Ben and Alice, founders of RiSE Coffee Box definitely rose to the calling of all coffee fans across the UK when they started a coffee subscription box business. Read on to find out more about this inspirational couple that have gone from strength to strength during adverse times.
Tell us about the journey that led you to launch your brand RiSE Coffee Box…
We were in lockdown sitting on our doorstep taking in the sunshine, talking about how much we were going to miss coffee culture. We also noticed how many delivery vans there were and began contemplating what a business would look like after 2020.
We knew there were coffee companies already delivering coffee, but they didn’t offer the variety, excitement or customer experience were looking for. We felt that there was a real opportunity to offer something different.
What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced and how did you overcome it?
Definitely adjusting to life post lockdown and what that has meant for our business growth, it’s been a rollercoaster! What we’ve learnt is that headlines and seasonality can really affect growth and you have to try and plan for that no matter how difficult.
If you were to describe your business mantra in three words, what would they be?
Taste. Discover. Subscribe.
What advice would you offer anyone interested in venturing into the world of coffee subscriptions?
Don’t be put off by the competition, there are a growing number of subscription businesses and certainly in the world of coffee there are now a few! But if you believe in your product then just go for it. We know at RiSE that our coffee and wine offerings are totally different to what others provide and we’ll always strive to delight our customers.
Talk us through an average business day in your life…
Emails, partnership meetings, event planning, packing and delivering local boxes, speaking to suppliers, creating and posting content, reviewing targets and planning for the future…
Business can be an upward struggle at times, what do you do to stay positive?
We’re lucky because we have each other, if one of us is feeling a little flat the other one boosts them up and vice versa. We also just think of the customers that tell us that they absolutely love our business and wouldn’t go anywhere else; that is really motivating.
What is your go to quote when lacking motivation?
One time a subscriber said to us that we are the only subscription box they have ever stuck with for over a year and that they’d tried every other subscription out there (Hello Fresh, Abel & Cole, Pact etc) and we were thrilled! That helps us to know we are really doing something right.
How much has social media played a role in the success of your brand?
To drive awareness initially it definitely has played a role. We love how engaged our brand following is and how interested they are in not only our coffee and wine boxes but also our life! Most of them prefer our posts about our dog, Molly! She drives the most engagement for sure…
How do you want people to feel when they first order from your online store?
When the first box arrives we want people to feel like it’s a gift, handpicked, curated and packed just for them. We want them to have that sense of anticipation and excitement when it arrives.
Our readers love to travel, what destination is at the top of your bucket list?
Pre COVID we had hoped to travel South America for 3 months and visit various coffee farms. Sadly that is on hold so for now we will be settling for Greek Island hopping, including Paros, Ios, Naxos and Santorini. Costa Rica is another place we can’t wait to get to, it has sea, nature, jungle, great food, everything!
What’s next for you and your brand?
We recently launched RiSE English Wine which is an wine version of the coffee box, showcasing the best of English wine that you can’t find anywhere else. We are soon to be at Taste Festival in November and then we know from last year that Christmas will be crazy busy! We have big dreams to become a food and drink marketplace showcasing the best of the UK’s independent brands so watch this space.
Where can people find out more about RiSE Coffee Box?
You can head to our website at RiSE Coffee Box and our Instagram accounts @risecoffeebox @riseenglishwine. We also have just launched our wine website, RiSE English Wine so please check it out!
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