|
Observations of An Ex-Cop in La La Land |
|
|
 |
 |
She built her career with
a few million cups of java
By ANDY MURCIA
of TheColumnists.com
Who really started all this "Starbucks" coffee
generation stuff? You can blame it on a kid named Gloria Jean
from Bernard Street in Chicago. Her family was poor. Many a night
she went to bed hungry, but she had a unique way of ignoring
the hunger pangs: She'd say her prayers for better days and then
ask God if she could put her head in his lap and go to sleep.
When her parents could afford to buy fresh fruit, she and her
siblings would get a banana or an apple and think they died and
went to heaven. Gloria Jean made her fruit last the longest by
not eating it. She liked the good feeling it gave her just to
have something of her own. Most times she'd wind up giving her
fruit to a sister who had already eaten her own. Yes, she also
liked the good feeling being generous gave her.
Gloria grew up and literally
married the milkman--at her parents' urging. She had two sons
(John and Tom) with the Milkman, but all too soon, she found
herself divorced. Like many other young mothers, raising two
boys on her own, it was no walk in the park.
She didn't have the benefit of a college education. What she
learned came mostly from the school of hard knocks and her God-given
dose of common sense. She managed to become a beautician and
on little more than guts and a willingness to work hard, she
opened a hair salon.
She worked long hours at
the salon and it started to bring in some bucks. Her common sense
helped her again when she noticed her customers wanted a cup
of coffee and a nosh while getting their hair done. So, Gloria
opened a coffee shop in Long Grove, Illinois back in 1979. She
ran both shops but always made time to be a great "Mom"
to her boys. This woman had more energy than an Olympic sprinter!
 |
of her book, 'Journey of Prayer' |
She designed every detail of her coffee shop, right down to the colors: green and brass. The so-called experts told her green and brass were not the colors for selling coffee. She stood her ground and green and brass it would be. She also wanted her shop to feel familiar to her customers, right down to the homey ‘mom's kitchen" aromatic flavors. She would make sure her customers got the very best cup of coffee and, of course, a little something to go with it.
Another example of her common sense was in how she sold her coffee. She found that housewives on budgets were not purchasing her one pound special coffees to take home. Armed with her keen common sensibilities, she figured out why. Seems the housewives didn't want to invest $6 in a pound to try a special flavored coffee. So she invented the quarter-pound coffee sampler, whereby they could purchase the smaller quantity for $1.69, minimizing the value/taste risk. Once her customers started buying and trying her quarter pound packs, the full pound bags soon became big sellers, too.
Gloria loved that "homey" feeling, so she started rounding up kitchen utensils and other bric-a-brac for the shop that would generate that same good feeling for her customers every time they came into her coffee shop. And, yes, she made them available for purchase.
To say the store took off big time would be an understatement. Fact is, in a relatively short time, she found herself owning--and franchising--more than 300 such coffee shops around the world. They were then called Gloria Jean’s Coffee Bean.
People seemed to like what Gloria Jean liked, so much so that she was riding a business rocket to the top. Gloria Jean had introduced the coffee industry to the contemporary coffee generation and it's still going strong today. (You’ve only to look at the colors on your next visit to Starbucks: They're green and brass.). A Harvard Business School graduate couldn't have done better than this girl from Chicago's Bernard Street.
Media and industry publications headlined the "Coffee Queen" in all their publications. Her name was known in every shopping mall coffee-drinking household. What was to follow her act can only be described as "copy cat" success. Starbucks was out there as well as hundreds of other coffee shop queen wanna-be’s. All of them were taking their cue from the innovative Gloria Jean Coffee Oueen empire.
Just as it was time for her to go even bigger by expanding her holdings, she and her then second husband went splitsville. He took off with a young chick and “faxed” her his request for a divorce. She thought this was so funny that she faxed him back saying, "you got it, dog."
Her keen sense of humor is always present even in times of personal sadness. They sold her coffee empire in 1993 for an undisclosed figure that was well over $40 million. Her shops are mostly known today simply as "Coffee Bean" after the new owners dropped the "Gloria Jean" from their signs. The Gloria Jean coffee shops are mostly gone from view now, though friends traveling in London have reported enjoying their favorite Gloria Jean coffee while there. Other locations mostly have been absorbed into other chains.
Her two sons, Tom and John, knew exactly how hard their mother had worked and sacrificed to build this enormous business. These two quality young men were totally devoted to their mother and had worked right alongside her. Gloria saw to it that they were properly remunerated for their dedication and hard work.
So, the poor kid from Bernard
Street in Chicago was all set now. She had her annuity and life
was wonderful. Gloria displayed her generous heart over and over
again by giving to many charities. She supported those around
her in need, giving not only her bucks, but, more valuable, her
time.
Sure, she enjoyed all the perks of being wealthy. She decorated
her beautiful homes with style and opened them to others. Most
any reason to be generous to another was a good enough reason
for Gloria to throw a party. If you're fortunate enough for her
to call you "friend," I can tell you you'll not find
a better one on this planet. Her counsel is in demand by all
those heading into business or trying to overcome adversity in
their lives.
Just as she was enjoying her well-earned affluent lifestyle, along came breast cancer. Did the "Coffee Queen" fold her tent and run for he hills? No way, she battled it. She started by praying and asking God if she could put her head in his lap and sleep, just like she had as a kid.
|
with her sons, Tom and John. |
 |
After her surgery, radiation and chemo treatments, cancer learned it was no match for this lady. Today she's cured of cancer. Her abiding faith in God inspired her to write her book, "Journey of Prayer," a story of discovery. She also speaks to women's groups and has become a beacon of hope for them. She is most proud to be an usher at her Church as she gets to see all her friends there this way.
Gloria defines the current buzz words of "women empowerment." She encourages women to work hard and build a life that makes them happy and successful, but reminds them to always be a good mother and friend first. She never throws in the towel as she subscribes to the old adage, "Perseverance conquers all obstacles." For everything else she believes prayers are the answer.
My wife Ann Jillian and
I met Gloria Jean and her sons Tom and John on a flight. She
is as down to earth as most ladies are who have come from meager
beginnings in Chicago. No pretense with Gloria. She's the real
deal. As Frank Sinatra might say, she's "a great broad"
with plenty of courage and character.
Gloria loves making new friends and her older friends say they
could not picture life without her. So, if you become her friend,
you're not only getting a terrific, fun person, but you're also
sure to get a fantastic cup of coffee somewhere along the way.
©2003 by Andy Murcia. The coffee cup illustration is from
IMSI's Master Clips Collection, 1895 Francisco Blvd. E., San
Rafael, CA, 94901-5506, USA. The caricature of Andy Murcia is
©2003 by Jim Hummel.
VISIT THE
GLORIA JEAN WEBSITE AT: www.TheGloriaJean.com
You can comment
on this column online. Please address your message to either
"The Editors" or Andy Murcia. To send an email, click
here: talkback@thecolumnists.com
| Home | About Us | Archives | Talkback | Shopping Mall |