In Newcastle last week I was walking around looking for a coffee shop when I noticed CB Coffee Cart, a mobile coffee business operating from the back of a van. They were busy filling orders for an office they were parked nearby.
The coffee was terrific and the service efficient and friendly – all key factors for success in a mobile business. I was impressed.
The operators of this business have gone out and created their own success. They’re not relying on a supplier to drive traffic nor are they relying on a brand. For a business in a competitive market it’s a challenge. From what I could tell they have nailed it.
The experience was on my mind this week as I reflected on how much we have relied and still in many instances do rely on traffic from agency lines in our businesses. We complain about these agency products yet they get feet walking into our shops. What if we had to rely totally on our own resources like CB Coffee Cart, what would we do differently? It’s a question worth asking ourselves.