Shanna Novosel was destined to be a franchisee with BIGGBY. 

Growing up in Lansing, Michigan, where the American coffee franchise first got its start, Novosel was one of BIGGBY COFFEE’s first regular customers, and she quickly became a self-described “fanatic.” When she moved to Cincinnati after graduating college, she noticed there were few coffee options around her and became determined to bring BIGGBY to Cincinnati. Now, Novosel is the owner of two of her own BIGGBY locations and works as an area developer helping to grow the brand throughout Greater Cincinnati.  

“I wanted to bring a little piece of my previous life in Michigan to share with my friends in Cincinnati. At the time, I don’t think any of my friends had tried BIGGBY or even heard of it. I wanted to get in on the ground level of the franchise and really have the opportunity to grow the brand,” Novosel said.

Aside from its delicious coffee and her nostalgia for the brand, BIGGBY’s belief that coffee brings people together has always resonated with Novosel. Since opening its first store in 1995, that same mantra and passion from franchisees like Novosel has helped to grow the brand to more than 240 locations across nine states. And in Novosel’s role as an area developer, she works to expand the brand’s footprint even further. 

“I love being a store owner, but being an area developer is really my favorite part,” Novosel explained. “I help other people open up their own BIGGBY stores, search for new franchisees and assist them with ongoing marketing. I’ve helped to open seven stores, and we have eight slated to open over the next six months [in Greater Cincinnati]. I have huge plans for the area — I want to see 70 BIGGBY COFFEEs in the area by 2035 or 2040.”

Like most business owners this past March, Novosel was nervous about what would come of her business as a result of the pandemic. Now, she says that, even amid the challenging situation, her business has thrived.

“I was so scared during the first few weeks of the pandemic — I was working the line myself to try and save on labor,” she said. “Now we’re busier than we were this time last year. The thing is that there’s a ‘shop local’ aspect of the business. My stores are in smaller communities, so customers know me and know the business is locally owned. They know they’re helping me and our employees support our kids, not just sending all the money we earn to Seattle.”

For Bob Fish, co-founder and CEO of BIGGBY, that emphasis on serving the local community during the pandemic has been one of the brand’s most important elements. 

“We do believe that we are the center of every community that we’re in. When COVID hit, our service, whether it be to employ people or to serve people, was an obligation to the community. People needed it,” said Fish.

Novosel is thankful to have a thriving business during an otherwise hard time, but she is eager for the community to return to the store and to welcome coffee back as a daily social ritual.

“We’re extremely involved in the community. We’re always there for coffee donations at 5Ks and teacher appreciation week,” she said. “Coffee shops are all about the community and we’re always willing and able to be there when the community needs us most.”