Disruptive used to be a word you’d use to describe a baby at a cinema, but now it’s all about how a new enterprise can change the face of capitalism. That sounds like a grand ideal, but when executed correctly on a local scale the impact can be powerful. This is the humble yet very real motivation behind new Tea Tree Plus coffee destination, KIK Coffee. It’s coffee, but with an ‘Uber’ concept.
Let us explain. Opening today, KIK is being run by a group of 12 disadvantaged young people from Adelaide’s Northern suburbs in a new social enterprise that will not only provide a pretty good looking place to grab a coffee, but also operate as a delivery service for those workers in the huge shopping complex who are too busy to leave the shop and would like their caffeine to come to them. It is the culmination of 8 months hard work, supported by the Dream Big entrepreneurship program, which was founded by Inspired Buy CEO, Louise Nobes with support from Westfield, the Department of Education and SA Power Networks.
The program has seen young people with experience of homelessness, family violence, mental illness or social exclusion co-design and manage every aspect of the shop, from brand development, shop-layout and menu
creation, operations and most importantly, KIK’s very own coffee roast in conjunction with Adelaide-based Monastery Roasters. The café will feature a range of local producers including coffee by Monastery, Tea by Fine and Dandy Tea House, and a range of food by Public CBD
Together with Louise and some prominent South Australian business leaders, the young people developed the “coffee uber” delivery concept and it was received incredibly well during trials (naturally). But really, the best aspect of this is the 12 jobs created and the fact that when you go into the shop, you can meet the participants in the program and see the results in action.
Thanks to support from Uniting Communities, Inspired Buy will be developing more innovative youth enterprise opportunities as part of their Franklin Street mixed use development due for completion in 2018, which will incorporate another KIK Coffee shop.
This feels like the first step in a movement that can make a big difference to the lives of disadvantaged young people in our city. See for yourself by visiting KIK Coffee, next to Toys r Us at Westfield Tea Tree Plus. Opening hours are Mon to Sat from 8:30 – 4pm. For more information, visit their Facebook.
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