freeze ... the Red Bull Freeze ... and what all those delicious fruit drinks were. I didn't know what the boosts were or anything. Haleigh broke it down for me, taking her time. It's great to not feel rushed as a customer. She explained the BOOSTA you can add to a fruit freeze. I took a risk. And WOWZA it was great! So thanks to Haleigh for the advice and the knowledge. And thanks to Biggby for the choices. Now ... back to watching the Olympics. Hmmmm... now there's an idea ... feed the USA athletes Pomaberry Freezes w/ a Boosta!
As Bob says - "B Happy!"
Cheers.
Dan
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