Yesterday I woke up with a big question in mind. Was this New Year’s Day to be just like any other? A day long on big ideas and short on self-discipline?
Only time will tell, but as an idealist, I like to think that every year gets better and better and this year will be no exception. Personally, although I’d like to say I won’t sneak the cream cheese frosting while making cinnamon rolls, I doubt very much that resolution would last, so why bother?
For the cafe, however, I’m hoping that going public with my hopes and dreams will help crystallize them into reality. First off, I’d like to acknowledge my gratitude to this community. Like-minded people are meeting each other here, and using our place as a gathering spot, and I’m so glad to see it! Some amazing folks live in these parts, but a lot of them remain isolated, they don’t know each other, they’ve never met each other. George Gallup called Americans “among the loneliest people in the world”. Wouldn’t it be great to somehow get these folks together, to enrich each others lives…spread the creative juices around, inspire each other, as meeting them has done for me? How can I truly create a vibrant meeting place…provide a venue that fosters community and all the goodness that can come from that?
I suppose, like anything else, it would involve getting the word out. In other words, marketing. How will the people know the intention if it’s not promoted?
Scandia New Year’s Resolutions, and I’m gonna keep it to two:
#1: Create an effective Marketing Plan, one that specifically involves the creation of community (offer to be a low-cost meeting place for groups and events and explore other ways of doing this).
#2 Use and feature locally grown and organic foods whenever possible. Provide organic milk alternatives. Check our soy milk to see if it is non-gmo and find an affordable alternative. This also contributes towards creation of community – promote local businesses (actually attend a chamber of commerce meeting).
I could probably go on and on, but these are the things that are on my mind. I would love to hear what others want!
My husband and I love Scandia. Having recently moved to Stanwood, we were thrilled to find a place that already feels like "home" to us when we come in for a cup of your delicious coffee and one of your fabulous pastries. We love the staff and their always friendly, helpful and enthusiastic attitudes. An idea we have is for you to add one of the terrific regional breads to sell in your cafe – perhaps Bread Farm from Edison? We miss getting really good bread in Stanwood, and would prefer to buy it from a local if we could. Mt. Vernon Coop has it, but it would be great if Scandia could carry and sell it too! Another supplier is Avenue Bread from Bellingham.