Switching from Teacher to Barista/Coffee Shop Owner

The Importance of Connection and the Right Coffee Shop

lizfulks@gmail.com (Liz Fulks) — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 22:56:57 GMT

Growing up, there was a hit TV show called Cheers. There is a line in the opening theme song that says, “ Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.” While the TV show itself was a dramady about the connections between patrons and a bartender and his staff, that line always hit me growing up. There is this rush of happiness when you walk into a place and are greeted by name.

Time and time again, I have seen people stand a little taller, and a smile that touches their lips even before that rush of caffeine. While my family and I are not bartenders (technically, one of us is certified to be a bartender, I’ll let you guess which family member it is.) we are baristas, bakers, customer service. We are here to bring you a little joy in your life even when the slightest thing has gotten you down.

I have been written thank you letters from other states, kind comments and positive reviews here in Las Vegas, but most of all we have established friendships with many of our regulars. Now, it isn’t just a rush of happiness for them anymore, but that smile, that joy, comes to us. There is something about connection, where even if differences exist in thoughts, ideas, you still come together and just listen. I have Baby Boomers all the way to Gen Alpha coming in and having conversations with eachother. They hear stories of what it used to be like growing up, to how the slang has changed over the years and what is truly still very much the same.

I have had reviews that my shop reminds them of Cheers. That was one of the best compliments I could received. I have laughed with my patrons, I have cried with my patrons, I have been shocked with my patrons, but overall that connection is worth more than anything in a world where people stare at their phones and barely look up to say hi.

So when you are feeling a little down, head to your local coffee shop and take a seat. You never know what friendships and connections you’ll make. I know that my life has changed for the better, and I’m pretty sure yours would too.

Meet the Convo Coffee Family

lizfulks@gmail.com (Liz Fulks) — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 23:54:04 GMT

Owning a coffee shop that is run by a family is truly an amazing thing. Convo Coffee started on February 14th, 2022 and we haven’t looked back. It all started when I was a child and would wake up in the mornings to see my parents sitting and having coffee together. It always brought me peace to walk into the kitchen, smell Folgers coffee coming from their coffee pot and see them talk about a wide range of different things. My grandma would often make me a little coffee with a whole lot of cream and sugar so I could have coffee with her and do the same thing.

Fast forward, and my parents, 55 years later, still do the same thing. They get up, have coffee in the morning. However, there is a little twist. Now, they have coffee in the morning and then come to the coffee shop and bake the absolutely yummy pastries that we have available.

The Bakers

Meet Candee and Rich, or as our regulars affectionately call them, Grandma and Grandpa Convo. The Harley riding amazing couple come in every morning Friday-Tuesday and bake their delicious cinnamon rolls, coffee cakes, breakfast pockets, and different flavored muffins on the weekends. They aren’t just our bakers. When the shop gets busy, you’ll see Grandma behind the register and Grandpa working his barista skills behind the espresso machine.

The Baristas

Meet Liz, Patrick, Katelyn, and Christian. I had wanted a coffee shop for years, so my husband Patrick asked why not make it a reality? Thus started the amazing, albeit sometimes frustrating journey into owning a coffee shop. A teacher for over 12 years, I often told my students to try new things and sometimes trying new ideas can be scary. This was definitely a scary idea but totally worth it. Patrick comes in when he isn’t working his already full time job. He doesn’t just barista, but does maintenance, and occasionally makes his famous rice crispy treats. He also creates a lot of the art on our walls. Katelyn, our daughter, is often found at the shop helping mom during the weekdays. This incredible kid has been an American Red Cross recipient, and is always on the lookout to help out. Thanks to a couple of our regulars who we now call friends, she is looking into the EMT program at one point so she can continue her passion in helping people. Christian is the youngest of the family.. He is often our cashier. This incredible young man is a mathematician and is often seen in different plays. He loves playing the guitar. In fact, you’ll find his first guitar on the wall of our coffee shop.

THURSDAY BAKER

Meet Nancy! Nancy isn’t a blood family member, but she might as well be! She comes in on Thursdays to help us out and give Grandma and Grandpa Convo a little break. She has the kindest heart - always helping others and often dreaming of being in Alaska to play with the bear cubs and sled dogs!

Owning your own business is an awesome experience in itself, but working with family and learning together is the best. Convo Coffee truly is all about feeling at home and being part of a family.

What’s In A Coffee House Name? Building a Brand.

lizfulks@gmail.com (Liz Fulks) — Sun, 27 Nov 2022 19:26:04 GMT

Building a Brand...

Discussing the name of our coffee shop took a bit of work. When I was young, I would wake up to my parents having conversations over a cup of coffee. This is a daily ritual still to this day. They wake up, have a cup of coffee, play a game of daily calendar jeopardy, and talk. As a teacher, I learned how important it is that students communicate, talk, and learn about each other. You tend to grow as a community.

After COVID, my kids felt they lost a sense of community. A way to communicate with others that don’t involve a screen. When coming up with the name Convo Coffee, we wanted a name that stood out for what we wanted in the coffee shop. We tried a bunch of names out, different ideas would flow, and as a family, we discussed that what we wanted the most was a place to hold a conversation and have a cup of coffee. So Convo, short for conversation, Coffee was born. Finding the right name that fits who we are, what we wanted, and our goal for the entire shop.

So we have a name? Now what? The next thing I did was to find a graphic designer who I felt would listen to me and get to know me. The funny thing is, my background is in graphic design. So why didn’t I make my logo? I wanted a professional. One who wasn’t as close to my project right off the bat. But please remember, if you want a professional business, be prepared to pay professional prices. I was so excited when I found my graphic designer. I found a Kevin. Everyone needs a Kevin. Kevin built my logo through three to four sessions. He listened to what I wanted, and what I needed. He would suggest, but never push. When you pick a graphic designer, find one who listens, hears what you are trying to say, and gets a feeling for your build. If you need a strong suggestion, I suggest Kevin - https://www.cnctddesigns.com/ .

Now that I have my ultra kick-butt logo, I needed to have business cards and stickers made. I went through eight different companies until I found one that I absolutely loved. I needed a company where my stickers would peel off easily, look great, and could withstand water droplets. I needed them in a pretty quick turnaround. Allstickerprinting ( https://www.allstickerprinting.com/ ) took care of all of that. Whenever I go into other coffee shops here in Vegas, I always suggest them. They are quick with proof, turnaround time, and delivery. Whenever I had a question, they were always quick to reach out and answer. It totally made our day when we found out they did business cards too!

After we had our logo, website, stickers, and business cards, we set off to share with everyone we knew about our coffee shop. I have customers ask me daily how I came up with the name and the logo. The story behind them and the why. Honestly, having that name and a right-fit logo makes all the difference. Don’t settle for the first thing that comes to mind. Think about your values, mission, and what you want your company to represent.

Switching from Teacher to Barista/Coffee Shop Owner

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 06:45:05 GMT

I remember looking surprised at my 7th graders when I was co-teaching financial literacy with my mother. They asked me the same question they had been asked for years, “What are you going to do when you “grow up”?” I had told them when I finally do leave education, I wanted to be a barista. I wanted to make a cup of happiness every morning and bring a smile to a person’s face. Many agreed that being a barista would be a fun job. Fast forward five years after this discussion.

Four or five of my past seventh graders who are now seniors, came in and helped me clean the walk-in fridge to my very own coffee shop. They were as excited as I was, and they got to see their teacher make that switch. I seriously can’t think of anything cooler than that. Being a work in action as opposed to just telling them what to do, many of them got to see me do the very thing I taught. How often does that really happen?

Opening my shop was not only terrifying but exhilarating. I had gone to school to be a teacher, my masters was in mathematics education, everything I had done had been to teach. After COVID hit, my husband and I decided to make a change. We wanted somewhere where people could come in and have a conversation. We don’t have any outlets available for work, but we have a bunch of board games, topic questions, and connection. My parents came in to bake for me (The best cinnamon rolls in town!!!) and my children have ran the cash register and helped with making drinks. It is truly a dream to have a three generation shop where the family can work together and make something special for others.

Not many people get the same chance that we did. We took that chance and ran with it, and I haven’t looked back. We are coming up on our first year and I have learned a lot of very valuable lessons which will definitely be in my next post. For those that are looking to switch careers, you can do it. Yes it is scary. Yes, you will make a lot of mistakes. Yes, people will doubt you. On the flip side, you won’t have to second guess, you find your support system, and you become the you that you had wanted to be. I’m here to tell you that you got this!

I did want to end with the top five drinks that sell at my shop, in case you are so inclined to try one at a family coffee house:

Lavender Honey Latte - A beautifully scented drink with the taste of floral lavender and sweet honey. I tell people that this was the reason I created my whole shop. This is just one of the most heavenly drinks in my opinion.
Raspberry White Mocha - Sweet and bitter all at once! This hits your taste buds like nothing else. The rich white chocolate flavor compliments the raspberry in a burst of flavor.
Caramel Banana Latte - This started as a drink of the month and ended up landing on our menu board. Everyone loves the mix of caramel and banana flavor, it just is such a smooth soft flavor.
Caramel Macchiato - Caramel, a hint of vanilla, milk, and coffee…. What’s better?
Strawberry Lemonade Tea - Strawberry puree in a nice blend of lemonade and tea. This drink is super refreshing and a hit with all our non coffee drinkers!