Saandra Bowlus and Joe Carlo, cofounders and co-owners Coffee is a passion for us, and we’re happy to serve that passion to others. Our strategy is to never let something like this pandemic stop our dreams. Our products are in other small restaurants and grocery stores near and far. ![]() Now, Pink Owl Coffee has 13 employees and two coffee shops, and we are growing our business. We went on every ordering platform to get our products to our customers. We did everything we could to keep the business going with a very small staff - just two people and us, the owners. Covid-19 changed that in some ways, but not for forever. We built our coffee shop to provide a space for our community to enjoy the coffee we roast. We opened our doors in San Rafael on February 6, 2020, and had the best community support any new business could ask for at our grand opening. Binay Curtis, Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and Fitness Instructor Pink Owl Coffee Pivoting my business was the result of quick action, family bonds, a deep sense of community and the support of my students. With the help of my family, I created BodyByBinay, which encompasses my nutrition business along with virtual HIIT classes. I faced enormous technical and physical hurdles, including competing in an online environment with titans like Peloton who were already established. I pivoted immediately to meet their needs. When quarantine hit, students and friends from across the world were desperate for movement, connection and community. Pre-pandemic, my fitness students lined up outside like a rock concert, hoping to grab a spot in my HIIT class. ![]() There were many days that being open wasn’t worth it, but there were always some days where our sales had just $1 more than the previous day, and that dollar keep us going until we were able to open again and bring all our crew back. Thank you for your support Marin! After that we did all the marketing possible, and we offered free delivery to anywhere in Marin! Every morning was a new challenge. To survive right away, we needed to let most of our crew go in a blink of eye. We hope you’ll find their stories as inspiring as we do. They couldn’t have done it without all of you, and they couldn’t be more grateful. We’re happy to report that faced with adversity, these businesses managed to perfect the art of the pivot, coming up with creative and safe ways to preserve their businesses, safely serve their customers and give back to the community. As we recognize our 2021 Best of County winners, we thought we’d also check in with last year’s honorees to see how they fared during Covid-19. The last 18 months took a heavy toll on small businesses around the country - and here in Marin County - but finally, the worst of the pandemic appears to be behind us, and it’s time to celebrate just how far we’ve come.
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