Watch this short Fox news item about a different approach to business.
Self-study activity:
Watch the video and say whether the statements below are true or false.
The activity is suitable for intermediate students.
1 The only thing you can have in The Vault is coffee.
2 The Vault is different from all other coffee shops.
3 David and Kimberly have already recovered the money they invested in the business.
4 The losses due to thieving amount to15% of the business.
5 The only things customers can do in The Vault are drinking coffee and chatting.
6 The Vault has been in business for three and a half years now.
The Vault is like any other coffee shop and then it has coffee, tea and pastries. The one thing is missing, staff.
At the time I didn’t realize how unique that was. I thought it just made sense and I found out later by Googling, really isn’t anything else like it.
When David Brekke and his wife Kimberly opened the shop in October, they decided it was fitting to allow people to serve themselves and pay on the honor system. They haven’t broke even yet, but it’s not because people are stealing.
The thing that’s amazing us is that people are extremely honest. When I add up how much has been taken and how much is in the till at the end of the day, people are 15% more generous than thieving.
The process couldn’t be simpler, you just grab your coffee, pay and sit down and have a chat.
It’s really very convenient to use, I hope that they financially make it, but most people in town I think are pretty honest.
And there is plenty else to draw people in: two pianos, art work for sale and a whole lot of books.
It’s a great place to sit with a quiet read and little by little there are more and more people coming in all the time.
Brekke spent three and a half years renovating the former bank, turning it from this to this. A true for the people coffee shop that this community is embracing whole heartedly.
From Valley City, Aaron Boerner, Fox News.
Key:
1F 2T 3F 4F 5F 6F
