455 : Founder Friday! w/ Nick Kassouf of Tru Bru Organic Coffee

Caring for people and their experience, both as employees and as customers, is at the heart of a successful coffee shop. In order to consistently pursue that, an operator needs to have a strong grounding of personal values that directs their decisions and helps them weather the storms of entrepreneurship. Today we are talking with someone whose mission to facilitate community, caring, and connection through coffee has been a driving force behind the success of his company.  Nick Kassouf is the founder and owner of Tru Bru Organic Coffee and Humbowl Juice bar. With la roastery and locations in Orange, CA and Laguna Hills, CA, plus Henderson, NV, Nick and his team are keeping busy providing nourishing and meaningful spaces for their guests to slow done and enjoy coffee and good company.  In the years of operating and growing the coffee business and starting the juice bar, Nick has had to grow just as much personally. Today we will be exploring the story of Tru Bru and how this family run business runs and the why behind the operations that has led to their success.  I love the focus Nick has on creating a business that delivers more than just a product but reinforces a way of life that I think we all could benefit from adopting.  We discuss: Family History and Origins of True Brew Creating a people-first culture and focusing on hospitality  Hiring and Behavioral-Based Interviewing Choosing the right people who embody the mission and values of the business  Being willing to lead from the front and develop oneself in all aspects of the business  Addressing toxicity and cultural challenges early on to prevent negative impacts on the business and team. Taking action and not succumbing to complacency as the key to maintaining a healthy culture and driving business growth.  Why creating a caring and vibrant culture is crucial for fostering human connection in a coffee shop. Genuineness and a genuine care towards others Links: https://trubrucoffee.com/ IG: @TRUBRUCOFFEE Related episodes: Founder Friday! Youth, Foster Care, and Human Connections Through Coffee | w/ Miah Sommer of Astute Coffee in Omaha, NE 380 : Founder Friday! w/ Cary and Cindy Arsaga of Arsaga’s Coffee Roasters 337: Founder Friday w/ Diana Martinez of Cafe Calle, Los Angeles 327: Founder Friday! w/ Phuong Tran of Lava Java 194 : Encore Episode! Leadership in the Cafe: 10 Steps to being a People First Leader | Aired January 17 2017 Hire Keys to the Shop Consulting to work with you 1:1 to transform your operations, quality, and people. Schedule a free discovery call now! https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min Thank you to our amazing sponsors! Get the best brewer and tool for batch espresso, iced lattes, and 8 minute cold brew! www.groundcontrol.coffee   The world loves plant based beverages and baristas love the Barista Series! www.pacificfoodservice.com