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"We didn't expect to see you here this early," Darren added.
I looked at our booth, glad our newest coffee blends were front and center. Each one of them had a handwritten note under it explaining its history.
There were several aspects to the competition. The first step was the taste, and the public decided the winners. They could come by all week and give points to every company. The sustainability part—the one that was more important to me—was awarded by a professional committee. They judged based on the coffee origins and how ethically it was sourced, as well as the sustainability of the packaging.
"We've prepped everything so we can walk people through every blend we have, and we’re also going to give them shots of espresso to taste. For those who don't like that, we'll mix whatever drink they’d enjoy, of course,” Monica said.
"Sounds great. I appreciate you two doing this. I know it goes way beyond the job description."
Darren shrugged. "I worked as a barista, so I know my way around a coffee machine and difficult customers."
“That’s exactly the attitude I’m looking for,” I replied honestly. As I said, praise had to be earned, and he’d more than done that.
Darren and Monica both had a bright future in the company. I had a knack for people, and I especially liked those who didn't mind going that extra step beyond what was required of them. They didn't mind getting their hands dirty, and that went a long way in my book.
"I'm going to take a look at the competition," I informed them.
"We already did," Monica said proudly. "Check out Sonya's Blends, especially."
"Really?" I racked my mind. "That's a very small player."
"Yes, but they did a fabulous job setting their booth up. I think they're kind of pushing the rules a bit. They took up more space than they're allowed, but it looks good."
"Thanks for the tip."Interesting.Usually everyone followed the rules in competition. The fact that this vendor wasn’t made me curious. Plus, it gave me the upper hand if it was grounds for disqualification. Fair was fair, after all.
I took a quick walk around the perimeter. Most booths had a similar setup to The Boston Coffee Expert. Then again, this wasn't rocket science. You just had to make sure your top products were in the front. There was no point in displaying everything in your catalog because that would risk overwhelming the customer. It was a marketing best practice.
Unless you were Sonya's Blends.
I stopped in front of their booth, taking in everything with a critical eye. They’d displayed eight blends, and I could instantly see what Monica meant. Most of us only showcased four, which, in my opinion, gave the most visual impact. This looked like it was all over the place, making it hard for the customer to focus on the brand.
One of their guys came up to me. "Hey, I didn't know they were letting in customers already. Welcome!"
"They're not," I said, maybe a little coolly. So what? "I'm from The Boston Coffee Expert. You've spaced out these racks far more than you're allowed to according to committee rules."
“Our VP of marketing measured it.” His demeanor abruptly changed. He was smiling before; now he looked dead serious.
Game on.
"Why are you displaying more than four blends, anyway?" Curiosity had gotten the best of me.Is there a new marketing strategy our team isn't privy to?
"Our new VP felt it was a better look. 'More is better' sort of thinking."
I snorted. "You've got a new hire now? My guess is they’re just trying to prove their worth by coming up with an outlandish decision to stick out from the crowd."
"Are you talking from experience, Cade? I see you haven't changed. Still trying to boss everyone into doing what you want."
I turned around at the familiar voice and couldn’t believe my eyes.
Meredith.I didn’t realize she still lived in Boston.
"I wondered if I’d see you around here," she said, her smile tentative.
Wait, no, that was a smirk.
For a few seconds, I was too bewildered to reply. "You work for Sonya's Blends?"
"Yes, I'm the new VP you seem to know so much about."
