Jenn Newton of Mugs on Milton shares the story of how this quaint little coffee shop became the best kept secret of downtown Alpharetta. Mugs on Milton is a locally owned and operated coffee shop and bakery with locations in Alpharetta and Crabapple/Milton. With core values of Great Coffee and Great Food, this neighborhood coffee shop quickly became the go-to meetup spot for locals.
Mission: Prior to opening Mugs in Milton, Jenn worked in downtown Alpharetta with a marketing agency. She knew she business ownership was in her future, but didn't know exactly what business. With her eyes open to new opportunities, Jenn saw a need for a coffee shop, even thought she isn't a coffee drinker... The idea lingered in her mind and began to gain momentum.
Knowing a talented baker, she sat down her friend and now business partner Gretchen Smith to create a vision for what would eventually become Mugs on Milton. Once they realized just how aligned they were in their visions, they took the leap and opened just two months later!
Mindset: With no experience in the coffee industry, there was a learning curve to getting going. Jenn and Gretchen addressed this by aligning with vendors that allowed them to execute their vision thanks to the experience and knowledge of a bigger community.
Marketing: Coming from a marketing background, you could assume that Jenn created an elaborate marketing campaign to get the word out about Mugs. Not the case at all. Mugs on Milton grew organically with no paid advertising and not even a sign outside the shop for several months! It became the best kept secret of downtown Alpharetta and something that happy customers would want to share.
Momentum: Two to three months into the launch, Jenn and Gretchen realized that the volume was growing so fast that they needed to bring on additional staff. This happened well before their projected 6-9 month time frame for expansion. Hiring new employees brought its own challenges as they had to determine what tasks their new hires should take over and how to maintain the high standards of the Mugs customer experience.
Masterminds: Being a downtown Alpharetta business owner means you are immediately brought into a community of business owners excited to watch you thrive. Jenn shares that in the early days, neighboring businesses like Sis & Moon's helped to spread the word, give advice or simply offer encouragement. How beautiful to know that just steps outside your door is someone who knows exactly what you're going through and wants to see you succeed.
Mastermind Challenge: I love how Jen talks about those early days and the people who thought she and Gretchen were just silly girls. Her quote, "I've never been a silly girl". LOVE it!
How often do we enter a new challenge and allow our inexperience in one area to bring down our confidence. I love how Jen stood strong and resilient in those moments. I challenge you to look at the areas of your life or career where you are venturing into new and unchartered territory. Are you being timid or allowing others' opinions to define you? Are you keeping your head held high with the knowledge that you will soon master this new challenge? I hope it's the latter.
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