Curly Tail Coffee is a very cool coffee company started by a young woman named Nicole Waltenbaugh. This business started out as a coffee roasting business alone, but Nicole soon added two food trailers to the business to capitalize on the demand for coffee on the go. These little trailers sell her bags of roasted coffee, pastries and muffins, hot tea, hot chocolate, and their specially roasted hot coffee. Part of the inspiration behind starting this business was the founder’s love for animals and her passion for rescue pugs specifically. One dollar of each bag of coffee that she sells is donated to an animal rescue. Because of this, Curly Tail Coffee has been able to donate over 30,000 dollars! Nicole’s love of pugs is also where the name came from, curly tail for the curly tails of the pugs that Nicole loves so much! It also applies to the curly tails of pigs which she has two of.
Curly Tail Coffee is the perfect example of a business built out of the combination of two passions. She started with the two passions of roasting coffee and the support of rescue pugs.
This business is especially cool to me because this is in our home town of Kittanning! I love Nicole and her coffee. She often has one of her pugs or one of her pigs at the trailers when you go to visit to buy coffee.
I really love how Nicole took two of her passions and combined them into one business. I believe this is part of the definition of what a good entrepreneur should be able to do. Although starting a business based on one passion can absolutely end up being successful, I think it essential to realize that the sky is the limit when starting your own business in the realm of creativity and innovation. Nicole clearly utilized this in her business and is making a difference while doing it.
What I found most interesting about this business is that Nicole combined 2 unrelated interests into one unified brand. She was able to combine her love of animals with the need for coffee and snacks on the go. It is also cool that you have a personal connection to Nicole and her business since it is based in your hometown!
I think this is a really cool business. I love the idea of coffee on the go from a smaller business instead of having to go to a large chain gas station like Sheetz. I also like how she was able to combine her two passions into a successful business. The donation to an animal rescue also adds to the value of the business because it makes it bigger than just coffee and a pastry but something helpful. Overall, Nicole is capitalizing on a great idea in a unique way.
I love hearing about the rise of small businesses! Building relationships with and through small businesses has to be one of my favorite aspects of entrepreneurship. Combining passions with social issues is a great way to come up with an amazing business and also provides a great way to market!