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Moody Brews - Small Town Woman in Business Success.

Guest post by: Angelina Musik

Article Overview: This summer I drove through Doris, California and stopped to visit with Julie Barkman, owner of 'Moody Brews' Coffee Drive Thru. For ten years Julie worked in adult education, commuting 25 miles to Klamath Falls, Oregon. In 2007, Julie and her husband decided to start a business to stop her commute, providing her the freedom to be there for her family and giving them a way to give back to their community. Julie named her coffee shop 'Moody Brews' because she is a big fan of the Moody Blues Music. Mr. Barkman, her husband, built the drive thru from scratch.

Moody Brews - Small Town Woman in Business Success.

'Moody Brews' is right off of Highway 97, about three miles from the Oregon border.

Since there are no other coffee shops for at least another 50 miles, many truckers and travelers stop for her coffee between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m.

Soon 'Moody Brews' will include serving pastries from a local bakery and maybe even breakfast tacos along with her coffee, smoothies and pink steamed milk that the youth in the community like.

Judy's desire is to keep this coffee shop a single entity, so that her business remains simple and in the family — her sister works there too.

When asked what has been the greatest reward in setting her business she shares, "Getting to know so many different people, encouraging people to stop in the community as they drive through, and having the freedom to be able to close the shop to see my nephew in a school function."

Julie is often the first townsfolk a visitor will initially interact with, so she feels it's her responsibility to encourage them to visit other local business.

Steps that Julie took to starting her business
Julie picked the right profitable business. What is one of the easiest products to sell to out of town visitors after hours of driving? Coffee and smoothies, caffeine or sugar, to help wake them up as they continue their road journey.

Location, Location, Location.
Julie had her husband construct her drive thru building right off the main Highway 97 that passes right through town. Drivers can easily spot 'Moody Brews' as they turn the corner. She doesn't have to advertise. You can't miss her!

Keeping it simple.
No franchises of this brand are in the works. Julie hired her sister to help her and wants to keep the business simple and with low stress. She enjoys the freedom to close down when she wants to serve the community or spend time with her family.

Getting paid for doing what you're terrific at.
Julie loves meeting new people and being the town's representative to the tourists and truck drivers that pass through, while encouraging them to visit other local businesses. What better way to meet new people than to greet them with a good cup of coffee or a tangy smoothie after hours of being on the road?

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Article Tags: bakery, breakfast tacos, coffee shop, coffee shops, drive thru, franchises, greatest reward, location location location, nephew, oregon border, pastries, people encouraging people, profitable business, road journey, smoothies, tourists, town visitors, travelers, truck drivers, truckers



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