Here's a dilemma for you. On Monday I visited Kingdom Coffee in Reading - a christian coffee company that promotes fair trade coffee and actively support overseas needs through the purchasing and sale of the coffee. In many ways a very similar ethos to what we did in Littlehampton with Refresh Coffee Shop and Links International.Here's the snag although it is a great christian company and the coffee was very good - I'm a little unsure of the title Kingdom Coffee or the religious logo. It's not that I am ashamed of my faith, I just want to promote a christianity that is relevant and does not put people off before they come through the doors (which many churches do).
Central Hall is very intimidating as a building and we need to pull all the stops out to make it accessible to all, having a coffee shop called Kingdom Coffee would not (in my opinion) be a good starting point. I also am very keen to work with the local community to create this coffee shop and we have an excellent coffee supplier right around the corner who I would like to use.
Kingdom Coffee supplied me with a range of top quality coffee mugs and cups which are on display in my office all embossed with the green and gold foil logo. The range of comments I have received have gone from "that is the best thing ever" to "you are kidding me!".
So here is the dilemma - Do I work with and support the christian company or develop relationship with the local supplier? Answers on a postcard please..
p.s. if you haven't filled in your standing order for £20 a month for 6 months get it in quick! (10 free coffees for all who sign up...) Building work starts Monday 15th October
6 comments:
Nice post; not sure what your answer is.
If, like at Refresh, you want to reach out to the surrounding community then perhaps you should think about developing a relationship with a local supplier. I do agree with you that Kingdom Coffee sounds a little cliched.
The Salvation Army (at least I think it was) got away with something similar to that for their HQ in London
As your main venue is called Central Hall you could cheekily call youselves Central Perk, or the the geeky amongst you Java Central.
Whatever happens I'll join you down there once it's open for a Latte and then Rosie and I will go Christmas shopping...Apple here I come.
Dave
Go local and build relationship. I reckon the mugs are cheese-on-a-stick.
We wanna link with the community we live in. At the business mtg BK & A.T et al. set up on Fri, a key point was as a business manager you are responsible for your 'household' check out biblical roots for household - basically people you communicate with in the industry you affect. The coffee place can affect Christians or a whole new 'household' who may or may not have experienced Christ like workers. Go for excitement of working with people who will be astounded by business generosity, community action and Hope for the future - not people who already know about it and are making a difference in their sphere of influence. Bless them for their work. But, to echo Mark: go local.
Also lets get our own mugs... or do a promotion amongst local people to get their design on mug and get free coffee for a year - there's a graphic designer round the corner - D.K round the building, poor students who are addicted to coffee or pro plus and would love to bag a years free supply. Not advocating addiction to caffeine! ...
love your comments - thank you! Had loads of others directly or people who read blog and then email me??!!
My gut reaction was wanting to stay local - it is something I have always believed in (but what does local mean in a global village?) I just wanted to sound out other peoples thinking. Very helpful, even Marks "cheese on stick" remark!
Presently looking at possibility of using the term Central as the name for the new coffee shop with a strap line like "at the heart of the community" and I have DK working on some possibilities but plenty of room for others to get involved...
Anyway more to follow on future posts...
yep, local, ethical, decaf and... well, drinkable.
Hi Sim. Go local. Too much jargon in our little world. Logo is a Starbucks rip off anyway. Coffee is central to the functioning of my entire nervous system, so the Central thing rings my bell.
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