Tuesday, December 28, 2010
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Monday, December 6, 2010
New coffee shop brews up friendly atmosphere
Daily Press & Argus reporter Frank Konkel at (517) 552-2835 or at fkonkel@gannett.com
East Lansing-based Biggby Coffee opened a new store in Hartland Township last month, and the owners want everyone to know it's a place "where everybody knows your name."
Like the acclaimed television show "Cheers," husband-and-wife team Mike and Denise Bogues aim to provide more than just coffee connoisseur-worthy drinks at Hartland's Biggby Coffee — now the company's third store in Livingston County.
The store is east of U.S. 23 at 11325 W. M-59.
"We found a lot of the kids in the neighborhood don't have a place to go, they don't know where to hang out, and they're so dependent on texting that the art of conversation is dying," said Mike Bogues, a former software designer.
Together with his wife — who teaches math at Hartland High School — they have two teenage children.
"They don't know what to do with themselves, and we thought we'd take care of that little problem," Mike Bogues said. "We wanted to have a place where everyone knows your name."
So far, he said, the feedback has been "unbelievable," with many customers already forming a first-name relationship with staff. With both children in college, he will handle managing the store, in addition to working toward a master's degree at Cleary University. Denise Bogues will continue to teach and pitch in at the store after the school day ends.
The store features free wireless Internet access and numerous hot and cold drink options, including hits like the Teddy Bear and Caramel Marvel. It also serves several variants of bagels, muffins and the like, as well as tasty desserts such as brownies and cookies.
As recently as last winter, Mike Bogues said he'd formed a business plan and was ready to open an independent business. But in examining dozens of franchises, Mike Bogues said Biggby Coffee stood out.
"It was uncanny how our goals aligned with each other," he said. "I knew I had to go with these guys."
Hartland Township's Biggby Coffee is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays.
Contact Daily Press & Argus reporter Frank Konkel at (517) 552-2835 or at fkonkel@gannett.com
Thursday, December 2, 2010
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Monday, November 29, 2010
Crain's 2010 Salute to Entrepreneurs - Crain's Events - Crain's Detroit Business - Detroit News and Information
Crain's 2010 Salute to Entrepreneurs - Crain's Events - Crain's Detroit Business - Detroit News and Information
Crain's 7th annual Salute to Entrepreneurs, in partnership with Walsh College, honors winning companies that have demonstrated growth and innovation. Winners are featured in the November 15 issue of Crain's Detroit Business and honored at the Salute to Entrepreneurs event on Tuesday, Nov. 30. This years Keynote Speaker is Bob Fish, CEO/Co-founder of Biggby Coffee in Lansing, Michigan. Nearly 200 executives and business owners are expected to attend this event.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Area Couple Aim to Brew Friendliness With New Biggby Coffee
When you walk into Mike and Denise Bogues' new Biggby Coffee shop — which opens 6 a.m. Monday at 11325 Highland Road — they hope you'll feel right at home.
To create that comfortable atmosphere, the couple plan a week-long series of special events. Patrons will receive free fresh-brewed coffee as well as free samples of specialty drinks at the store. Local Michigan band Overdrive Orchestra will perform a 7 p.m. concert Wednesday. Members include the Bogues' 19-year-old son, Adam, as well as two other Hartland High School 2009 graduates, Chris Cranick and Cody Powers. Students from Milford Music in Highland also will perform on the weekend.
"We knew that we wanted to provide a place in the community to gather," said Denise, a 49-year-old math teacher at Hartland High School. "We just really felt we had a heart to provide a meeting place for the community."
The Brighton Township couple, who live within Hartland School District boundaries, decided to start their own business after years of hearing their children — and others — say such a place was needed in the area. The store will be the Hartland area's third specialty coffee locale.
At first, she and Mike, 48, thought they would open an independent coffee shop, but they decided to check out a meeting about franchising with East Lansing-based Biggby. It turned out to be a great fit with their personal philosophy. Denise said that the idea of a coffee shop similar to the celebrated bar in the hit sitcom, Cheers, "where everyone knows your name" was in her head. When she heard something similar in the franchise presentation, she felt it was the right fit.
"Our ideals lined up with each other," Mike agreed, adding the personal touch is important to them. "We want to know how your kids are doing in baseball. I want this to be the place where people come and get to know each other."
The store features free Wi-Fi connections and a menu including numerous hot and cold drink options as well as breakfast treats, such as bagels, muffins and doughnuts and scones. Brunch sandwiches called Bragel Sandwiches and afternoon treats like 7-Layer Bars, brownies and cookies round out the food selections.
The location will be the third Biggby in Livingston County. Hours are from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays.
Aside from running the store, Denise will continue to teach while Mike, who formerly had a successful career in information technology with AutoDesk in Novi, is working toward a business administration master's degree at Cleary University.
"He will be the full-time manager for now," Denise said. "I'll help out before school and after school."
Extensive training and support was part of the franchise package. Mike and Denise's training, which started in the summer, included training 40 (all volunteer) hours a week at various stores throughout the month of August to learn the Biggby system.
That preparation also included running two practice shifts on Friday to get ready for Monday's opening. Four Biggby employees from the home office assisted throughout the process.
During the afternoon shift that day, five workers took free practice orders from people who walked in intending to buy coffee. Periodically, they switched positions, in order to become familiar with all parts of the job — from taking customer orders to making and serving drinks.
"It's about the community getting a chance to come in, not just from a menu perspective, but from an attitude and energy perspective," said 31-year-old Jeremy DeRuiter Director of Training and Development for Biggby's home office as he worked on the store's music playlist.
When there weren't any people coming through the door, Kelsey Ames, 20, home office PERColator, who, Mike explained, handles all aspects of barista training, called off practice drinks. After they were made, the drinks were taken to area businesses.
"As first-time business owners, we couldn't ask for a better group of people to work with than the team at Biggby Coffee," said Mike. "This decision for us is all about doing what we love, following our dreams and making a small difference in the lives of our customers. We're looking forward to having a place where everyone feels welcome and friendships are formed each day."
Go to original HartlandPatch article
Friday, November 19, 2010
THANK YOU soooooooo very much for the wonderful donations for our Troops!
They will enjoy the Tumblers so much and the Cards are just the best! They do not have the availability to purchase in their many areas of deployment and love to have them in their MOMS Writing packs to send home for any occasion! We had numerous requests for more of the tumblers as a paper cup or canteen cup is more often than you would think what they have available to them. The Journals we will send to our Female Service Members as they frequently request and will be greatly appreciated! The colors and designs of all the product are so up beat and sure to bring smiles!!!
The continued outreach, caring and support of our Military Men and Women by BIGGBY is so very, very appreciated! You have made a difference in the lives of thousands over these past years and it is one which is never forgotten! I have attached a few emails from our Troops which thank those who contribute in our cause for each...THANK YOU for your generosity of time, heart and product for those we at MOMS serve...our Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen!
With much appreciation,
Debbie Trippiedi
Operation MOMS
Cookies Inc., NFP
