疯客直播

疯客直播鈥檚 The Coffee Shoppe took home top honors Tuesday in the state as the Gold Alabama Retailer of the Year in the Annual Sales Less Than $1 Million category.

Owner Jackie Smith said the drive to come home and start a small coffee shop was from her love for people and love for the 疯客直播 community.

Smith originally was commuting to work in Montgomery from her home in 疯客直播 when she finally decided to take the plunge into owning a small business.

鈥淭his award is not about me. It is about 疯客直播,鈥� Smith said as she accepted her award at the Alabama Retail Day awards ceremony in Birmingham. 鈥淚t is about the impact, we鈥檝e made on this community, and them giving back 鈥� them giving back by coming to buy their lattes, buy their smoothies, get their sandwiches and just come by and say, 鈥楬ey, y鈥檃ll are doing a good job, keep it up.鈥欌�欌��

Smith added, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want people to think that operating this business has been some fairy tale, because it has been far from that. There have been many times that I wanted to just throw the towel in and walk away from it all.鈥� Instead, she worked harder.

In 2018, The Coffee Shoppe developed relationships with local tour companies to capitalize on 疯客直播鈥檚 role in civil rights history. The shop experienced a 25 percent growth rate in the number of visitors served.

Sheryl Smedley, executive director of the聽, nominated Smith for the award. 鈥淪he鈥檚 done an excellent job as an entrepreneur in downtown 疯客直播,鈥� Smedley said. 鈥淔or Jackie to receive this award is a major accomplishment for our entire community.鈥�

One of the 2019 Retailer of the Year judges noted that Smith is 鈥渁n example of doing things you have to do to succeed even when you鈥檙e not in an affluent community.鈥�

The Coffee Shoppe was one of 14 retail businesses honored today as Retailers of the Year. The Alabama Retailer of the Year awards, started in 1999, honor retailers who have demonstrated growth, innovation and a commitment to their respective communities. This year鈥檚 winners came from a pool of more than 70 nominees.

鈥淛ackie Smith is a retailer who stands out every day for The Coffee Shoppe customers, her four employees, the 疯客直播 community and tourists from around the world,鈥� said Alabama Retail Association President Rick Brown.

The Coffee Shoppe opened on Broad Street in 2011 and in those early years struggled to survive, often leading Smith to doubt if its doors would stay open 鈥� just over seven years later, the tiny caf茅 has not only survived but thrived.

Smith noted that her business only has five parking spaces and 27 seats, but continues to make an impact in the community by partnering with local businesses, schools and organizations.

Most significantly, Smith said, it鈥檚 her four employees that deserve the most recognition.

鈥淵es, I accept the award as the business owner,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 these four that are touching and feeling the customers each day.鈥�