Coffee Shop Raises Business Acumen
Organised by the University of Cincinnati’s Economics Centre, 20 sixth grade students are currently getting a taste of the business world by running the Palazzo de Caffe outlet at Westwood’s Dater Montessori Elementary School in the US.
Forming part of the university’s Student Enterprise Program, which runs from September to May and is now in its second year, the young individuals are selling various coffees from various parts of the globe, to raise funds for a non-profit group, that they will go on to identify by April of next year.
Donating 50 cents in each US$1 cup of coffee, the Palazzo de Caffe offers various types of coffee from a range of countries, the US, Costa Rica, Kenya and Colombia, as well as tea, hot chocolate and sweet snacks.
Director of the programme, Val Krugh, commented on what the students are experiencing: "By learning about globalization, they also learn about life and business."
Working with Coffee Emporium as their provider of the coffee on sale at the café, the 20-strong team has also introduced a loyalty card system, that allows coffee enthusiasts to pay US$15 upfront, which will buy visitors 20 cups of their favourite brew.
The young team anticipates raising US$2,000 in proceeds this year for its selected charity, a considerable US$300 more than the previous year. To this end, the entrepreneurs are already ramping up their marketing efforts, including holiday gift bags of both whole bean as well as ground coffee for US$10 per bag.