Manitoba Chamber of Commerce
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/70344
Jonny's Java owners Jon Plett, left, Andy Wiebe and Jeff Hoeppner are not your average bean counters. Photo credit: Vision Awake Photography << Continued from page 17 cash out of the farmer's pocket." The entrepreneurial enthusiasm on display — not to mention the mouthwatering bistro fare, regular brew tutorials, and über-friendly atmosphere — has made the baristas the talk of the local business community. And fellow members of the Winkler & District Chamber of Commerce have been generous with advice. "We'd say, 'How do you do scheduling?' or 'How do you do profit margin?' or 'What percent of your income would go to labour?' " Plett says. "We didn't know any of that stuff." A growing customer base has allowed them to move to a new location on Main Street, a tastefully-appointed, conversation-conducive space anchored by a gleaming Elektra espresso machine. Which makes sense, since customers are the only thing Plett and his crew value more than coffee. They're equally committed to being responsible citizens. During their first year in business, the team instituted Donation Mondays, where one day a month, they'd donate all money raised — not just the profits, 18 MBiz June 2012 mind you, but their entire earnings — to a local charity or community organization. "It was a terrible idea," Plett says with a laugh. "It would take us about three weeks to make it up, and then we'd only have five days of sales left until the next Monday!" These days, they've settled on a less costly compromise. Tips left via debit or credit card go to support a young sponsor child in the Dominican Republic, and towards an organization called Coffee Kids, which sets up education and health care facilities in coffee-growing regions of Central America. In addition, a portion of the sales from every drink goes toward meal plans in India; so far, the program has provided more than 35,000 of same. "It's just part of your ethos," Plett says. "This is something people can do that's tangible and not hard. You come in every day, you have a coffee, and you're helping to make things better." www.jonnysjava.com PEMBINA VALLEY