What’s your New Normal? Businesses adapting to change

Running a business involves both strategy and creativity to survive in this ever-changing environment. We had a conversation with Kevin Tang, one of the owners of Yardstick Coffee, to find out how they have adapted to the challenges brought by the new normal.

Kevin Tang

Make It Makati: What was your regular day like?
Kevin Tang: We are in the business of roasting and supply of specialty coffee, distribution of coffee equipment, and café operations.
A regular day for us involves having meetings with wholesale partners, scheduling deliveries, conducting client visits, and making sure the café is running smoothly.
Being in the Makati CBD, we get quite busy during the breakfast, lunch, and break hours of the office-goers and residents living around the area.

MIM: How were you affected by the pandemic?
KT: We have been deeply affected by this pandemic just like everyone else in the food and beverage industry. The coffee business relies a lot on foot traffic and we go to our favorite cafes because of the ambiance, familiarity, and comfort a cup of coffee provides during a hectic day. Unfortunately, we had to suspend our café operations when the quarantine was announced and concentrate our efforts on planning and adjusting to the new normal.

MIM: What did you do to #MakeItBetter and adapt to the new normal?
KT: Staff hygiene and customer safety will be the priority for all businesses in the new normal. We will have to find ways to replicate the café experience but at the same time consider the new social distancing protocols and procedures.
In order to sustain our business and #MakeItBetter, our focus shifted towards moving closer to our customers because they can’t come to us. This will not be possible without the efforts of our skeletal workforce. With social media and delivery platforms being widespread, we were able to provide our specialty coffee beans and ready-to-drink cold beverages directly to our customers.

Bringing the cafe experience directly to the homes of coffee enthusiasts by delivering quality specialty coffee beans and ready-to-drink cold beverages was key in making the business survive during this challenging time.

Tell us how you, or your business have adapted to the new normal. Tag @MakeItMakati in your posts.