Al Borrie was born in Hawke's Bay but moved to Auckland in later years but returned about 10 years later and set up the Box coffee shop in Clive in June, 2011.Since then the whole container concept has taken off around the region, with life-changing results for some.
His background is landscape gardening and he feels he just “fell” into the coffee industry.
Al went on to say “we got a good location, situated on a main road with easy parking. It sort of ticked all the boxes."
Al said things had come a long way over the past few years with resource and building consents now easier to get.
The arrival of the container cafe also helped bring other coffee shops to Clive. Back when he first started there were no other coffee shops at all in the area. Choosing Clive has established a flourishing business.
Al told us what it was like to employ someone for the first time after he opened a new business in Ahuriri…. Crazy Good. He went on to say his philosophy is that you can’t please everybody so he offers good efficient service using local products when he can.
He has a passion for what he does and for the area where he does it. He relies on word of mouth to market his business, you might say his reputation is his advertising. As well as Crazy Good he has a share in a business in Hastings called Couples, this is a French Bakery and Al’s coffee.
All his shops are different and each has its own loyal following.
Questions:
Carroll… Is the business seasonal…..No seems to be steady all year round.
Simon… How many Staff……………Fourteen Staff.
David Trim presented Al with the Rotary Coin.