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Local Coffee Sellers Getting The Job Done

Mar 8, 2011 | 9:07 AM

A local business is really changing people’s mornings.

Many a morning I’ve been known to wake up, find a cup of coffee, and head to work. The most important part of that sentence is what? Right! The cup of coffee.

We all need that little pick me up in the morning to be responsible, productive citizens. To the groggy mind, finding a cup of coffee should be anything but difficult; but with a rising demand for the perfect cup of Joe, we find ourselves spending more time than we’ve allowed in the pursuit of a hot beverage.

It is easy enough to make coffee at home; but then you must grind the beans, fill the water, and watch in agony as it drip, drip, drips into the seemingly bottomless carafe. To avoid this daily procedure, some retreat to their favorite coffee shop.

Here in the downtown, people flock to the Bison Café, and of course, Tim Horton’s.

In most city’s, making your way through the Tim Horton’s drive through line is similar to watching paint dry.

I have personally listened to nearly a whole CD while waiting for a single cup of coffee; which makes me wonder if drip, drip, drip would have been a more entertaining choice.

In spite of the overshadowing stereotype that most would give to this dreadful morning line, one group of ambitious employees at a local Tim Horton’s have set the bar higher than ever seen before and are delivering what customers have been dreaming about their entire lives.

A Fast Drive Through Service! A company that people visit every day that is willing to give them less stress in exchange for their money than they had before they entered the line. (To paraphrase the words of Donald Cooper)

The drive through employee’s at the downtown Tim Horton’s in Prince Albert have re-evaluated what drive through service should be, and fixed it!

They saw a problem with the way customer service was being delivered and sought to find new ways to improve their experience.

These employees recognized that all people want in the morning is fast; and they do it with a smile! They devised ways of shaving seconds of service times by delegating specific tasks to each person.

One person handles money, one person takes orders, another makes coffee, another pours coffee, and coffee to hand service is the sole job of another. Five people in total serve each and every customer at this location.

How many stores have you encountered, give you service with a five to one ratio? Current service times per customer are averaging 17-20 seconds.

From the back of the line to coffee in hand is about three minutes. In addition to speed, your order is perfect 99% of the time.

With all of this in mind, one might wonder why these employees go the extra mile for their customers. In short, because they care. This drive through has gone from being #53 for sales in western Canada to #3. They are serving more coffee each morning than either of the other two locations in Prince Albert.

So, if you buy your coffee from these fine individuals in the morning, recognize their efforts with a tip. Let them know that you appreciate their efforts in serving you to the best of their ability day after day.

Great attitudes and great business start with great service!