Time to Slow Down
As someone who has been privileged enough to be surrounded by incredible mentors, I highly value those who guide others and help them achieve their goals. When dreaming of the day when I would hire staff, I knew that Calamity’s would be full of folks with little formal training. I would teach them more than coffee; I’d help them understand the importance of relationships with customers, the art of business, and give them tools to succeed in whatever they found passion in. Then, the reality set in. In a matter of a month, I went from a small cubicle sized space to a midsized shop with five employees. It has been a whirlwind of dreams come true, and complete overwhelm.
In the beginning, I said I needed to become my own boss so I can make mistakes—I’m fantastic at finding faults in other businesses, I needed to learn from my own missteps.
And I have made more mistakes than I’d like to admit. The biggest: failing to train my team. The Calamity’s staff is wonderfully talented, full of coffee connoisseurs and tea enthusiasts who do not want to be on register all day. They want to handcraft drinks, get to know you, and help make Calamity’s better than I could ever do alone. I have let them (and you) down.
A few weeks ago, I had the realization that if I get sick, my staff doesn’t get paid. Yes, it’s problematic for the business if the shop has to close, but a shortened paycheck for staff is wholly unacceptable. The universe decided to prove my point: I had a seizure and had to close.
Fulfilling customer requests is a critical part of Calamity’s ability to thrive. We pride ourselves on making drinks tailored to your tastes and are grateful for all of your suggestions.
It is no exaggeration that we get roughly three suggestions a day on ways to improve Calamity’s. Because of you, we have gone from offering 3 syrups to 20—including 7 sugar-free options. We make our white mocha in house, offer dairy free cold foam and dairy free lavender whipped cream. We have joined up with vendors and bakers to offer Rosemary syrup and gluten-free pastries. You keep us motivated to push the boundaries and to become better at our craft: THANK YOU!
That said, it is time for us to slow down a bit. We must do this so we can continue to provide you with the exceptional care you’ve come to expect from us. Calamity’s is a place for the community. We want you to feel as though you belong here. If your drink is not delicious every time, or we don’t recognize you by your third visit, there is nothing that makes us different from other shops. You matter to us, really. If we continue to expand at this pace without a solid foundation, we ensure a shaky future. Our incredible customer base makes Calamity’s special and we want to stay that way!
I am eternally grateful that you feel comfortable giving me feedback. Your ideas matter. Please keep them coming, but know that while I hear you, there are reasons they might not always come to fruition. Your enthusiasm is infectious. Thank you Oak Ridge (and surrounds) for all the support! We will not let you down and will begin product expansion again, but for the moment, our goals must remain focused on internal growth.