It’s an innovation that might be considered ingenious or irrelevant — depending on your age.
Connie Harder believes her decision to accept text orders at Bean Brokers coffee shop, which she operates in Olds, is a good one.
“It is so cool,” she said of the system.
Customers can order beverages and food using cellphones and other text-enabled devices, with a return message giving them an order number and advising of their pick-up time.
Harder, who has been in the coffee business since 1996 and opened Bean Brokers seven years ago, first saw texted coffee orders at a cappuccino bar in Arizona.
The company providing the communication service wasn’t yet active in Canada, but she persuaded it to set up the system for her.
Harder expects to begin accepting text orders next week, when Bean Brokers completes its move from 5020 46th St. to new premises at 5114 46 Ave.
That new location is a stone’s throw from both Olds College and Olds High School — where text-savvy consumers abound.
Harder’s become pretty adept at thumbing messages on a cellphone keypad herself, thanks to her youthful staff.
“When you employ young people you have to text because then you can communicate with them.”
Text-ordering should result in faster, more efficient service, she said. Harder hopes to also add a drive-through in the future, and anticipates that more customers will use gift cards and simply arrange for the cost of their purchases to be deducted at the Bean Brokers’ till.
“Then it’s totally convenient. They don’t have to have money and their order is ready.”
Harder said she wouldn’t be surprised if other businesses incorporate text service into their operations.
“Service is the number 1 thing that we all want to do better and better.”
When Bean Brokers’ new system is operational, text orders can be placed at 403-970-4379.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com