The Small Business Retail Sessions
The Small Business Retail Sessions is a podcast from Enterprise Nation’s Powering the High Street programme, in collaboration with EDF.
The series explores the major challenges facing today’s retailers – from declining footfall, vacant storefronts, post-pandemic recovery and sustainability.
Expect honest conversations with successful entrepreneurs, practical expert advice, and innovative ideas to help your retail business thrive.
Whether you're a seasoned shopkeeper or a digital business ready to make the leap to bricks-and-mortar, Powering the High Street is your gateway to making a meaningful retail impact. Explore the resources and get involved by visiting the hub now.
Find more details at enterprisenation.com/poweringthehighstreet.
The Small Business Retail Sessions
Rob Ely on building a people-first coffee brand with purpose
Welcome to the Small Business Retail Sessions podcast, brought to you by Enterprise Nation's Powering the High Street programme, in collaboration with EDF.
This series explores the major challenges that today's retailers are facing – from declining footfall and vacant shop-fronts to the post-pandemic recovery and increasing demand for sustainability.
In episode seven of the series, we're joined by Rob Ely, co-founder of TOAST.
TOAST is a proudly independent chain of coffee shops launched in Essex in 2020.
Alongside his co-founders Daniel and Louis, Rob has grown TOAST from one quirky, toast-themed café into a people-first coffee brand with six thriving locations – and big ambitions for the future.
In this episode, Rob shares how TOAST has created a loyal customer base by delivering exceptional service, investing in its people and staying true to its values.
From lockdown pivots and brand lessons to the power of community and choosing the right high street locations, Rob talks candidly about the highs and lows of building an independent hospitality business that's genuinely built to last.
Topics discussed in the episode
- How TOAST evolved from a toast-themed concept into a coffee-led brand
- What Rob learned from launching just weeks before the first COVID lockdown
- Why a heartfelt social media post helped turn the tide in TOAST's early days
- The challenges of scaling while staying proudly independent
- Why location is critical – and how being "too far" from footfall can make or break a shop
- How TOAST empowers staff to shape the business and values people over profit
- Lessons from a failed expansion and how it reshaped their growth strategy
- The importance of operational consistency across several sites
- How TOAST supports its communities through its "Coffee for a Coffee" initiative
- What's next: refining the brand, expanding regionally and creating a new kind of coffee culture
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Through the Powering the High Street programme, we're bringing new energy to retail in the UK. We're helping small businesses thrive on the high street – through expert support, smart energy advice and practical tools to grow sustainably.
Find out more at enterprisenation.com/poweringthehighstreet/
To listen to previous podcast episodes, go to enterprisenation.com/podcast
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