In this episode of The Growth Game with Brie Groves, Jeni Castro shares her inspiring journey of launching Coffee Dos, a bold and creative coffee brand that stands out in a saturated market. Feeling creatively drained from her previous venture, she took a leap of faith to create something unique, emphasizing the importance of making unforgettable first impressions. Jeni discusses the challenges of franchising and how social media played a pivotal role in growing her brand, allowing her to connect directly with customers. She highlights the power of grassroots marketing and being a disruptor, leaning into authenticity to carve out a niche. Her focus on creativity, bold branding, and personal connections helped Coffee Dos become more than just a coffee shop but a recognizable movement. Jeni’s insights offer inspiration for entrepreneurs to embrace risks, stay authentic, and use social media to their advantage.

Connect With Jeni Castro

Jeni's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coffeedosecafe

Coffee Dose Cafe - https://www.instagram.com/coffeedosecafe/?hl=en

Bronzed Bunny - https://www.instagram.com/bronzedbunny/

Key Moments:

• Introduction and Branding Insights (00:00-00:02:02) Jeni Castro shares her journey of creating Bronzed Bunny and Coffee Dos, emphasizing the importance of standing out in both physical and online spaces.

• Taking Risks to Create Coffee Dos (00:02:27-00:04:10) Jeni reflects on the spontaneous decision to start Coffee Dos while feeling creatively drained, highlighting how a leap of faith led to building a new brand.

• Importance of First Impressions in Business (00:27:42-00:29:04) Jeni stresses how critical it is to make a strong first impression, especially in competitive spaces like wellness and coffee.

• Franchising Challenges and Creative Drains (00:23:22-00:24:33) Jeni shares her experience franchising Bronzed Bunny, which left her feeling creatively exhausted, leading her to pivot towards Coffee Dos.

• The Power of Marketing Yourself (00:39:48-00:40:28) Jeni discusses grassroots marketing strategies, like handing out promotional tokens, and the joy of personally connecting with customers.

• Social Media’s Role in Brand Growth (00:24:33-00:26:06) Jeni emphasizes how social media and edgy branding were crucial in transforming a small coffee shop into a recognized name.

• Being a Disruptor and Embracing Uniqueness (00:04:28-00:05:18) Jeni highlights her natural inclination to disrupt industries and how leaning into her bold, authentic branding made Coffee Dos stand out from the competition.