The Espresso: Edition 148

Since reading a book called the Checklist Manifesto, I have started using checklists. I use them to keep track of things, to make sure I don't miss anything and basically, to simplify my world.

Those who follow Rock 'n' Roll will remember the fabled story of how David Lee Roth, lead singer of the band Van Halen, requested via a clause in their tour rider, that no brown M&M's be allowed in their dressing room. Upon hearing the story, most people assumed the request was due to just another precious Rock 'n' Roll artist with an unreasonable request and expectation. However, the real story behind it was that the band believed that if they walked into the dressing room and there were no brown M&M's, it showed that the promoters had sharp attention to detail and it meant they had read the contract so therefore other points like production, staging, security and logistics would also be taken care of. If, however, there were brown M&M's in dressing room, it would show that the attention to detail wasn't there, the checklist hadn't been followed and the band would need to double check everything else to do with the concert.

This is a great story that reiterates the power of checklists. Let me tell you, they work, they simplify your world, they eliminate the time and effort involved in having to follow up on things that may have been forgotten or missed and once you get the hang of them, checklists will ensure that despite today's many requests and demands, your business will be run in a tight, precise manner. 

Anyone who has started a new business will know that the hardest part of a startup is the start. How do you get the word out about your product or service when resources, money and opportunities are limited? All you really have going for you is a good idea. That's where a venture called The Startup Store comes in. It's a retail space in New York City that helps startups gain exposure by giving them a space to tell their story and display their wares. It launched recently with five New York based startups, leading up to the holiday season with merchandise driven displays that allowed them to get face to face with potential consumers. The idea is that every 4-6 weeks there will be a completely different group of stratums displaying their stuff. You can do your own merchandising, run events, tell your story and essentially let people know you exist. It's a great idea and we hope that more people take this opportunity to give budding entrepreneurs and innovators a chance to get off the ground.

We love a good story and this one is a beauty. Gru Grococo is a joint venture between Rococo Chocolates and the Grenada Chocolate Co. Together they produce an organic coco-chocolate, roasted at a solar powered micro-factory in the Caribbean. What makes this story really unique is that the bars are then shipped to the UK via an engineless wooden sailing ship. They spend 6 weeks on the ocean and during that journey the chocolate is cooled using solar and wind powered refrigerators. The Ro Coco bar is not cheap and contains 66% cocoa and supposedly tastes of fruit with tones of tobacco and grass. The hefty price tag is sweetened by the fact that the producers of the chocolate get 100% of the proceeds. If you want to try the this chocolate it is exclusively available from the Rococo shops and website. The team at the Espresso wonder how long it would take for the chocolate to get from the UK to Australia?

It's always good to see a brand that spins what we know to be true on its ear. So we love the Be Disloyal loyalty card. Traditionally, coffee shops are all about loyalty. They get to know your preferred brew and a little bit about you, to get you coming back for your regular coffee purchase. The down side is you never get to shop around and try the offerings from other coffee shops. This Singapore based collaborative scheme is aimed to benefit 8 of the city's best independent cafes. The Be Disloyal card is designed to encourage you to discover different coffee shops rather than being loyal to the one brew house. The idea is that you pick up a card from any of the 8 participating cafes and once you have visited and received a stamp from each of the other 7 cafe's, you return to the original cafe and get a free brew. As much as we like this idea in terms of keeping the cafes on their toes, it can also be risky for the consumer, experimenting with that precious morning brew.