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I’m noticing a trend among BatchBluers. We seem to have an affinity for the small, local FOOD retailers. 
So to keep with the trend, I would have to say my favorite local just-the-right-size business is Krazy Korner Bagel store in Seekonk, MA.
While the bagels are great (and have been the official sustenance of the BatchBlue staff meetings for the almost 3 year history of this company), they won their place in my heart for a different reason: the customer service. The nice folks who run the store have gotten it right with the personal touch. They know by name several of us BatchBluers, they have our standing Monday morning order ready at the waiting and they know how to treat us like a trusted friend, not just a credit card.
A good example of their above-and-beyond customer service is an experience I had there about a year ago. I arrived to pick up the regular order only to realize that my wallet was not in my purse (my then 1 year liked to play that trick on me periodically). When I looked at the bagel server confoundedly, she said, “Don’t worry. You can come back and pay for it later.” She then sheepishly added, “my boss lets me do that.” I was not surprised that a small business that enjoys our regular business would extend this type of courtesy. What struck me was that each of the employees, including the cashier, was empowered with this level of customer satisfaction granting.
Small businesses get it. Customer relationships are being started and nurtured on many different fronts at many different times and by many different people. The trick is not to post a friendly customer service policy and install expensive systems. The trick is to trust the people who are on the front lines and empower them to take good care of the customer.
KRAZY KORNER BAGEL & DELI
23 Circle Drive
Seekonk, MA 02771
p: 508.336.5204
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Tags: bagels, Contests, krazy korner bagels, small business, small business super hero, small business week
As a (somewhat) virtual company, the BatchBlue crew is always on the lookout for a nice place to work or meet. There are really only two requirements—strong wifi and stronger caffeinated beverages.
We’re based in Providence, RI and there’s no shortage of nice coffee shops in the city. But my dirty little secret is that I’m actually the one member of the Crew who lives over the line in Massachusetts. I was quite happy when I found out that Cuppers Cafe was opening in Somerset—which just so happens to be where I live.
Cuppers has quickly evolved from a converted-gas-station-with-name-painted-on-windows look into a pretty spiffy establishment. It is well-decorated, the wifi is strong, the beverages are good, and the baked goods are tasty. But, as with many small businesses, what sets it apart is the people. When I start to frequent a coffee shop, I’m always interested to see how long it takes the staff to remember my order. For owner Mark Ulrich, it was very quick. As soon as he sees me open the door, Mark gets a large black Assam ready.
Between the birth of our third baby, paternity leave, and some other matters, I recently went about six weeks without visiting Cuppers. However, the next time I went in, Mark said hello as if I was there the day before and asked “large black Assam?”
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Tags: coffee, Contests, cuppers cafe, small business, small business super hero, small business week
The Coffee Exchange is one of my favorite small, local businesses. I’ve actually been a patron since my dinosaur – I mean high school – years, so it feels really good to put this praise to print. The Coffee Exchange has, IMHO, the best-tasting coffee in town. They roast their own coffee, on-site, daily and in small batches, and they almost always use high-quality, organic, fair trade beans. If you buy in-store, then there’s a $1-off-per-lb. discount and a free cup on the house, so it’s a great incentive to get your coffee locally and insure that your home brews are amazing and produced by a company with a conscience.
The staff is friendly, fast, and knowledgeable, and the east side locale is quaint, close to the jewelry district and downtown.
Thanks, Coffee Exchange, for fueling both yesteryear’s transcendental high school diatribes and this year’s incoherent, new parent, sleep-deprived mumblings. Roast on!
COFFEE EXCHANGE
207 Wickenden Street
Providence, RI 02903
w: sustainablecoffee.com
p: 877-COFFEE4 or 401.273.1198
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Tags: coffee, coffee exchange, Contests, small business, small business super hero, small business week
My favorite small business has to be Allie’s Donuts in North Kingstown, RI. They’re famous among Rhode Islanders not
only for their amazing donuts but also for the phenomenon known as the donut cake. For us donut lovers, the cake is pure heaven! It is one giant donut formed into whatever shape you can dream up gloriously frosted and covered in sprinkles (or as we say here in RI – jimmies). I was first introduced to the donut cake by my mother-in-law Judy. She got my husband & me a bride and groom cake for our first wedding anniversary. It was quite a sight!
Here at BatchBlue, we’re huge fans of the donut cake and order one every chance we get. Allie’s has customer service that rivals BatchBlue’s own; they have never turned down a last minute order for a shark, bird, “Rock On” hand or bunny cake. If you follow us on twitter, you may have seen a recent tweet about it!
So the next time you’re in North Kingstown RI, stop in at Allie’s and be sure to think of us as you enjoy that scrumptious donut!
ALLIE’S DONUTS
3661 Quaker Lane
North Kingstown, RI 02852
p: (401)295-8036
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Tags: allies, Contests, donuts, small business, small business super hero, small business week
In honor of this week’s National Small Business Week, we’re running the Small Business Super Hero contest through the end of the week, giving small business owners the chance to win fabulous prizes as well as Internet fame and glory.
We’re also going to be featuring “BatchBlue Staff Favorite” small businesses all this week in order to shine a light on some of the small businesses that make our lives a little better every day. We’re very proud of being from Rhode Island, “the biggest little” state in the country, and excited to give some of our favorite small local businesses a big shout-out. You’re bound to meet some cool small businesses that you may not have otherwise known about.
Check back all this week for our staff updates and feel free to nominate your favorite in our Small Business Super Hero contest (as a nominator, you can win prizes, too!) And a big thanks to all the small business owners out there – we’re grateful for all the good work you do all year long.
Tags: Contests, small business super hero, small business week
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