If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you might have seen me sharing posts from SYMPOSIUM coffee. This week, I thought I’d take some time to give you some background as to why this is.
Keeping it in the family
It probably won’t surprise you, knowing what I do for a living, that family is very important to me. I’m fortunate to come from a close-knit family, filled with brilliant minds. I’m not the only business owner in my family, and it’s great that we get the chance to support each other.
SYMPOSIUM coffee house is owned by my sister Wendy and brother-in-law Paul. Currently, they have 8 coffee shops and an artisan coffee roastery, all located in northeast Scotland. I have seen first hand the years of incredibly hard work, late nights and energy that has gone into growing their business. Based in Peterhead, they have 4 gorgeous daughters, the eldest two now working in the business alongside them.
2020: A tough year for small business owners
2020 has brought challenges to everyone, and being a small business owner myself, I understand the difficulties that have come along with the changing restrictions as we learn to adapt to the “new normal”. The initial introduction of the lockdown restrictions was a shock to us all. Many business owners saw their income come to a grinding halt overnight.
Adapting to survive
During this initial stage of the lockdown, my sister and brother-in-law worked hard to put in place a delivery service, providing a limited menu at a time when they were unable to welcome customers inside their shops. They kept working hard, adapting to the changing climate and finding new ways to bring their coffee to the public.
Paying it forward
It was incredible to see the response from their local community, who they have served faithfully for the last 15 years. They began receiving orders for their coffee online, with people choosing whole bean or ground SYMPOSIUM coffee to enjoy at home.
Paul and Wendy found ways to give back, too. They started a “pay it forward” scheme, where customers could pay for an extra coffee that would then be given to front-line workers in local hospitals or pharmacies. During a time where we were all struggling, it was amazing to see them find this way to use their business to build community spirit.
Please help to support small businesses
One thing 2020 has taught us is the importance of family, and supporting our community. By purchasing SYMPOSIUM coffee, you’re directly supporting a small, family-owned business during this difficult time. By sharing their posts on my social media pages, as well as purchasing their coffee online, I’m doing my part to support their business.
It also helps that their coffee is DELICIOUS! Try it for yourself and I guarantee you’ll love it!
