816 was set up four years ago by Pete Green, a man on a mission to bring good coffee to Calderdale. Pete has worked in the coffee industry for nearly ten years and it was during his time in New Zealand, training at an independent roastery, that he came to understand the art behind creating the perfect drink. So it’s fair to say that Pete loves coffee, but thanks to Totally Locally, he also has a genuine interest in seeing his local economy thrive.
“Totally Locally has sparked my desire to stay, work and shop within my local area,” said Pete. “I love the heart the guys behind Totally Locally have for Calderdale and their belief in the people who live and work here. The campaign has really inspired me to believe that I can make a difference – that being a young local business that buys most of its supplies from other local businesses can help change our economy in what is a very tough climate at the moment. The support they have given me is beyond what I could have asked for. They have personally encouraged me in my ventures and referred my business to other businesses, which has already generated more work for me. These are real guys with a real economy-changing idea and amazing ambition – they’re not another weak initiative with an answer phone.”
“From a business point of view Totally Locally has made me more focused on buying supplies from local companies. This can often work out cheaper than buying from a supermarket and it has enabled me to build up a network of contacts I know I can rely on for quality and value for money. I can also visit them in person, talk about my requirements and get my order customized as well as having more control over the quality of produce. I have found that local business owners are very encouraging with regards to my own business and offer their help and advice, which I’m certain wouldn’t happen if I hadn’t build up such a good relationship with them by sourcing products locally.”
“The more businesses I talk to, the more I see how Totally Locally has affected them too, and how they are developing more of a real friendship between each other with the aim of making a difference to their local economy. I think that Totally Locally will continue to increase support for our local businesses and help our towns to thrive.”
www.816espresso.co.uk
