It’s 70’s day and disco music



It’s 70’s day and disco music

Originally uploaded by jpscoffee

Here is our fabulous manager, Sherry “Fawcett”, on disco day celebrating Rita’s 15 year with JP’s.

It’s 70’s day and disco music



It’s 70’s day and disco music

Originally uploaded by jpscoffee

Here is our fabulous manager, Sherry “Fawcett”, on disco day celebrating Rita’s 15 year with JP’s.

We’re in training

A complete, effective and ongoing training system is critical for coffee success!

A complete, effective and ongoing training system is critical for coffee success!

October will be training month, no doubt about it!  It’ll be the “old school” vs. the “newbies”, and it’s going to be a great ride!

We’re debuting new menus shortly, which will include the traditional Italian cappuccino, a yummy 6 ounce drink we’ve all fallen in love with.  It will arrive in your hands with latte art atop it…so the game is afoot!  All our baristas have been practicing their skills, and a few who’ve gotten rusty will be attending training seminars with our capable MBS trainers.  Read more »

Dear Starbucks, Dear Coffee Lover and Dear Heavens

New instant coffee from Starbucks

New instant coffee from Starbucks

This entry is going to be different. Different in the following ways:

1. I am reposting a blog post from a friend in the industry because what he said is so relevant.

2. I wrote my Jack’s Blend column for November’s Specialty Coffee Retailer magazine and wrote about the same thing (great minds think alike?). I am posting it here also.

3. That’s it.

Specialty Coffee Retailer magazine, Jack’s Blend column, November ‘09

Mixed messages and the demise of Starbucks.

As I write this column, the news out today is that Howard Schultz calls his new instant coffee line, “perhaps the biggest opportunity our company has ever had” (Seattle Times, Sept 28 2009). That from the company that practically birthed quality coffee across the US.

I do not disagree with Howard. It may be the biggest opportunity Starbucks has ever had. Read more »

Back to School

Back to School

Back to School

Sophia’s school year (she’s a second grader) started August 6.  Needless to say, she doesn’t live in Michigan!  Here we tend to think of “summer” as being bounded by Memorial Day on the front and Labor Day on the back.  (Unless you live in Holland, where, honestly, school might as well end mid-May with Tulip Time).  This traditional take on the summer season is indicative of economies based on the tourist season in the upper Midwest.  It’s tough sledding much before Memorial Day, and by Labor Day the lake is wayyy too cold to swim in with any reliability.  So the rhythm of our year includes these conveniently-placed federal holidays.  By Memorial Day we’re all ready for the school year to end, for the freedom expressed by “school’s out”.  Yet, come September…hey, that would be a good name for a movie…we’re  ready for the return of structure.  Aren’t people funny?  Business, ours, at least, is the same way. Read more »

Leadership and the small business owner

A group shot of JP's employees in 2003

A group shot of JP's employees in 2003

As a small business owner have you ever been asked the following question; “Wow, you have such great employees, where do you get them from?”

If you have, I bet you I can tell you a few things about you, and what you do on a regular basis.

Read more »

Firecrackers

Fireworks

Fireworks

Here’s the deal with firecrackers:  they’re either light or noise.  Well, sometimes some of each.  But mostly you remember fireworks because of the light (beautiful) or the noise (deafening).  I’d rather be remembered as the former, but suspect many would characterize me as the latter. Read more »

Opportunities

Ice cold drink

Ice cold drink

When summer rolls around, people order cold drinks. Wow, is that brilliant or what.

Read more »

Remember I told you about my flowers?

Jack's flowers

Jack's flowers

Wait, what? It’s June already? How can that be?

Train speeding by

Train speeding by

Oh, man, now I’m in trouble.  The first of the month has come and gone and I haven’t added one iota to the general body of  knowledge that is our blog.  Sheesh.  What the heck have I been doing for the last nine days?  Oh, now I remember:  I had just gotten back from driving 1500 miles  to see the grandkids when this new month arrived, and nothing much has slowed down since.  June is the month for… Read more »