Background
My partner and I own a coffee cafe/bakery/roastery in an old 1905 home on Hwy 99 in Britannia Beach BC Canada. The home itself is on the historical list attached to the Copper mine that is about a block away. The Britannia Copper mine was once the largest copper mine in the British colonies. The township is not what it once was but has a new burst of energy due in part to the upcoming 2010 Olympics. The mine itself is getting a much needed face lift to promote its museum. Our shop is very unique because it faces a stones throw from the Howe Sound(Ocean Water) with mountain ranges and snow capped Mt Roderick on the other side of the sound. Plus we are the half way point from Vancouver and Whistler, BC, 45 Minutes each way.
Keys to Success
One of our main keys to success is to never compromise on quality in all areas. Also, we focus on treating our customers like they are more than just another face in another coffee shop.
Special Events
We support most of the local events that happen in the Sea to Sky area, from sporting events to catering to Realtor events i.e. Earth day, Test of Metal, and Remax openings.
Target Customers
Most of our customers are locals, commuters and a large number of travelers from all over the world headed to and from Whistler and Vancouver, BC.
Challenges Faced
The biggest challenge is finding employment. Our town is only 300 persons and our closest larger town is 15-20 minutes away. Due to the crazy labor crunch BC is under with 2010 Olympics build up, it's very difficult to find staff.
Where We're Headed
We are headed towards increasing our coffee and bakery wholesale market in all directions of the Sea to Sky corridor.
