Artel

The conception of an independent lifestyle cafe. Problem - My friend Kieran and I wanted to open our own coffee shop. Norwich already had a thriving scene of independent cafes. How could we enter this already thriving market with something new and exciting that set us apart from the others? Solution - We didn't open another coffee shop. Instead, we opened a concept space that combined artisan coffee and pastries alongside responsibly sourced food, drink, and a curated selection of lifestyle goods, cool magazines, and locally made gifts. We did all of this from a tiny space, quite literally one of the smallest cafes in the world that could fit a maximum of 6 people in at any one time. This naturally encouraged conversation between strangers, creating a strong sense of community and a friendly vibe. I was involved with almost every stage of its conception including branding, product buying, demolition, decorating, menu designing, architectural drawings, marketing, and the list goes on. Results - We gave Norwich something new and introduced a new blend of products in a new breed of space. We grew a physical and digital community and served coffee, snacks, and lifestyle goods to hundreds of people every week. Kieran and Nicole went on to launch a successful Kickstarter campaign which enabled them to move into a larger space.