Contact: Melissa Burris
Public Information Coordinator
Phone: (715) 682-9141, Ext. 122
Cell phone: (715) 292-1550
Email address: mburris@nwcep.org
Bayfield business recognized for excellence in their industry and outstanding accomplishments in growing their business
Bayfield, Wis. – The Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board, Inc. (NWWIB) recently presented Big Water Coffee Roasters with their Rising Star Award. Danielle Ewalt, owner of Big Water Coffee Roasters, accepted the honor on Thursday, May 8th, at the 2014 Northwest Wisconsin Business Conference. LeRoy Forslund, NWWIB’s Chair, and James Kehoe Jr., NWWIB’s Conference Committee Chair, presented the award at the conference held at Heartwood Conference Center in Trego, WI. The Rising Star Award recognizes Big Water Coffee Roasters for their excellence in their industry and acknowledges their outstanding accomplishments in growing their business. MaryAnn T. Lippert,Director of the Northern Region Office -Wisconsin Department of Administration, also presented Big Water Coffee Roasters an official Governor’s Proclamation.
Big Water Coffee Roasters, located in Bayfield, WI, opened their café in 2007 and a year later began roasting their own coffee. Customer service and quality products are at the heart of their business from their approach to training their baristas to make the perfect espresso shot to roasting their high quality coffee beans. Their approach to the customer service experience is to find the middle road by combining two opposing viewpoints: hand crafted products and a quick turn-around time. Something they have perfected-along with the perfect cup of coffee.
A year ago, the business expanded their customer base by focusing their attention on growing thewholesale business. Through this expansion, they were able to grow their business in their current location and also serve customers outside of the immediate geographical area. All orders are roasted to order-not just pulled off the shelf-so customers receive the freshest coffee possible. Currently, they are roasting four days a week for wholesale and individual orders. They are continuing to invest in this part of their business and have expanded the size of their roastery, including purchasing a new roaster from Germany. Part of this expansion will also focus on ways to connect the customers to the craft of coffee. They have installed a viewing window, modeled off of those found often in craft beer breweries, so that customers can see the roasting process in action.
In addition to expanding their wholesale business, Big Water Coffee Roasters also focused on re-branding themselves. They have created a brand that is unique to them and is reflected in their packaging, merchandise and café space. Part of this re-branding strategy has been developing partnerships with customers and creating custom blends that fit the needs of the customer while also aligning with their brand. Fenenga Fuel, a custom blend developed for Northland College, is a great example of one of their collaborations. Learn more about Big Water Coffee Roasters by visiting their website at: www.bigwatercoffee.com.
NWWIB is proud to present Big Water Coffee Roasters with the Rising Star Award for their commitment to their vision and their community. For more information about the award or about the conference, please contact Mari Kay-Nabozny, NWWIB CEO, at 715-682-9141 or mari@nwwib.com.
