By: Jerry Crawford
Business Consultant
(Guam SBDC)
Island Girl Coffee ‘n Quenchers now has two places to serve you located at their original location in Maite and their new location in Yigo. The Yigo location offers the same convenient drive through with coffee brewed from the finest Arabica beans from across the globe, sourced from an artisan Italian roaster in the North American coffee capital of Seattle. They proudly serve Guam the wildly popular, high quality, and award winning Caffé D'Arte - an aromatic and delicious coffee roasted in the Italian tradition. These rich blends are certain to please sleepy taste buds!
“Congratulations, Connie and Jeff Hurley, on the opening of your second coffee drive through stand in Yigo. Readers want to know how you do it.”
Jeff says, “First we had a vision of our business. Then we put that vision on paper with a five year written business plan with thanks to Jerry Crawford at the Small Business Development Center. Once we had a detailed business plan, we began taking steps to implement each phase of the plan. We used the Small Business Development Center resources to learn about available financing on Guam. We successfully opened Island Girl Coffee ‘n Quenchers in Maite a year ago.
Three months after opening in Maite, we began taking steps to implement the next phase of our business plan…a second location. We spent months locating just the right spot with a good daily vehicle count, excellent access, and can easily be seen. We found it in Yigo. At the same time, we contracted for the building of the next facility and began obtaining permits and licenses. The second Island Girl took over nine months, from start to grand opening. Now that we have created a repeatable business model, the next Island Girl will likely take even less time to open.”
Speaking of a repeatable model, has your business changed much from the first vision?
Connie comments, “In many ways we remain true to our first vision but there has been significant tweaking along the way to meet the needs of our consumers. We have added on breakfast sandwiches and select oatmeal blends as our busy patrons wanted an eat-it-on-the-go nutritious breakfast. We have experimented with coffee and drink flavors adding in specialty teas, energy drinks, specialty waters, and new coffee flavorings as customers request them or we see new trends emerging in the ever-changing coffee market.”
What is the most important part of your business model?
Connie says, “Absolutely, it is our great staff! You are only as good as your customer service. We hire local people with friendly and ‘get it done right’ attitudes. We are happy to have added 16 employees on Guam. Our repeat clientele will tell you we have the best Baristas on the island and we agree. As owners, we take on the responsibility of hiring great people and offering excellent training in customer service. If your drink is not right, bring it back and we will make a new one! We guarantee our work.”
Once again, congratulations on your second store. Visit Island Girl Coffee ‘n Quenchers website at: www.islandgirlofguam.com or Facebook at: Island Girl Coffee
Of course, stop by one of their two locations:
Route 8 in Maite in front of Synergy Studio
Marine Corp Drive & in the Yigo Payless parking lot
