Elizabeth Goldblatt and Amy Louis
Elizabeth
came from an entrepreneurial family. Her father and mother had owned their own
businesses and she saw how that unique framework brought them a sense of pride
and accomplishment. Amy, on the other hand, was initially against owning her
own business. While she was keenly aware of the benefits, she also knew it was
both inherently risky and extraordinarily stressful. In 2002, both women were
confident that their business model was a solid one, their experience was a
great foundation and that their passion and resultant entrepreneurial spirit
would result in a continually growing enterprise.
Both women believe that all of your
experiences, both positive and negative, help to form the individual that you become.
Elizabeth and Amy both started off in the financial industry, and while that
was a promising and lucrative career path, I did not fulfill either’s career
objectives and values. Elizabeth went on to work in a human resource capacity
and then became a project coordinator at a family owned small business. Many
aspects of those two positions have influenced Elizabeth in her capacity at Six
Degrees. Amy subsequently entered the coffee industry. She obtained an
entry-level position at Peet's Coffee & Tea. Peet's was a pioneer in the
specialty coffee industry and Amy completed their Management Trainee program
and went on to manage stores and be instrumental in opening new locations. Amy
developed her sales acumen and consistently had a high sales ratio in her
stores.
Both are from the San Francisco Bay
Area and enjoyed living there immensely. After living in the heart of San
Francisco for over a decade, they were looking for a home and environment to
raise a family. Amy attended Chico State and Elizabeth had visited the charming
town many times. They ran into a college friend and coincidently sparked a
conversation about raising a family in Chico. Both women reflected on the
town's attributes and went up for a visit. It became apparent that moving to
Chico was a better choice than finding an overpriced home in the Bay Area that
would not allow them to be more present for a family.
Having a business in Chico has been
an extraordinary gift. It is a vibrant community with so many advantages. The
town has provided a wealth of resources both in business and socially to thrive
and enjoy their surroundings. They found that there was a real need for their
services when they started in 2002 and continue to feel as though they have
raised the bar of quality coffee and helped to illustrate how businesses and
individuals can work together to achieve their desired goals. Good or bad, they
enjoy making all the decisions about our business.
The future looks very promising for
the business. The core product (aside from education and customer service) is coffee. As a beverage and a
commodity, it is a consumer staple. The three divisions of Six Degrees namely,
wholesale, service and grocery, are all viable entities. Determining the
magnitude and growth of each division is the crucial component of operations.
At this juncture, the best way to describe the strategic plan for each is
"controlled growth."
In 2010 they found themselves in
need of an increased sales force as well as a growing grocery and service
division. 3Core had come highly recommended by business leaders in the
community that they deeply respect. “We set up a meeting with Patty Hess and
familiarized her with our operations. Throughout the coming eighteen months, it
was clear that not only would be adding one and possibly two employees, but
also would need an additional truck or two. We determined what capital that
expansion require and calculated a loan package that would cover the expenses.
3Core was instrumental in bringing
our company to the next level. The staff's expertise, insight and certainly
providing the capital we needed was imperative to achieve the controlled growth
we desired. We have returned a majority of the capital borrowed and I am
certain as we continue to analyze our prospects for growth, 3Core will continue
to be a valued partner in our future.”
As owners of the business and as a
commercial entity, Elizabeth and Amy not only can give back to the community
but also is a part of the company's mission. Without contributions of
businesses and employees, a city cannot accomplish it's goals and remain a
desirable to live. Amy, Elizabeth and the team at Six Degrees contribute to the
North State by donating baskets for fundraisers, giving coffee and other
beverages for community events and speaking at various organizations functions.
Amy is involved with Soroptomists International of Chico. Both owners feel that
each employee has their own favorite causes and organizations and they
encourage the team at Six Degrees to support each other's events. Amy and
Elizabeth are also involved in various trade and professional organizations and
events in their industry. This translates to the
customer, the community and the coffee industry as a whole.
A challenge with starting your own
business is the uncertainty that comes with a new venture. However, they felt
that there was a definite need for their services in this area so they were
confident that it would continue to grow. Some uncertainty always plays into a
business. That is always a concern but with a more mature business and more
resources, that worry is diminished. While capital investment and properly
balancing product purchases with cash flow can often be a concern for a new
business, their initial investment was very minimal.
Six Degrees is close to its 11th
year of operation, for which Elizabeth and Amy are thrilled. They would like to
attribute their success to their tenacity and business acumen but alas, admit
it has a great deal to do with their terrific employees, faithful customers and
the great community they work in. “We truly treat customers and our business
the way we would want to be treated, with integrity and respect. We are not
certain that this is unique but it is something we strive to do every day.”
For more information on Six Degrees Coffee Service & Distribution, visit their website or find them on Facebook!
