ASUW Transition Website

Bean Basket Cashier

WELCOME TO THE ASUW Bean Basket! 

Bean Basket Cashier 2020-2021

Contact Information:

Business Manager 2029-2020

Christie: leey58@uw..edu // 415-634-8012

Introduction Letter:

Hello lovely, lovely new Bean Basket cashier.

I want to congratulate you on getting this position. You were chosen for a reason, and I want you to know that you deserve this! 

This position has taught me about myself, communication skills, and what a good customer service is. This year, Bean Basket was a student volunteer run store because we were a part of the ASUW Student Food Cooperative. However, next year, Bean Basket will become its own entity separated from Student Food Cooperative, meaning that we don’t rely on volunteers anymore and don’t work under a co-op system. 

Your position is a new position which replaced our regular volunteers. You would mostly work individually or with the Bean Basket Manager at the Bean Basket during BB office hours. Therefore, communication and your relationship with each other is the key to success of the Bean Basket and your own sanity (and can lead to a really meaningful friendship, too). 

I know you are capable of bringing good customer service and great communication to the Bean Basket  because you are here for a reason 🙂 

Best,

Christie Lee 

 

History Timeline:

2010: Co-op starts as CEP senior project

2010: Attempt to open cafe fails due to lack of support by ASUW

2013: Attempt to open food truck fails

2014: SFC joins ASUW, becomes ASUW SFC

2016: ASUW SFC participates in the opening of the campus food pantry

2017: Bean Basket opens in HUB Kitchenette

2018: Bean Basket located at 131 J

2019-2020: Bean Basket becomes its entity in ASUW but seperated from SFC (not a co-op system anymore)

EVERYDAY TASKS:

DAILY SCHEDULE ( minimum 10 hrs/ week) 

  1. Ask for Bean Basket key at the HUB front desk 
  2. Take out BB sandwich board and placed outside 
  3. Turn on the computer and play your favorite music 
  4. Always wash your hand before wearing gloves 
  5. Serve customers 
  6. Log any transaction that have been made during the day on Quickbooks

While serving customers… 

  • Be an active resource to answer customers’ questions and address store problem that might may arise 
  • Make sure to bring the sandwich board back and clean the area (i.e. sweep the floor, wipe off counter, take out trash) after you close BB
  • Lock the door before you leave 
  • Put a note on the door if you are away for a short period  
  • Let the manager know if any item is running low 
  • Always contact the Bean Basket Manager if you have are going to be late

Goals

  • Make sure Bean Basket opens constantly throughout the quarter so foods are accessible to the students 
  • Have some damn FUN, make food an experience, to connect with others, love what you’re doing and learn something along the way.

Bean Basket

Bean is a student run store that provides ethically, sustainable, and organic dried foods to the students. We serve non-perishable, sustainable sourced foods at the lowest prices so that every student can access them. 

All store revenue goes back into this budget for purchases. The model we are operating under is that hopefully as we slowly sell more and more food, we can buy more options from more places.

As we develop a customer base, build support from local business, and gain support from faculty and administration, we can demand to move to a better location with more space.  

Sourcing:The products we have bought so far have been based off of campus surveys of what foods students would like to buy. We also try to buy organic when possible. 

  • Hummingbird wholesale: We are currently ordering nuts, grains, and dried fruit from Hummingbird wholesale based out of Eugene Oregon. Minimum orders are $400. It takes about a week to get food ordered so plan in advance – fruit, nuts, granola are fastest sellers
  • Starwest botanicals: ordered organic tea and spices from starwest botanicals – it is easy and decent prices but we can do better with our sourcing.

2. Bean Basket Cashier 

Expectations: 

  1. communicate and work with the Bean Basket Manager
  2. Figure out each other schedule and shifts 
  3. Make sure Bean Basket opens at a regularly basis for each quarter (can change different BB office hours every quarter) 
  • Community Involvement ( can report to manager for any suggestion you have) 
    • Offering a suggestion box at the store and constant surveying is also important
    • Discounted price for certain holiday or celebration 
  1. Finances
  • We currently place a markup of 15% on all goods. 
  • It is important to keep track of how much we buy and how much revenue we make
  • It is important to keep track of all sales – currently we are doing this on paper receipts but we have also invested in technology for this year : WE HAVE A NEW COMPUTER, AND QUICKBOOKS PROGRAM NOW
  1. Other 
  • A little dream that the previous manager and I have , maybe more a vision: the store will move out of 131K and into our current office, 131J–or another, non-HUB location. Eventually we will have fresh produce from local farms and will be serving fantastic, sustainable goods at a low price.
  • PUSH FOR A BIGGER SPACE. People are hella on board with the bean basket, and time and time again people will say, “I wish you were more visible!”. Help. This could be a real reality. 

Accountability

  • Make sure to contact the Bean Basket Manager ahead of time if you can’t make it to a shift 
  • Try to cover any missing shift 

Main Contacts and resources

  • Bean Basket Manager 

I hope this transition is helpful for you and always ask for help if you ever need it. I know you are going to do great things in this upcoming year. I am excited!!!

Best, 

Christie Lee 

Bean Basket Manager 2019-2020