Silva Coffee
Many Yarra Ranges Businesses have needed to adapt and pivot their business to maintain an income during COVID-19 lockdowns. Wayne and Cleo, the founders of Silva Yarra Valley Coffee Roasters, have pivoted their business model to survive.
Prior to COVID-19, Silva Coffee sold their coffee in a predominantly wholesale capacity to cafés, wineries and restaurants, with a small part of their sales being from home purchases. When COVID-19 started to take hold, Wayne and Cleo met with a business coach to re-evaluate their business and look at options in which they could pivot their business model.
Silva Coffee’s new COVID business model has resulted in a significant increase in their shopfront and online retail sales. They have also increased their range by selling barista equipment online and creating a virtual coffee cupping event which successfully sold out. Cleo has said that they “will do more (virtual events) after seeing how the first one goes”.
As a business, Silva Coffee pride themselves on having a strong focus to contribute at a local level. They are committed to our community and provide fresh delicious coffee, local business partnerships, employment and community engagement. During COVID they are also offering free delivery to locals in the Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges within 20km's of Silva Coffee Roastery in Wesburn.
As a business they have also pivoted into co-op projects with other local businesses like Payne's Rise Winery which offered customers a gift pack with wine, coffee & ugg boots. This project brought many new social media followers and customers. Silva Coffee has also combined with Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Morgans Distillery to create an Espresso Martini pack.
Silva Coffee have a positive outlook on their business as this crisis has given them time to work on the business and become more creative. “We have invested more time on social media marketing, Facebook and Instagram and will keep investing in retail experiences”, said Cleo. She would also like to encourage local businesses to reach out to the business team at Yarra Ranges Council. “We have received our ‘Be Kind to Business’ pack and a visit from a council health officer which was amazing and so much appreciated.”