New Website...

We are happy to announce we have upgraded our blogsite and can now be located at biggbyjackson.com (no blogspot)

Valentines day, or Single Awareness Day... you choose!

Hello, Hello! We find ourselves here once again, another day that is either the opportunity to tell those you appreciate in you life that you do in fact appreciate them, or it may feel like a day that is just a constant reminder that you are single. Of my 30 years I've actually only had a Valentine one year, (and if I remember correctly, he conveniently "forgot" about it....;), so that means 29 years on my own on Valentines Day. I've finally reached the point where I realize that today doesn't have to be lonely. We all have people in our lives that mean more to us then we can ever tell them. Rather than being cranky today and tossing rude looks at happy couples, I am changing my attitude, being happy for those are in love, encouraging those who are not and reminding those in my life that I love them. In Arabic we say أحبك (O-Hib-kee), which I love because it reminds me of "the key to life".

So go out and celebrate those you love and appreciate today. It can be your significant other, your children... even your favorite barista at Biggby! (hint, hint ;) We have free hugs and kisses while supplies last!

In the words of a great man... "wuv, twu wuv, is what bwings us togever To-day, it's a dweem wiv in a dweem..."

Take care, drive safe, B-Loved.
Ed

B-Thankful...
Today I would like to say thank you to one of my favorite customers Mark, he always gets a decaf americano and takes the time to get to know each of us individually. Mark thank you for caring about each of us... you brighten our day!

Friday the 13th

Historically, Friday the 13th is rumored to be the most unlucky day of the year. You know the sayings; "Step on a crack, break your mother's back", "Don't let a black cat cross your path", "Break a mirror, and you will have 7 years bad luck". So, if anything will go bad, today is the day. . . . or IS it? This could be the luckiest day of your life. Create your own luck by coming in to the Jackson Biggby to get our "Lucky Latte"! Mention that you read about the "Lucky Latte" on this blogspot, and recieve a 10 oz for just $1.00! You never know, with all the rain we have had latlely, you may just find a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

B - Lucky!

~Denise

Twitter Contest

Extra terrestrial "B"ings have invaded our shop

With warmer weather, comes the melting, the fog, and yes, the RAIN. You can view it 2 ways: it can be gloomy and depressing, making you want to curl up in a blanket, and sleep. Or, you can look at it as a renewal. Life abounds from water. It grows out of water, it grows when watered, and it glistens with dew. As I see it, with water, or rain, it is a new beginning. I know it is a little chilly and early yet to get out the galoshes and traipse through the puddles, but this rain is an appetizer to those soon-to-be-coming warm spring showers. I like to feel the rain hit my face and wash away yesterday, and start anew.

As I know it is still February, and it WILL get cold again, I still like to think about the hope of spring, and all that it means. Now with that said, you can take advantage of this delightful day. Be playful again: park your car a few spots father away, and take a refreshing stroll in the mist. Or, if you are on your way to a destination, and feel that the rain is nice, but better left on the outside, while you enjoy viewing it from the inside of your car, visit us through our DRIVE-THRU. We would love to see your smiling face through the drive thru window, OR, coming through the front door with a freshly dampened face from the rain! Enjoy the day! B-playful

~Denise

Valentines Day

It's that time of year again. What better gift could you get your sweetheart than caffeine? Caffeine in the form of coffee, chocolate, or the ultimate, chocolate and coffee together in the form of chocolate covered espresso beans.

Biggby Family Guest Book

Do you feel like family when you walk in the door at Biggby? You should, we consider all of our customers to be family. You are what makes us what we are, and our sole purpose is to make your day. But in order to do that, we need to know a little about you. What is your name, your fav drink, what is something that makes you, well, YOU? Tell us what you like about Biggby 143, Jackson, Michigan. And, please, tell us what we could do to make your "mini-vacation" with us the ultimate experience. We have a "Guest Book" at the front counter waiting to be journaled in. Just ask one of our friendly baristas to see it. So, help us fill the pages with the uniqueness of you. Then take a few minutes to browse the other pages that have been filled. We want to discover a bit about your history, your interests, and even your future aspirations. B-inspired! ~Denise

Can you feel that?

That warmth as it creeps up on you, sneaking through your hair to warm your scalp, the feeling of your fingers being out of your gloves and not recoiling in response to the cold? The ability to run out to your car and not have to spend five minutes bundling up... Its amazing.. and it is the sun. In Arabic it is شمس and is pronounced shem's, which is fantastic.
"But really tacos are soo good I love them. I sometimes wake up in the knight and have the worst craving for a burrito. Also I think that I might be Batman. Did you ever notice how nice lemon pledge smells? Drink coffee. Do you ever wish you could drive a tank, just once. Just to feel the power...VROOOMMMM!!! WHEEEEE!!!!! Ah but I digrese(or however its spelled). Dry skin hurts. I think that turkey subs with bacon is just awesome. Most people are unaware of the fact that Swiss Miss makes pudding cups. They are amazing, a little bit like hot fudge pudding. hugs are great. Perhaps I should pursue goat herding. Amen."
So this last bit... I walked away from my computer and Aaron commondeered it... This is what I work with... can I get some sympathy?
As I was saying... Shem's... I love the sun, it makes my heart fill with hope of summer just around the corner. It has been decided that I was born about 5 states too far north. Once it warms up a bit you will see my little bike out front when I am working. There is nothing better than going for a nice long bike ride that ends with a delicious iced tea or coffee at the end. That is what we have to look forward to. And quite honestly, I am excited!
Be WARM!!!!!
Ed.

BE-THANKFUL
============
This week I am so thankful for the young man at Jackson 10 (tall, thin, and has a dark beard) who is always so very nice to me. He is a hard worker and is pretty much always in a pleasent mood. So thank you mystery movie guy, it is always a pleasure doing business with you!

Imitation is the fondest form of flattery!!

Below is a blog post from biggbybob.com. Enjoy!

A BIGG 'Thank You' to Jackson Coffee

Yep that's right "Thanks Jackson Coffee" it's been fun watching you try to capitalize on our logo, our reputation, and all that we have built in these short 10 years we have been franchising!An interesting business model you have...let's see, create a unique logo and identification for Jackson Coffee. Ahhhh not so much, simply change the highly identifiable BIGGBY rectangle block orange and black B logo to an orange circle with a black J....hmmmmm, not feelin' too original there, ya'know? Then let's see, for marketing....strike a notable difference in the marketplace by creating a unique identity. Ahhhhh, not so much again, instead chase after BIGGBY customers by buying the paid keyword BIGGBY on GOOGLE (and other sites) and offer those people a free beverage...or better yet, now, buy $1,600 dollars worth of outdoor advertising to emphasise BIGGBY COFFEE, it's font style, and the unique spelling of it's name to people (customers, maybe even yours) that may not have even considered going to BIGGBY COFFEE before, but definitely will now...Wow! Unbelievable! Again, Thank You! Thank you for making BIGGBY COFFEE the one to beat!

On another note this idea that you roast everyday is at best interesting...I mean we are not able to roast all of our 500,000 pound annual usage in one day either, but I assume the larger point you would like to make is that you roast on site...but, even that is akin to somebody like KFC suggesting that they slaughter their chickens at their stores (yuk.) The coffee shop industry is littered with concepts that have come and gone based on the idea that they roast at their shop...many from Michigan, including Java Master to name one, or Lone Star Coffee to name another. Although in store roasting is a quaint idea that some have done well with including the Woolly Bugger in Harbor Springs...this manufacturing process called 'roasting' is a sophisticated and scientific process and tends to be very inconsistent in a small applications...and is often explained away with the use of words like artisan and micro. Don't get me wrong, there is such a thing as Artisan and Micro Roasters out there doing a great job...but none that are trying to articulate that great job by first emulating another company in one breath and then knocking them with the next breath. No the companies that I know that do a great job all have their own distinct personality and ID's...you should try it !Of course I couldn't resist flipping through your website a little, and there are a coupla points that you may want to brush up on there too.

You suggest that you are 'family operated'...certainly a noble statement, but if it's going to be a point of differentiation...then make sure it's different. All BIGGBY COFFEE shops are independently and locally owned, and of course pretty much everybody comes from a family, right? I mean that's the way that works, I think? Sure it does, and the Jackson BIGGBY COFFEE is no different it's owned and operated by a local family too! Wad'ya thinkin'?

Another little nugget of info...you state you use a 100% arabica coffee...so does Folgers in some of their blends, but that doesn't make their coffee good, ya'know? This is tantamount to you saying you use 100% coffee...whoppeee! Please note that because coffee is 100% arabica is not a statement of quality...there are good and there are bad arabica's, and there are good and bad robusta's alike. Please also note that, how many countries you buy from, is completely irrelevant, oh and, FYI coffee needs to de-gas for at least a day before it should be brewed and consumed. Freshness is key in coffee production...and coffee really does start oxidising right away after roasting, but some of this oxidising is necessary to begin to develop the beautiful and complex flavors that we all look for in a cup of coffee. Come on get with it! My last little rant is your reference to no 'secret blends'...and of course BIGGBY COFFEE has some blends that are secret...and after I have watched a company like yours try to copy so much that we do...is it any surprise that we may not divulge every recipe that we have?...Particularly in our core product. Duh!Well, usually I'd let this kinda thing go...and simply chalk up your emulation as a form of flattery. But seriously, I have watched companies try to copy things we do and try to tear down who we are...and I find either pathway not very healthy or productive...it doesn't work. It doesn't work because it doesn't come from a good place...sure everybody has a right to compete, but if you look at the great companies they never do it do it this way. They know who they are and where they want to go...and they pursue that with integrity and passion. I would encourage you to choose a better pathway than the one your on and fire whoever is making your marketing decisions(even if they are a family member)...simply said, they are doing more for BIGGBY COFFEE than anything...and although

I would love to thank them personally someday, I'm guessing that might never happen :)But until then keep this in mind... B-Happy, Have Fun, Love People, Make Friends, and Make Great Coffee!All my best,BIGGBY BOB

A bloggers contract!

So, my wife Denise and I were talking and I decided to make a commitment to blog everyday until we get some traffic on the site. The site will be filled with wierd, fun, and random bits of information that will make you leave it in a better mood than before you visited. Please make comments if you would like!

Drink Coffee and love life!!!

Matt

Proud Moment in History!

So... I was there. And it was amazing! To see such a proud, hopeful and beautiful moment in American history was absolutely indescribable. Standing in on the Mall with 1.2 million other people changed my life. The feeling of renewal, the feeling of a fresh start and the feeling of an opportunity for an entire community that had felt apathetic towards our political system coming together and watching with great pride as they were finally able to relate to someone in the White House.

All political debates aside, all talk of past administrations and incoming administrations aside, here were a group of folks (1.2 million just on the mall alone) coming together to watch history before our very eyes, the energy was crazy amazing! Never before have I felt so much warmth from strangers. The city was alive with the excitement of a new day in American history.

I have never before visited our nations capital, which is strange because I am so involved in politics. The monuments were beautiful and breath taking. I got yelled at by the secret police!!! So much fun, I guess I should not have crossed that fence, eh?

Standing in the World War II memorial with the hush of those who sacrificed their lives around me was the most painful and beautiful moment in my life. Stepping out of the Holocaust museum and feeling so helpless and incapable in the face of such horror, gave me a sense of responsibility to my fellow human beings, not just in my country, not just on my continent, but all around my world. I pray that we do not have to face something so horrible in our lives, but should we be confronted with social injustice of any kind we need to stand up and stop such things.

I do not know what my role in the story of our country or our earth will be, but I do know that it starts today, tomorrow and every morning that I am blessed to wake up. Living in a free country we do NOT realize just how incredibly blessed we are. Let us not forget that there are others who are not given the opportunities that we are given, let us always remember that given a simple geographical shift, we could find ourselves in that same boat.

Well that is awfully depressing reading! But there is always Hope, Hope that we can build a better future, and that Hope begins in your and my heart.

Take Care,
B-Involved...
Ed.

PS... there is a new feature to the blog... in an effort to support thankfulness in my own life, I have decided to include in every blog, a random thank you for simple acts of kindness that I see through out my journeys.
So

BE THANKFUL
- Thank you to Alicia, a waitress at Cracker Barrel who was patient with my mother as she took her time figuring out what to order a week ago Friday, also thank you for all the lemons!

I leave you with a picture shot just before I got chastised by the Secret Police... Enjoy!

Exciting News Below!!!!

Audrey is engaged to someone she met here!!!

Names / Ages / Occupations:
Audrey Besey: Age 20 // Student at MSU // Barista at Biggby Coffee & Receptionist at Personal Images Salon, in Jackson, MI

Benjamin Schultz: Age 24 // Department Manager atMenards in Toledo, OH // Has Finance degree from Central Mich. University.

Short story about how you met and your first date? (who asked who out, where did you go):
We met at Biggby coffee, where I worked. He was in having lunch with his sister and nieces (who I knew previously from working there). As he was leaving, I made a comment about how good looking I thought he was, so the girl I was working with ran over to his sister, Sarah to tell her what I had said. She came over and was very excited that I was interested in her brother who she said was “new in town.” So she told him to come in the next day to meet me. When he did, we were both too nervous to talk to each other. He just ordered a coffee and as he was turning to leave, my boss Matt (who also knew Ben) called him back and got his number for me. I called him the next day and we decided to go out to dinner.

He picked me up and we went to Olive Garden, then to Cascade’s park, where we walked around talking. There, we stumbled upon a Jazz concert, which made the night even more special. As we were walking to the car to leave, his sister called him to ask if he would drive a group of her friends around Lansing for one of their bachlorette parties. He asked me if I’d like to come and keep him company and I agreed. I eventually got home at 3am after our 9hour long date. We hit it off immediately and spent the entire 9 hours talking and laughing. It was a perfect match from the start. We’ve now been dating for 1½ years.


What is the thing that makes you love them?
I am constantly laughing when we’re together. Ben is always doing something silly or telling jokes to make me laugh (whether they’re funny or not). But seriously, one of the best qualities he has is selflessness. He always puts everyone else before himself, which shows me what a good husband and someday father he will be.

What are the little things that make you smile that the other person does?
Everything. I don’t know if I ever stop smiling while we’re together. One of my favorite things is when he leaves me little notes just telling me how much he loves me. Once I was at work and went to get something out of my purse and found a folded up piece of paper that just said, “ I love you – hope you have a great day at work – I can’t wait to see you again!” That just made my day!

Tell me about when you got engaged?
He started by asking my parents permission. He thought about asking me at Biggby where we met, but when he came in, he decided it just wasn’t the right moment (in other words, he chickened out). So he asked me later that night at his sister’s house. We were sitting in the living room watching House, MD (our favorite show). We were laughing and talking about how in love we were when he got down on one knee and stumbled through the words, “will you marry me?” and I managed to squeak out a, “yeah.” Then we stayed up half the night sharing our excitement and looking at my ring!


What are your wedding plans?
Not sure yet. I’m still in school so it will have to be this summer break, x-mas break, or next summer after I graduate. I’m hoping for a Lake MI ceremony! But we’ll have to wait and see.