It all started when we got a request from Sharon, owner and operator of Seven Grams Caffe – a high-end bakery and espresso bar in Manhattan. The staff was on their feet all day, and Sharon wanted to offer them a solution for their foot fatigue. He had stumbled across Wiivv and reached out to see if there was anything we could do... This is their story:
How did you get into the caffe business?
I’ve been in the coffee and baked goods space for the past 20 years. I stumbled upon the coffee scene by complete accident when I was 21. I had answered an ad for a barback at a restaurant, and when I came in for an interview, I mixed up the name of the restaurant and ended up at a newly-opened premium coffee shop instead. I came in, fell in love with the place, and they hired me on the spot. I worked my way up from a barback, to barista, to store manager, to operations manager, and eventually VP Operations, leading 17 coffee shops and a central bakery. I later moved to London where I was partner at a coffee & baked goods business, and opened and managed 14 retail sites. After a 6-year run in London, I was looking forward to experience NYC's booming coffee scene and start my own business.
How was the Seven Grams concept born?
When I first moved to NYC 3.5 years ago, I was surprised to learn that it was virtually impossible to find a good coffee cup above 14th street - the NYC coffee scene was booming, but all the action was happening in SoHo and Brooklyn. Not only that, but I was frustrated that when it came to good coffee and good baked goods, it was always an “either/or” situation - either you found high-quality coffee places that offer lackluster, outsourced pastries; or you came across high-end bakeries that offer burnt, sub-par brews. So I decided to do something about it.
I had no intention of starting a Breaking Bad inspired cartel. But yes, the things we’re doing involve some cooking and an exact formula to make things just right. The name Seven Grams is an ode to the true Italian standard, where the perfect espresso shot is made out of exactly seven grams of ground premium coffee. And that is what we’re all about – the absolute best cup of Italian coffee, with artisanal baked goods.
How did you first hear of Wiivv?
My wife introduced me to Wiivv. My wife is VP at a NYC-based start up and went to a tech conference in New Orleans. She was sitting through a lot of pitches and presentations, and she happened to attend a presentation by the Wiivv founders Shamil Hargovan and Louis-Victor Jadavji. She came back home and told me I had to check Wiivv out - she knows I’m on my feet all day, and thought this could be a great product for me to use. I couldn’t agree more.
And so now your entire team wears wiivvs?
When it comes to teams that spend most of their time on their feet - baking, brewing coffee and servicing customers - Wiivv is the ultimate employee perk. Not only does it help make their shifts a bit more cushioned, it’s also a perk they can enjoy outside the caffe, and I thought that the disruptive and innovative vision of Wiivv was the perfect fit for my team.
you're on your feet all day – have you noticed a difference?
Everyone was super excited about getting their own pair of Wiivv orthotics. Once they downloaded the app and ordered their pair, it took them a couple of days to get used to it, but soon after they couldn’t stop raving about it. They all said they loved the extra cushioning and support and that it helped their posture and fatigue
Would you recommend them?
In a heartbeat!
Ready to step into your own pair of custom fit, 3D printed orthotics? Click below!
