Nurturing a thriving community

“What if we do something together involving both coffee and people?” This was the collective thought of Clynton and Karen Drumm who are now two years into their successful venture with Coffee Culture at Kaiapoi, near Christchurch. 

“We knew it would work,” Clynton states, “as the brand has been around for thirty years, but it was our first foray into business together. So there was a quiet unease of the unknown which has been totally quieted now we are running a very successful, profitable business!”

Coffee Culture has 20 outlets, the majority in the South Island, and is looking to expand its brand of culture and community – especially now in the North Island. “That was the thing that drew me to the brand in the early days,” says Clynton. “There has always been a very strong sense of community in the stores – purpose built from the start.”

The first Coffee Culture store was opened by founder Chris Houston in 1996, and offered a simple menu, of coffee, tea, desserts and big bagels. “Not a great deal has changed since,” says Coffee Culture’s COO, Sacha Coburn. “The clue is in our name, and we’ve refined operations, evolved and demonstrated the brand’s durability ever since.”

Creating culture and community

Key to the durability of the Coffee Culture brand is its focus upon community and individual design. No two stores are alike as the franchise has specifically concentrated upon creating beautiful stores designed to suit their local areas and operators. 

“As with our store,” says Clynton, “a common thread is that Coffee Culture has a great deal of input into the design. I had been working in graphic design with the brand for a long time at head office. This gave me a unique view into how the franchise operates. Karen and I might have considered a green fields site, but the opportunity in Kaiapoi was simply too good. 

“The old store was in the Blackwell’s Department Store which was demolished following the earthquake. After the rebuild Coffee Culture was offered space, and we jumped at it.

Location is crucial and a real strength of the brand is its insistence on location coupled with good tenancy packages. A new franchisee might well hone in on an excellent location, but getting the kind of tenancy package to ensure it is profitable, long term, is something Coffee Culture has been diligent about.”

Award winning opportunity

Following their success winning the Retail and Hospitality Franchise of the Year at the 2024 Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards, the business is seeking to expand, particularly in the North Island. “We are looking for people very like Clynton and Karen who love coffee, being with people and creating their own vibe,” says Sacha. 

“This is a great opportunity for hospitality professionals, or people with a passion for service to reap the rewards of hard work and secure their financial futures. We are very proud that we’ve weathered every storm that has come our way in 30+ years – earthquake, GFC, pandemic to name a few – all our stores have thrived and grown which is testament to a great concept and a terrific team at head office. And we do also still have a few choice locations in the South Island to be filled.”

Looking ahead

Having worked in bars for a lot of his previous time in hospitality, Clynton says one of the great advantages of Coffee Culture as an owner is that there are no late, late nights. “We definitely fulfill Coffee Culture’s remit of being part of the local community,” he says. “We are still refining what we have here and will certainly consider another outlet in the future – the brand is well suited to multi-unit ownership. However, with children of 10 and 13, we’ll train them as baristas before we expand,” he jokes. 

“We are very fortunate to have such a good franchisor team to turn to, especially Sacha and Chris who have travelled the world meeting like-minded businesspeople and getting a much more global view of the coffee industry. You can get caught up in the day-to-day, but knowing they are out there keeping an eye on hospitality trends is very positive for us and the brand. I think it just adds to the magic that is Coffee Culture!”

Seize the magic

If, like Clynton and Karen, you would like to seize the magic too, Coffee Culture promises a first-class package and ongoing support from a dedicated, homegrown team of experts.

“You don’t need a full-time chef,” Sacha explains, “just a team of enthusiasts who understand the joy of coffee. You will have a gorgeous, quality coffee shop that will reflect your local community – there is no cookie cutter approach with Coffee Culture. 

“As all our franchisees point out, every day is different and offers great opportunities to meet people from all walks of life and build relationships with them. Coffee Culture is an affordable luxury – our guests keep coming back often and regularly because we do what we do so well.

“Financial assistance is available and, depending on location, you can expect to complete fit out, tenancy agreements and franchise fee from an initial investment of $350 -$500k. Hospitality is our heart, we care about and deliver sustainable profitability, and if that resonates with you then give us a call.”   

See this advertorial on page 23 of Franchise New Zealand magazine Year 34 Issue 1

Contact details for Coffee Culture

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