You love coffee, food and people and dream of owning a café that becomes the heartbeat of a local community. You imagine customers chatting while they wait for their coffee, succumbing to a scrumptious looking cake or sitting down for a meal that’s “Insta-worthy” and tastes as good as it looks.
These customers become regulars. You remember their names, know how they like their coffee, and there’s always a new cake or dish to entice them.
Creating this sense of belonging promotes wellbeing and a sense of community at a time when people feel overwhelmed and disconnected because of rapidly advancing technology. Technology itself is not to blame. Mobile and internet technologies will be crucial to running your business. What’s important is creating meaningful connections with customers, both online and offline.
Being a business leader is not formulaic. You will need to know your customers, be agile and be prepared to change your mindset to meet the demands of your local community.