The newest of our interview series sees the BID talk to one of the first voluntary members of the Business Improvement District - Cortile Coffee , based in Pontypridd Market. We discussed what they are looking to being part of the BID, their thoughts on upcoming developments in the town and the story of Cortile Coffee.

Good afternoon both, we’re delighted to have you on board as our first voluntary member of the Business Improvement District.

1. Thanks for talking with us today, can you introduce yourselves and tell us how the idea for Cortile Coffee came about?

We are Sara, Richard, Charlotte and Rebecca from Cortile Coffee, the owners of an independent, family run coffee bar and tea/coffee merchant store in the heart of Pontypridd Market.

The idea for Cortile Coffee first came about from a desire to create a family business, to work together and share our love for all things tea and coffee!

We came across an opportunity to purchase a small coffee bar in Pontypridd Indoor Market and our journey began. Being a local family, we have fond memories and connections with the market, so it seemed perfect for our adventure! A complete refurbishment began, we purchased a new espresso coffee machine, sourced the best Welsh produce and our family run, Cortile Coffee Bar was born in April 2017. An opportunity arose for us to develop the business further and we opened our adjacent store retailing freshly roasted coffee beans and speciality loose-leaf teas to the public in September 2017.

2. What made you decide to join the Business Improvement District as a voluntary member?

We learned about Your Pontypridd BID initially from our Bank Manager. It was interesting to find out how the BID was working with local businesses to revive the town centre. We wanted to join the business community and to help promote Pontypridd in a positive and constructive way. We are local and passionate about Pontypridd and everything it has to offer. It is encouraging to see so many businesses working together for the good of the town and the community. We very much wanted to be part of that as the first paying voluntary member from Pontypridd Market.

3. The town is famous for family run businesses, Cortile is following this trend what is the ups and downs of working altogether as a family?

Working as a family is very rewarding. It is a huge advantage to have the same objectives. We share the same ideas, the passion to deliver a first-class customer service and the desire to create a unique customer shopping experience in our coffee shop and store. We enjoy being and working together. Our customers seem to love the fact that we are a local family business.

4. What do you enjoy most when running a small business? And what the biggest challenges?

Cortile Coffee is our first business venture. Running a small business is a steep learning curve but equally rewarding. The biggest challenge is not to fall into the trap of trying to compete with the larger, national chains. We are a small, family run business with our own identity. Staying true to your roots and ethos of being an ‘independent’ is key. Being different is what makes you stand out from the rest.

5. Tell us about the range of products you stock?

So, firstly the coffee bar serves freshly roasted and ground coffee, finest loose-leaf teas, award winning cakes and healthy light snacks. The store provides a one stop shop for all your tea and coffee needs. We sell over 21 blends & single origin freshly roasted coffee beans. We provide a free coffee ‘grind while you wait’ service for our customers so that they experience the best of their freshly ground coffee depending on how they like to brew at home, work or in the office. We also stock over 35 specialty loose leaf teas including Black, Green, Oolong, White, Herbal and Fruit Infusions. We are official retailers for high end quality branded teaware and coffee brewing equipment including Forlife, Hario, Aeropress & Chemex to name a few. We are official retailers for Teapigs tea & Pokito eco-friendly reusable cups. Our proudest moment was becoming the Gaggia UK Specialist for Wales. We are honoured to bring this iconic Italian brand of coffee machines to Pontypridd. We offer a range of domestic manual, automatic bean to cup machines, Gaggia coffee and ancillary items. We also service, clean and repair not just Gaggia but all makes of coffee machines.

6. It’s great that Cortile Coffee have come into the heart of Pontypridd Market, what went into the decision into locating in Pontypridd?

We are a local family and shopping in the market has always been a family tradition. We have fond memories of visiting as children with grandparents and parents and subsequently with our own children.

We felt that Pontypridd Market provided the ideal platform into business for us. We love it here at the market. It’s busy, vibrant and full of amazing people. The market is undergoing major renovations and is experiencing somewhat of a renaissance. People are falling in love with the market again and are realising the health benefits of buying fresh, local produce. People are more educated and more conscious of where their food and products come from these days. Consumers are returning to the ‘personal service’ rather than internet purchasing. We are seeing an increase in footfall as people are socialising and enjoying spending time in the market with its bustling atmosphere and diverse trade. Anyone contemplating starting a new small business should consider this retail environment. We highly recommend it!

7. What are the priorities for the company and brand in the next twelve months?

We have just reached our first birthday in the Coffee bar and look forward too many more! We are currently commissioning a website which is under construction and we hope to be launching it very soon. This online presence will enable us to reach a wider audience in the UK and Internationally.

A subscription service will mean that customers can purchase online, specifying repeated delivery dates of tea/coffee orders and have them shipped directly to them. We are looking forward to expanding our retail range by sourcing newer and innovative brewing equipment ranges for our customers. We are also very passionate about the small, craft artisan sector and would love to work more closely with other small producers. We shall be attending trade and public events as representatives of Gaggia UK, to promote and showcase their domestic and commercial coffee machine ranges. Our aim is to become a well-established, recognised brand in Pontypridd that customers can trust for the best tea and coffee products complimented by the best customer service

8. How do you see the current redevelopments in the town centre and future regeneration projects affecting Cortile?

It is exciting to see the redevelopments currently underway in Pontypridd. We welcome the Taff Vale development and YMCA regeneration schemes. Any new opportunities to attract shoppers, workers and visitors should be viewed positively. The high street needs reenergising with a healthy balance of big name retailers and small, independents to entice people from ‘out of town’ retail parks and back to Pontypridd town centre. This will of course increase footfall and boost the local economy for all.

9. How important is the resident and business community for Cortile in Pontypridd?

We have been overwhelmed by the welcome and support we have received from the Market Company and our fellow market traders. They provide a very important support network. The wealth of experience and advice has been invaluable to us as new business owners. Equally, the public have been so supportive and encouraging. We have a regular customer base in Pontypridd and are pleased to be attracting customers from further afield with returning customers visiting from Somerset and Pembrokeshire.

9. Pontypridd has a strong café culture, what separates Cortile Coffee from the other cafe's in the town?

The café culture in Pontypridd is amazing with so many wonderful and long-standing establishments. We like to think that the coffee bar and store offers the customer the opportunity to try and buy. They both compliment each other perfectly offering our customers an outlet for all their tea and coffee needs whether it is taking a break, enjoying a fresh coffee and cake in the bar or purchasing a packet of their favourite tea to take home.

10. What ways would you like to see Your Pontypridd BID and Cortile Coffee working together in the future?

We wish to work closely with the BID to access opportunities to develop and advertise our new business. We look forward to link in with other local businesses and be an active part of the business community. It would be great to have a more collaborative working relationship with the University of Wales in Treforest. The Student Discount scheme is a step in the right direction to encourage students to shop in town. The BID are working to achieve this and we would like to offer our support at any networking/information events. We are only one train stop away and have so much to offer the student community here in Pontypridd.