We’re taking “family business” to the next level at Kickr! Introducing, Coffee Box! Run by CEO Addison Shelton’s wife, Joxie, Coffee Box is Kickr’s latest employee experience innovation that brings everyone together over their favorite sip of the day.
We sat down with idealist and culinary genius Joxie to get the scoop on how this came to be and what the vision for the future is.
What inspired the idea for a coffee shop inside Kickr’s new office?
With a background in culinary arts and hospitality, I have always loved expressing myself through food and making people happy through food and cultural dishes. I love exploring local coffee shops wherever we travel, both internationally and domestically, and have always dreamt of owning one myself.
When Kickr moved to the new space, we knew that the opportunity had finally come!
How has having Coffee Box in the same space changed the team’s day-to-day culture or energy?
When everyone is well caffeinated, the energy is certainly higher! But in all seriousness, Coffee Box, in many ways, has become Kickr’s water cooler.
A spot to take a moment to slow down to have a “coffee and chat with Joxie”. Coffee Box is a place to find a familiar face any time of the day, who is more interested in hearing about the team’s lives than just what’s going on at work.
How has this “family business” connection shaped the dynamic or atmosphere at Kickr?
I occupy a unique role at Kickr because my husband is the CEO, but I am here just to serve and emotionally support the team with caffeine and a warm smile.
Whether they order a handcrafted cookie butter latte or a straight espresso shot, Coffee Box gives me the opportunity to connect better with everyone in the company, whom I might not have known by name prior to that.
Coffee Box is building a bit of its own positive subculture within Kickr, and I feel it enhances the experience of working here for everyone.
What kind of interactions do you see between the Kickr team and Coffee Box customers? Has it created new opportunities for connection or creativity?
As a public-facing coffee shop, Coffee Box is just getting started. However, it presents unique opportunities for Sales Engineers and Engineering teams to have a space for more casual conversations with Kickr clients.
Whether grabbing a drink before a meeting or sitting down over a pastry to chat after a serious project, Coffee Box fosters a more human interaction that is not just all business.
How does the physical space, having both a product design studio and a coffee shop under one roof, reflect Kickr’s broader values or brand personality?
In the move to the new facility, we really wanted to take the opportunity to have a more enjoyable space for the team. Coffee Box really assists with that because it’s now a staple of our outside patio.
Everyone loves bringing their laptop to a local coffee shop for a change of pace. Coffee Box fulfills that desire, but better because it’s only a few steps away.
It embodies a bit of the playfulness we want to incorporate into the Kickr company culture.
What have you learned about culture or community from seeing how Coffee Box operates alongside Kickr?
Having a separate space, even if it’s adjacent, can still provide an instant respite from the daily workload. Having Coffee Box on the patio has helped us see the importance of non-work-focused spaces and conversations for everyone.
If another company wanted to foster a similar environment, what advice would you give them?
Do it! Teams need a space for non-work-related activities, where everyone can unplug for a short moment as needed. Personally, it’s also crucial to me to make sure that Coffee Box is my way of supporting the team.
Even though Kickr helped launch Coffee Box, it is an independent company. Meaning what happens at Kickr throughout the day doesn’t influence the mood at Coffee Box. If any company wants to create something similar, I would recommend giving it the autonomy it needs to grow on its own.