Jolly Bean Cafe

JOLLY BEAN CAFÉ

Samantha Barrett

Nichols College

Management 100

(Business & Society)

AMANDA ROYOwner of Jolly Bean Café in Plymouth, MA. Amanda and I met through my mother, who is a regular customer and friend of Amanda’s.

WHAT IS JOLLY BEAN CAFÉ? Sole

Proprietorship- Roy wanted to be the one responsible for the failure or success.

Grab & Go type of business since it is in the middle of several busy companies.

Coffee shop/café selling various coffees, baked goods, soups, and more.

Has been in business for one year and eight months

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Amanda was in sales for over eleven years. Wanted change from the normal

salesperson lifestyle. Friend owned a coffee shop, which Amanda

found fun and exciting. When she decided to open a coffee shop in

Plymouth, the building manager of 40 Industrial Park Road wanted her to open the café in front of the RMV.

At first, she was torn between a full coffee shop and a kiosk, but now she could not be happier.

“GREAT LOCATION, GREAT PEOPLE”-Amanda Roy on the benefits of having a kiosk located in a very busy location. Amanda (left) is shown with a woman from a business in the building who came down to buy some lattes.

AMANDA ROYMore information

Worked at a coffee shop in college Prior to opening Jolly Bean Café, she

was laid off. That is when she got the opportunity to play around with coffee and learn how to make different drinks.

Her outlook on Jolly Bean compared to her background: “It’s still a sales job, but it is just a different product.”

SUCCESSES Major successes: In

the building alone there are more than 100 people. Most of them have made Jolly Bean their number one coffee shop (over major chains). In the last two months business has gone up 25%!

CHALLENGES Major Challenges:

Some people just use it as an information booth and do not buy anything. Managing patience is difficult with that. If it was an independent shop, people would be less likely to just stop in for information.

CHALLENGESContinued

The most difficult aspect of running a business is being a true business owner.

Bookkeeping, time management, and having success/failure of the business on shoulders at all times is hard to manage sometimes.

In other sales jobs, Amanda was under the “net” of big companies, now she is in a net of her own.

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES Trial and error Staying organized Ask for help when

needed Have to make it

work out (only source of income makes it become a source of motivation)

CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS

Consistency! High quality &

healthy products Create a positive

experience for customers

Perfect location Easy for Amanda

to control as she runs Jolly Bean alone.

FATAL FLAWS/DEVASTATING OCCURRENCES If one of the

major businesses in the building moved out

Inconsistency Keeping the

same menu/no variety

JOLLY BEAN CAFÉ Will It Continue?

Jolly Bean Café is staying in business! It will remain a kiosk, not a single standing store.

Potentially a mobile coffee truck in the future.

Wants to be open weekends Reason for keeping this location: no

other employees. Therefore, Amanda can control consistency herself.

FURTHER PRODUCT EXPANSION Summer is

coming! Salad Frozen Yogurt Anything else

employees in the building suggest

Favorite creation so far: frozen hot chocolate!

PERKS OF BEING OWNER OF JOLLY BEAN CAFÉ

People watching Always exciting Fast paced Making great

friendships and seeing the building come together

Becoming the building’s “water cooler”

WHY DOES AMANDA ROY RUN JOLLY BEAN CAFÉ SINGLE HANDEDLY?

“I am the most reliable person I know”

When sick or need a day off, she can ask a friend to fill in

Tried to have an employee, but that went terribly.

BUSINESS EXPECTATIONS Expectations for

business were high, maybe too high.

One year and eight months later, business is just getting to where she thought it would be.

Still successful though!

LAST BUT NOT LEASTWhat would your advice be for my classmates/other small business owners?

“I opened this at the most inopportune time. I was laid off, going through divorce, and selling my house. Most people wouldn’t have taken the risk, but if you want it bad enough, you have to go for it. Being at your lowest point can make you very creative.”

REFERENCERoy, A. (2012, March 14). Interview by S.L. Barrett [Personal Interview]. Small business owner interview.