The Cazual Cup

Like I said in my last post, I started a job at a small locally owned coffeeshop/bakery.  In June, the owner offered to make my position full time-giving me a lot more responsibility.  I accepted, on the condition that I could be called a manager (it will look so much better on applications in the future to be 'manager' instead of 'barista').  So for the past 2 weeks, I have been working full time, 6:30-2:30 Tuesday-Saturday, and am almost used to getting up with the sun! 
Things I've realized...it's hard.  Being a small business is not as fun as I anticipated.  I pray every day that we make enough that day to cover my paycheck.  I've never experienced that side of it.  The other businesses I've worked for (Target and Borders) were big enough that the daily sales didn't matter quite as much.  I've been thinking of ways to boost sales, and just getting people in the door.  When you don't have a huge budget to work with to begin with, you really have to pull out the creativity!  I started with painting the windows, and will be busting into social media soon! 

It's been eye opening.  I've learned how to bake bundt cakes, scones, muffins, cookies, and a variety of other goodies!  I'm figuring out the best way to reduce waste at the end of the day.  Great experience so far...

Again, if you're in West Omaha, stop by the Cazual Cup (thecazualcup.com)!  156th and Fort.  Open 7-2 Tuesday-Sunday.

Update

I just realized it has been a while since last posting on this blog.  Nothing much has changed.  Mallory and I turned in the business plan proposal and were not selected as finalists, which is fine.  It was encouraging to just see our ideas on paper.
I visited bplans.com yesterday and printed off a free business plan template as well as a sample business plan for a religious coffee shop.  It's almost 40 pages long, so I have some reading ahead of me, but I think it will be extremely helpful!
In the mean time, I have a new job at a local coffee shop.  It has been open for almost a year and is about the same size I anticipate my start up shop would be.  It's been a great experience the last couple months getting to know the small business side of things.  I'm learning from her successes and failures and will have a much better background going into opening my own business!  If you're ever out in West Omaha, stop by The Cazual Cup, just south of Fort on 156th Street (by Stonebridge Church)!  Open 7-2 every day except Tuesdays!

That's all I have for ya today!  Nothing very exciting, but babysteps are still progress!

In the meantime, I've started following International Justice Mission on Twitter (@JessicaKeown if you want to follow me!), and found this article today and thought I'd share!
http://www.ijm.org/news/ijm-cambodia-brave-survivors-help-rescue-girls-brothel

Gung Ho!

I have exciting news!  It's been a while since I've blogged, so I'll just do a quick run through of what's been happening!

Several weeks ago, while I was sitting in my apartment alone on a Saturday night, I got out my business plan writing book and thought I would get started.  I got 2 pages into it and felt so overwhelmed that I gave up.  I told God that I knew I could do it, but I NEEDED someone with business experience/knowledge to partner with me.  The next day, my friend Mallory texted me to see if I was serious about her opening her bakery with my coffeeshop.  I had joked with her about it previously, but hadn't brought it up recently, so it came as a complete surprise.  That was the first time God reminded me that this can happen if I leave it in his hands. 

After that I got a job at Crane Coffee.  After orientation and a short day of training, I was told that I would not be a good fit for that location.  Hello blow to the ego!  I went through a bit of a "God, is this really what you want from me? Is this really the direction I'm supposed to go?!"  Two days later, Mallory came over for game night and told me that her school was having a contest for the best written/thought out business plans.  There was a cash reward for the top 3.  She had to write a business plan for her class, and thought it would be fun for us to work on it together to turn in for the contest.  Mallory is wanting to open a bakery, and is currently taking a small business management class at UNO.  I'm sure it won't be the last time God steps in to reassure me of my direction.

Me, Michelle, and Mallory

And so, Saturday night Mallory and I sat down and wrote our Executive Summary, outlining what we want out of Divine Bakery and Coffee Shop.  It's on paper.  It's not just jumbled thoughts in my head anymore.  It's becoming something concrete.  And that, my friends, is something to rejoice in!

To be or not to be...

Well one chapter into "Non-Profits for Dummies" I realize that I honestly have very little knowledge about non-profits.  I hardly recognize most of the terms, and ended the chapter, set the book down and had one of those moments where I was sitting still and the future stretched out FOREVER in front of me.  Is it even possible to learn all of this?  Is it necessary to know it all?  CAN I REALLY DO THIS?!

Yeah.  I can.  And I will.

While debating if I'd like the coffee shop to be non-profit, I don't know that there's such a thing as a non-profit business set up to support a non-profit organization...or just a cause in general!  For profit could work, and all excess profit would still go towards a mission, but then people wouldn't get the tax reduction for donations...which is definitely a plus for starting a non-profit.  But I just learned a new word:

Fiscal Sponsorship

What?  What does that even mean!?  The truth is that I'm not completely sure, but the best I understand it, it's a business that can be run under a legit non-profit, and would be able to use said non-profit's non-profit status, without applying for it themselves.

Something to think about. :)  

Hi. I'm a Dummy.

 

That's right.  I admit it. 

 I. Am. A. Dummy.  

Atleast when it comes to non-profits.  The other day, while waiting to drop off over a hundred Operation Christmas Child boxes (as I had the time wrong and was on the other side of town 2 hours early), I decided to stop into Half Price Books.  As I was perusing the business section (which is quite boring and cluttered with books I have no need of), I stumbled upon "Non-Profit Kit for Dummies."  Seeing as how it was half price, I splurged and bought it.  I hope that it will shed much light on what I need to do to begin the non-profit process.  However, I haven't even opened it past the exhaustive Table of Contents, so I have no insight to offer yet.  But it's been a month and a half since my last post and I wanted to keep everyone up to date. :)