Happy Cup Coffee, a social enterprise company that supports adults with disabilities, announced its “Roaster for a Day” contest. One lucky winner (and three friends) will enjoy a hands-on coffee roasting lesson from master roaster Trevin Miller, create their own signature coffee blend, and take home a year’s supply of fresh, sustainably sourced coffee ($750 value).

How to Enter “Roaster for a Day” Contest

In addition to learning impressive sounding coffee lingo like ‘roast profiling’ ‘cupping,’ and ‘double charging the roasting drum,’ the winner will get a chance to create a signature coffee blend tailored to his or her unique palate. Travel and accommodations to Portland, Ore. are not included.

To enter, simply “like” Happy Cup on Facebook or sign up at www.happycup.com.  Entries will be accepted until midnight PST, March 27, 2012.  The winner will be announced Tuesday, April 10, 2012.

Happy Cup Roasting

We love our clients and feel like part of the “family.”   At a recent Woodburn Company Stores’ event, we decided to let our hair down (or up in this case), and had some fun with Paparazzi Tonight.

Like any good American traveler, I reached for my Rick Steve’s travel guide and flipped open the page titled “French Etiquette.”  Here’s what Rick advised:

“Before you enter a Parisian store, remember the following points:

• The customer is not always right. In fact, figure the clerk is doing you a favor by waiting on you.
• It’s not normal for the customer to handle clothing. Ask first.
• Forget returns (and don’t count on exchanges).”

Reference:   http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/france/parisshops.htm

What?  Don’t touch the clothes; I’m doing them a favor by shopping in their store?  This mindset blew me away, coming from the U.S. where companies like Nordstrom and Zappos were built on the principle of customer service.

Needless to say I didn’t purchase much clothing in Paris.   I did, however, find a wonderful boutique in the small town of Gordes where the “Parisian” shopping guidelines must not apply.  With an Oregon winter ahead of me, I fell in love with this warm grey coat and its fun ruffle neck-line and a few colorful scarves.  And, because I’m an optimist and know beautiful sunshine is just around the corner, I picked a pretty silk tank.

–linda

Launching a New Social Enterprise Coffee Company

We helped launch Happy Cup Coffee–a new social enterprise company with a heart. We invited Joe V. from Fox 12 Oregon to learn how this new company is making a difference. That’s because all proceeds benefit people with disabilities. Or more accurately, people with possibilities. Plus, they serve a mean cup of Joe.

A Sweet Valentine’s Day Gift

TV viewers were introduced to the company, and also tantalized by the “Happy Heart Valentine’s Day Gift Box” featuring decadent Moonstruck Chocolate.

Happy Cup's Valentine's Day Gift Box

Joe V Roasting at Happy Cup Coffee Company

SUMMARY

Launching a New Greek Yogurt Dip at the Fancy Food Show

CHALLENGE

Educating the market about Stonemill Kitchen’s new line of savory Greek Yogurt dips.

SOLUTION

Leverage the “halo effect” of Greek Yogurt and let people TASTE the (skinny truth) about these dips that are packed full of flavor, and have half the fat and calories of a cheese or sour-cream-based dip.

We helped sample on the show floor, as well as unveiled the dips at the Food Fete media event.  Fully decked out in white togas and gold leaf crowns, the team generated many smiles, as well as product requests from reporters and food bloggers.

Another highlight? A reporter (who was born in Greece) said that the Kalamata Olive dip, “Tastes like home.”

Getting into character to launch Greek Yogurt dip

SUMMARY

We helped Neil Kelly Cabinets secure product reviews for their new line of eco-friendly cabinetry.

CHALLENGE

Get ink—and get green-minded consumers excited about—this uber-rustic new cabinetry line.

SOLUTION

Our approach? Tell the story behind the story—including how the cabinets are helping to create US jobs, restore the natural ecosystem and even save an endangered species (the Western sage grouse).

RESULTS

Positive product reviews in several design and shelter publications. Here’s what the fine folks at EcoFabulous had to say, “These wondrous wood creations are in a league all their own, paying homage to the elements from which they were sustainably sourced and looking darn good in the process. And no matter what your style persuasion, be it country house traditional or ultra modern, you’ll find designs in the collection that’ll help you build your dream interior….. Racking up points on the LEED ratings system and in terms of sheer good looks, you won’t have to knock on wood hoping that these beautifying adornments avoid harming Mother Nature.”Ah, shucks!

Summary

If you build it, will they come? That was the question Reser’s faced after building a new, state-of-the-art 10,000 square foot kitchen and R&D lab filled with 20 crazy-smart chefs, food scientists, QA/QC technicians and food safety experts.

Challenge

Rise above the noise to secure new business meetings with top retail and food-service executives.

Solution

We created a direct mail campaign with five “bacon-themed” care packages. Each month, we sent prospects a package that showed them how Reser’s could help “save their bacon” by guiding them through product development, commercialization, product safety, consumer insights, and sensory testing.

We worked with Reinke Creative to create the professionally designed and well-branded care packages. Each contained a bacon-themed gift such as: Bacon chocolate (it’s surprisingly good), bacon band-aids (for food safety) and…well, you get the picture.

Results

The campaign was well received– and memorable. “Hey, you’re the bacon folks…” we heard time and time again. More importantly, we secured meetings for Reser’s head chef to “sell” their R&D services and created warm leads and a “savory” reason for the sales team to call on important prospects.