Female Disruptors: Caroline Bell of Café Grumpy On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry
An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
Be Strong Today — This one was actually printed on a tee shirt an instructor gave me when I completed a powerlifting class, but it became meaningful to me in my day to day life. I really think it is important to be mentally, emotionally and physically strong to get through all of the challenges that running a business brings.
As a part of our series about women who are shaking things up in their industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Caroline Bell.
Caroline Bell is the Founder of Café Grumpy — An iconic and very fast-growing Coffee Café with deep roots in NYC culture. With over 10 locations and products in over 200 Whole Foods stores and counting, this woman-owned business is making New York a Grumpy City, in a good way! From working to support local women coffee producers in other countries, to collaborations with some of New York City’s well-known bars and perfume companies, Caroline Bell is a Founder with a lot more to her step than a coffee spike.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
My family moved around a lot when I was younger, and we ended up in New Jersey during my high-school years which subsequently meant drinking cups and cups of coffee over conversations with friends at the local diner. Later, when I was working in various food service and office positions, I realized how important coffee was to my life.
Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?
We have always been focused on quality and transparency even when it could have been easier or cheaper to take a different route. One example is with our ready-to-drink cold brew in Tetra Pak. The goal of launching this cold brew was to create a beverage that people could enjoy at home that is the same taste and quality that you would find in one of our cafes. This is why we roast and brew the product in-house using the same beans and method we use for the cold brew we serve in our cafes.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Although it didn’t feel funny at the time, I look back and try to find humor in it! A short time after we opened our first location, I was invited to speak at a coffee conference for what I was told was going to be a casual Q&A panel discussion. When I got to the room, there was a podium and a microphone on stage under a bright light and just one other “panel member” who went before me and read from his pages of pre-prepared notes. I got up and improvised as best I could, and now I always over-prepare and make sure to bring my notes!
We all need a little help along the journey. Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?
As business owners, we definitely do need help and support! It can be a lonely place and it is always important to talk with people who understand the ups and downs.
One person who comes to mind is the owner of another NYC-based small business — a tea shop. I actually met her years ago when she came to an event that I was speaking at about small businesses and giving back. She came to me asking for advice as she was in the
beginning stages of her business. As we talked, I could tell how overwhelmed and stressed out she was — almost to the point of tears. I felt flattered that someone would look to me for guidance. It has been great to see her business grow and succeed over the years and to be able to share anecdotes with one another.
In today’s parlance, being disruptive is usually a positive adjective. But is disrupting always good? When do we say the reverse, that a system or structure has ‘withstood the test of time’? Can you articulate to our readers when disrupting an industry is positive, and when disrupting an industry is ‘not so positive’? Can you share some examples of what you mean?
Disruptive is just a cool word for innovative, right? Innovation is good when you are solving a problem, creating a new product, presenting a new way of looking at something. I suppose it could be “not so positive” when there isn’t transparency. When you are putting things out in the world just for attention without any substance or purpose behind it.
Can you share 3 of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey? Please give a story or example for each.
There are three phrases I can think of — not individual words.
Work Hard — This was impressed upon me as I was growing up. You need to work hard and not take opportunities for granted. And I like working hard. It is tiring but it is rewarding and you learn so much as you go along.
Be Strong Today — This one was actually printed on a tee shirt an instructor gave me when I completed a powerlifting class, but it became meaningful to me in my day to day life. I really think it is important to be mentally, emotionally and physically strong to get through all of the challenges that running a business brings.
Be Brave — This is just something I still strive for. You need to be brave to take risks and make tough decisions.
We are sure you aren’t done. How are you going to shake things up next?
We are really looking forward to getting our coffee in front of more people and continuing to expand our brand’s reach through our ready-to-drink beverage line and through our grocery channels with our coffee beans. Coffee drinkers have their favorite neighborhood spots and we want to bring that feeling to people at home when they brew our coffee or drink our cold brew.
Do you have a book/podcast/talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us?
When we first started the business, I read the E Myth, which, at the time, was helpful. Now, I like to read or listen to podcasts for entertainment and to learn about the world outside of our coffee shops!
In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by ‘women disruptors’ that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?
There are too many to list! But one thing that comes to mind is how women are treated as they age. From small local businesses to Hollywood. That said, things are changing in all sectors and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for women disruptors.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
If everyone can take a moment to enjoy that cup of coffee each day — either by themselves or with a friend — you never know what connections, ideas, creativity, happiness and clarity that moment could bring!
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
I did read one recently that Oprah posted on her Instagram feed that resonated with me: “Time is a-moving on and it’s our most valuable commodity.”
How can our readers follow you online?
You can find us at cafegrumpy.com
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
