Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarah Mark. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sarah, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

That’s something we get asked a lot. My business is named VI Coffee Bar. The VI is a Roman numeral 6, so it’s pronounced “6 coffee bar”.

I grew up playing high level soccer my entire life. I was always number 6, and people would refer to me as #6. I was a force to be reckoned with on the field. I moved away from the idea of becoming a professional athlete and started dreaming of opening a restaurant. I decided that when that dream came to fruition, I would name the restaurant “VI” which is the Roman numeral for 6, honoring my roots in the sport.

12 years ago, I promised myself that I would call the restaurant “VI” I thought it would be a clever marketing tactic, as it’s pronunciation might confuse people-some might say “vi”, “vee”, or “V-I”. This ambiguity would spark conversation and create a memorable impression, giving guests something fun to correct their friends about.

Having dedicated the past 12 years of my life to this dream, “VI” now holds a deeper meaning for me. It symbolizes unwavering commitment to self, the pursuit of dreams, and the hard work required to stay focused on goals.

“VI” now represents a lifestyle of doing whatever it takes to reach your full potential and your goals.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I always had a passion for culinary arts, cooking and creating drinks from a very young age always sparked my interest.

As I explored cooking, I realized I wanted to become a chef and own a restaurant. I started cooking in restaurants young, but every time I tried to step away from the restaurant industry, something always pulled me back. I studied business at FAU, which brought me to Boca Raton. After college, I fully committed to my culinary dreams, no I no to Texas to work in some of the country’s most incredible restaurants, eventually, I returned to Boca Raton, ready to continue my culinary journey. Just two days after my return, COVID hit, closing restaurants and leaving me without a job. I pivoted quickly, launching my own meal prep business and working as a private chef, after several years, I explored bartending and specialty coffee, which ignited my passion for customer service. All these experiences have filed my eagerness and excitement to open VI.

VI is my passion, my life, and my purpose on this planet.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

One thing I emphasize to my marketing team, often to their amusement or thinking I’m crazy, is my belief in the power of being creative and coming up with unconventional guerrilla marketing tactics. They may think I’m a bit eccentric, but I know these bold ideas really make an impact.

Everyone else is doing the same things and following trends and spending so much money, when all a business owner really needs to do is be creative and think outside of the box.

As a small local business we had no marketing budget for the first 8-9 months, which is probably the MOST important time to advertise, right? You’re a new business you NEED people to know you’re there, but small businesses don’t have that capital. I had to pull every idea out of my brain I could that would cost little to nothing. Every single outside the box idea I had worked. We were seeing people come in and still to this day ENDLESSLY compliment how creative we are in our marketing techniques.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

My authenticity, I really feel that people can feel how much I love customer service and this industry. They can feel my energy when they walk in the door, and it’s a unique energy, it’s relatable, it’s a little out there, it’s unique, and it’s real. I think that people first trust the brand because of how great and real my staff is. Then we give a quality consistent product. Topped off with great service, low turn over of staff, it’s a recipe for success that can not be replicated.

It’s a welcoming space that feels refreshingly unpretentious in a city filled with bland, sterile, and cookie cutter establishments.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.Vicoffeebar.net
• Instagram: ViCoffeeBar
• Facebook: VI Coffee Bar
• Linkedin: VI Coffee Bar

Image Credits

Connor Ryan
Corvus Coffee Roasters