“The thing is, people expect the kind of efficiency they get at Stubb’s Coffee here,” Maria said. Nevermind that we have a quarter of the staff and none of their fancy custom gizmos.”

“So, how do we compete exactly?” Bob said, suddenly fearful for his nascent job. “There’s a Stubb’s right down the street and two on the SMU campus.”

“There are enough people who make it a point to ‘buy local’ that we have a little bit of an edge,” Maria said. “We also have nicer furniture which Steve–the boss–was able to pick up for a song when Southern Michigan renovated their law school.”

“Oh, okay.”

“It is your job to maintain this image. Do not under any circumstances let the customers find out that we buy from the same suppliers as Stubb’s. Always offer to sell them fair trade coffee, which costs three times as much. And if someone comes in here asking to hang a flier, you hang it unless it’s advertising a personal appearance by the Grand Wizard of the triple-K. You got me?”