Five Lessons from Starting (and Letting Go of) a Business

Photo by Anta

1. Build Momentum with PR, Word of Mouth, and Social Media

On February 9th, 2015, the day Espresso Library opened its doors remains etched in my memory. Despite a sleepless night before the big day, it was a moment of realisation that I had an innate talent for public relations. Months before the opening, I meticulously crafted the launch campaign and managed the cafe's Instagram. The result? On that crisp, sunny Monday, people flooded in, forming an endless queue. And thus, I soon discovered my less-than-stellar talent for stock management - that afternoon we ran out of milk that I thought would last for three days!

2. Know Your Market - and That You're There to Serve It

In the weeks leading up to the launch, I held onto the vision of the cafe as my creation. But when the doors officially opened to welcome customers, it became theirs to perceive, shape, and enjoy. This shift echoed Ernst Gombrich's concept that, without the response of the beholder, art is incomplete.

3. Optimising Your Day-to-Day Operations Is Key

Initially, I believed I could figure out how to structure our operations on the fly during the anticipated slow first few weeks. However, the cafe was an instant success, and we struggled to cope with the unexpected workload. Our initial solutions were to throw more hands at tasks, which wasn't efficient, or try to do everything ourselves, from mopping floors to picking up bread. It's essential to identify which skills are vital for business growth (for me, it was customer interactions, menu planning, marketing, and networking) and which tasks can be outsourced. It may be challenging to delegate, but it's crucial for long-term success.

4. Have the Right Business Partner

If you're starting a venture with a partner, ensure they complement your strengths, knowledge, and skills. Both of you must be passionate about the work and willing to give it your all.

5. When the Wind of Change Blows, Tune In

Nothing teaches you quite as much about the person you are as starting your own business. I am insanely proud of what I achieved with Espresso Library, but as years went on I knew I wanted to commit to growing and developing myself and skills which have risen to the surface along the way on my journey with the cafe. I loved growing my team, bringing people together, producing marketing materials and running events as well as social media. I felt drawn to exploring bigger opportunities. Beyond coffee culture, I’d been nurturing my passion for health and well-being, which ultimately led me to work in London at the HQ of one of the top boutique fitness studios before joining Lumie. Moving on from something you created from ideation to reality isn’t a failure. Just as starting a business, leaving it takes courage, and knowing who you are and how you can best serve both yourself and others.