By Nick Gonnella
NKyTribune contributor
Marilynn Ritter has demonstrated that it doesn’t take a large investment to develop a successful business model, and her customers are tasting the benefits.
Ritter, the owner of Burlington-based Valet Coffee, began a full service mobile espresso and smoothie bar in January, 2012. She modeled the business after a similar operation run by her sister.
“I built on what she had,” said Ritter. “I wanted to take her idea and expand it in a different way, and so far it’s been successful. We bring the coffee experience to the event.”
Ritter, a retired airline employee, remains passionate about service and makes that a priority of Valet Coffee.
“I always say, if I can serve coffee from 37,000 feet, I can serve coffee on the ground,” she said.
Valet Coffee strives to host five events each week, and Ritter said she has a lot of repeat customers.
“Probably, at this point, 75 percent of it is repeat business,” she said. “People just absolutely love coffee houses coming to their place of business.”
Ritter believes the possibilities for Valet Coffee are endless – ranging from outdoor parties, indoor offices, wedding showers and receptions, to corporate events. She said the concept helps Valet Coffee avoid challenges, making events run smoothly.
Private parties and pool parties are common during spring and summer months and to protect the equipment, outside events are not hosted in the winter.
Ritter’s husband, Phil Ritter, designed the carts. His brother, Paul Ritter, helped build them.
“We bring everything to the event,” she said. “The only thing that we need is electricity. There is never anything that the client has to give us when we get there, so we make it as easy as possible for them.
In most situations, they can operate with just two outlets.
“We have a lot of extension cords, so it’s never a problem,” Ritter said. “If it’s an office that’s very small, we have a very small cart that we can roll right in. Really, I can’t think of anything that we can’t do, so it’s easy.”
Valet Coffee Baristas take 30 minutes to set up and arrive early to ensure that the event goes smoothly. The espresso bars require a minimum amount of space – typically no more than five feet.
Valet Coffee also takes care of all the cleanup.
“You don’t even know that we were there,” said Ritter. “There’s no evidence of us, except for the memory of the people drinking the coffee and enjoying the event.”
Valet Coffee has clients as far away as Dayton and Columbus to the north, and as far south as Lexington and Louisville. The business has also provided service in Lawrenceburg and Aurora.
Travel fees apply to events that are more than 30 miles from downtown Cincinnati.
Ritter said employee appreciation events and business-to-business service is also an important part of the Valet Coffee model.
“A very big thing for our company is that a business will send us to another business as a thank you note, or as a thank you for their business,” she said. “That’s very important for us, because it helps to grow our business, but it’s also very good for the person that’s given the gratitude. We make other businesses look good.”
The Valet Coffee website is filled with testimonials from satisfied customers.
Kevin Dooley, development manager of the Cincinnati Arts Association, calls Valet Coffee a wonderful addition to the region’s event world.
“They are easy to work with, timely and professional,” Dooley said. “I’ve used Valet Coffee at several of my corporate events and will continue to find additional ways to have them at my events because they’re always a big hit. I can’t recommend Valet Coffee highly enough.”
Angela Rozzi-Burns of Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks, said the company hired Valet Coffee during the company’s two busiest days of the year, July 3 and 4.
“Our customers stayed in line for 30 minutes happily with complimentary iced coffees and smoothies from Valet Coffee,” Rozzi-Burns said. “Valet Coffee cares deeply about what they do and they go the extra mile for their clients. We felt great giving our customers a delicious treat and it was so well received, we’ve already booked next year.”
Valet Coffee adds a special touch for its clients by naming drinks for the event.
Offerings at weddings, for example, include a First Dance Mocha and a Father of the Bride Latte.
Valet Coffee also features special blends, such as a drink that includes a mixture of caramel and vanilla named “Thanks-A-Latte.” Another drink, which blends Ghirardelli chocolate and Ghirardelli caramel is called “Mocha My Day.”
For more information, call Valet Coffee at (859) 409-1628.