In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Darren Spicer, cofounder and CEO of Clutch Coffee, a drive-thru coffee shop that has grown to 15 locations across the Carolinas since debuting in 2018. Darren grew up in Oregon and worked as a broista at Dutch Bros before going into medical device sales, and while he travelled the country for that job, he realized there were parts of the country that had no access to the burgeoning drive-thru coffee scene — meaning there was plenty of white space to start his own concept. He ultimately chose the Charlotte, North Carolina, area to launch Clutch Coffee in 2018, and has grown across the Carolinas with an intense focus on quality, culture, and community. Darren joined the podcast to talk about rising above the competition in drive-thru coffee and why your relationship with your customer is everything in getting your business off the ground.

In this conversation, you’ll find out why:

• The best market for your business idea may not be anywhere close to you
• Even when you’re trying to save on costs, quality must not be sacrificed 
• It’s critical that beverage players find a calling card in the innovation wars
• Your loyalty program must be as easy as possible to access
• As an operator, you’re the host of your own party 
• You should develop a strong bench of leaders before pursuing growth
• By building relationships with influencers, you develop a roster of ambassadors

Have feedback or ideas for Take-Away? Email Sam at [email protected].