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 Who’s your target?     American markets respectively. Meanwhile,   [1]  Only a segment of coffee drinkers
 To Matchmaker, its target market is any-  local inspirations in Japan like Japanese teas   QAWHA’s
 one who is looking for coffee that stays consis-  from Matcha to Sencha Tea, from Roasted   #BrewHome:  care about the depth we as specialty
 tent, tastes delicious, with affordable prices.   Green Tea to Genmaicha Tea are available
 Identify who is your targeted customer   on the menu.   Everyday from 13:30   roasters are going to in order to have a
 and the needs that they don’t even notice can   to 14:00 via
 brewhome.qahwa.co.jp/en/.
 be really helpful to expand your businesses.   What kind of solutions can you offer?   really good cup of coffe.
 If you explore a new or foreign market, in-  Product experience:  With the case
 depth research/surveys, ranging from con-  of Matchmaker, customers’ blind taste test
 sumer shopping habits/preferences to local   is not just for them. It can be a fun game or
 customs or culture, should be conducted to   experience for you to do with others. “It’s
 make sure you are making the right move or   fun, something that you can do with your
 strategy with new launches or products.   friends or families, and then you get to
 Also, you need to realize that you are not   score the coffees and provide notes on what
 alone. With more tools and technologies avail-  you liked,” Pabari suggested. “We’re bring-
 able for people across different sectors, busi-  ing a cupping session to your home.” What’s
 ness owners can achieve more. “As you can see   more, you will find difference/preference
 a new retail category like Hema Fresh,” Izaki   in coffee among your loved ones, which can       Photo /Matchmaker Coffee
 mentioned. “Technology helps us to be very   be really interesting!
 productive, but at the same time, a human is   Contingency solution:  During  this
 very important to increase or double that pro-  special period of time, what can you offer
 ductivity of the sales for business.”  to your customers if your shops are closed
 But don’t misunderstand here, it   due to lockdown or you’re grounded at
 doesn’t mean that technology and human   home? Izaki’s QAWHA now runs online
 beings would compete against each other   coffee gathering called #BrewHome  [1]  on
 but actually side by side.  Zoom every day. “I’d like to provide people
 to hang out with coffee and feel connected
 What kind of problems are you trying   with somebody online and share coffee
 to solve?    breaks with  people  to  feel  peace in  their
 Localized taste:  Founded in 2007,   minds,” he said.
 the California-based Verve Coffee Roasters   Izaki said that his inspiration comes
 now has stores in both the United States   from his personal experience that is all
 and Japan. In the past nine years, it has   about focus on what you are good at. “It
 grown from a local coffee shop in Santa   means that you also need to have guts to
 Cruz, CA into a world-famous coffee com-  give up attractive offers if it’s not your
 pany with 11 locations. The number of   field,” he explained, “but I understand that
 employees has grown to surpass 200 from   to highlight your brand is long-term work
 six at the beginning. In Japan, Verve  has   and small decisions would make huge dif-
 two locations, Shinjuku Station in Tokyo   ferences at the same time.”
 and Kamakura Yukinoshita in Kanagawa.   “So one of the key elements for me
 It’s worth noting that taste preferences in   still being in demand as a coffee consultant
 different  countries  matter  a  lot,  say  the   is that I am patient and defeat temptation,”
 United States and Japan. You will see exclu-  he confessed. So to you as an owner, what’s
 sive blends or roasts for the Japanese and   your secret for your business success?




 Matchmaker Coffee

 Suneal Pabari and Adam Frank established
 Matchmaker Coffee after the success of their first
 brand, The Roasters Pack, in Canada. Matchmaker
 is available in both Canada and the USA.
 matchmaker.coffee

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