Eating With Our Eyes: How I Used Social Media To Grow My Micro Cafe | Allison Côté | TEDxUWA

would you believe me if I said that all

would you believe me if I said that all of these dishes were made in the kitchen

of these dishes were made in the kitchen

of these dishes were made in the kitchen only nine square meters in size they say

only nine square meters in size they say

only nine square meters in size they say that we eat with our eyes first and I

that we eat with our eyes first and I

that we eat with our eyes first and I can confirm that this multi-sensory

can confirm that this multi-sensory

can confirm that this multi-sensory experience and how we share it is the

experience and how we share it is the

experience and how we share it is the future of food my name is Alison Cote

future of food my name is Alison Cote

future of food my name is Alison Cote I’m the co-owner and director of a small

I’m the co-owner and director of a small

I’m the co-owner and director of a small plant-based cafe called flora and fauna

plant-based cafe called flora and fauna

plant-based cafe called flora and fauna and before I show you any more I’m just

and before I show you any more I’m just

and before I show you any more I’m just gonna let you in on a little secret so I

gonna let you in on a little secret so I

gonna let you in on a little secret so I actually started flora and fauna on a

actually started flora and fauna on a

actually started flora and fauna on a dare not very typical right My partner

dare not very typical right My partner

dare not very typical right My partner and I were on vacation in Bali and I

and I were on vacation in Bali and I

and I were on vacation in Bali and I must have been feeling ultra relaxed and

must have been feeling ultra relaxed and

must have been feeling ultra relaxed and inspired but anyway he dared me to open

inspired but anyway he dared me to open

inspired but anyway he dared me to open my dream shop and upon a return to Perth

my dream shop and upon a return to Perth

my dream shop and upon a return to Perth we both quit our jobs and got to work I

we both quit our jobs and got to work I

we both quit our jobs and got to work I dreamed about vegetables and he dreamed

dreamed about vegetables and he dreamed

dreamed about vegetables and he dreamed about doing business and together we

about doing business and together we

about doing business and together we found herself signing a lease on the

found herself signing a lease on the

found herself signing a lease on the world’s tiny show all because he dared

world’s tiny show all because he dared

world’s tiny show all because he dared me and said I was a chicken but I’m sure

me and said I was a chicken but I’m sure

me and said I was a chicken but I’m sure I showed him anyway there were so many

I showed him anyway there were so many

I showed him anyway there were so many challenges it wasn’t easy

challenges it wasn’t easy

challenges it wasn’t easy I know this sounds really romantic and

I know this sounds really romantic and

I know this sounds really romantic and kind of spontaneous and fun but it was

kind of spontaneous and fun but it was

kind of spontaneous and fun but it was actually hell and we we had to adapt

actually hell and we we had to adapt

actually hell and we we had to adapt very quickly and this is where social

very quickly and this is where social

very quickly and this is where social media comes in so I had this vision of

media comes in so I had this vision of

media comes in so I had this vision of how things were gonna go and it was not

how things were gonna go and it was not

how things were gonna go and it was not a very accurate one I was gonna bake

a very accurate one I was gonna bake

a very accurate one I was gonna bake cakes all day and he would make coffee

cakes all day and he would make coffee

cakes all day and he would make coffee we would chat and listen to any music we

we would chat and listen to any music we

we would chat and listen to any music we liked and spread joy and vegan baked

liked and spread joy and vegan baked

liked and spread joy and vegan baked goods throughout the land we thought

goods throughout the land we thought

goods throughout the land we thought that we would have so much more spare

that we would have so much more spare

that we would have so much more spare time but as any small business owner can

time but as any small business owner can

time but as any small business owner can confirm I was very wrong the cocktails

confirm I was very wrong the cocktails

confirm I was very wrong the cocktails must be stronger in Bali man on our

must be stronger in Bali man on our

must be stronger in Bali man on our first day that we opened we had four

first day that we opened we had four

first day that we opened we had four chairs and we started out with seven

chairs and we started out with seven

chairs and we started out with seven customers and the whole day we worked in

customers and the whole day we worked in

customers and the whole day we worked in 18-hour day and the cake fridge broke

18-hour day and the cake fridge broke

18-hour day and the cake fridge broke down almost immediately and then I

down almost immediately and then I

down almost immediately and then I proceeded to cry for about the next six

proceeded to cry for about the next six

proceeded to cry for about the next six months trade

months trade

months trade but things got better it quickly dawned

but things got better it quickly dawned

but things got better it quickly dawned on me that this is going to be a really

on me that this is going to be a really

on me that this is going to be a really brief encounter with my dreams if I

brief encounter with my dreams if I

brief encounter with my dreams if I didn’t start getting more people in the

didn’t start getting more people in the

didn’t start getting more people in the door so our challenges weren’t just

door so our challenges weren’t just

door so our challenges weren’t just financial but they were also spatial we

financial but they were also spatial we

financial but they were also spatial we have an 18 square meter shop and all of

have an 18 square meter shop and all of

have an 18 square meter shop and all of our furniture must be carried out and

our furniture must be carried out and

our furniture must be carried out and set up in an unsheltered plain way this

set up in an unsheltered plain way this

set up in an unsheltered plain way this is awesome obviously during this summer

is awesome obviously during this summer

is awesome obviously during this summer but not so cute in the winter we’re

but not so cute in the winter we’re

but not so cute in the winter we’re hidden from the main streets so

hidden from the main streets so

hidden from the main streets so obviously my first thoughts were people

obviously my first thoughts were people

obviously my first thoughts were people find us and would we be able to make and

find us and would we be able to make and

find us and would we be able to make and sell enough food to continue let alone

sell enough food to continue let alone

sell enough food to continue let alone thrive so anyway I started photographing

thrive so anyway I started photographing

thrive so anyway I started photographing every single mundane moment we had a lot

every single mundane moment we had a lot

every single mundane moment we had a lot of spare time so I would take pictures

of spare time so I would take pictures

of spare time so I would take pictures of every recipe every cookie every

of every recipe every cookie every

of every recipe every cookie every single cake and I put them out into the

single cake and I put them out into the

single cake and I put them out into the world using Instagram so this is just

world using Instagram so this is just

world using Instagram so this is just it’s changed my business in so many ways

it’s changed my business in so many ways

it’s changed my business in so many ways and I have to say there’s so many like

and I have to say there’s so many like

and I have to say there’s so many like ways to document things now that never

ways to document things now that never

ways to document things now that never existed before in terms of food we’re

existed before in terms of food we’re

existed before in terms of food we’re thinking about food in such different

thinking about food in such different

thinking about food in such different ways through being able to share our

ways through being able to share our

ways through being able to share our food through photos and reviews the

food through photos and reviews the

food through photos and reviews the actual act of eating becomes an

actual act of eating becomes an

actual act of eating becomes an experience in itself it becomes a form

experience in itself it becomes a form

experience in itself it becomes a form of personal expression it also becomes a

of personal expression it also becomes a

of personal expression it also becomes a bit of a status symbol so anyway I sort

bit of a status symbol so anyway I sort

bit of a status symbol so anyway I sort of took this idea and I ran with it I

of took this idea and I ran with it I

of took this idea and I ran with it I was like I’m gonna make this work for me

was like I’m gonna make this work for me

was like I’m gonna make this work for me so I built up this following and I just

so I built up this following and I just

so I built up this following and I just kept adding and adding and adding and

kept adding and adding and adding and

kept adding and adding and adding and eventually as I put more photos out into

eventually as I put more photos out into

eventually as I put more photos out into the world I could see our customer base

the world I could see our customer base

the world I could see our customer base grow albeit slowly and then people

grow albeit slowly and then people

grow albeit slowly and then people started playing along so they would

started playing along so they would

started playing along so they would share their photos and I would select

share their photos and I would select

share their photos and I would select the ones that suited my aesthetic and

the ones that suited my aesthetic and

the ones that suited my aesthetic and all and share them and now in terms of

all and share them and now in terms of

all and share them and now in terms of photo sharing and you know reviews and

photo sharing and you know reviews and

photo sharing and you know reviews and everything I have to say and it sounds

everything I have to say and it sounds

everything I have to say and it sounds silly but we eat three meals a day and

silly but we eat three meals a day and

silly but we eat three meals a day and that’s obviously a thousand chances a

that’s obviously a thousand chances a

that’s obviously a thousand chances a year to get over an experience move on

year to get over an experience move on

year to get over an experience move on to the next one but these pictures and

to the next one but these pictures and

to the next one but these pictures and reviews they stick around forever and

reviews they stick around forever and

reviews they stick around forever and they can have an incredible impact on

they can have an incredible impact on

they can have an incredible impact on whether or not a small biz

whether or not a small biz

whether or not a small biz survive now this also means people

survive now this also means people

survive now this also means people behind the small business surviving and

behind the small business surviving and

behind the small business surviving and being able to feed themselves beautiful

being able to feed themselves beautiful

being able to feed themselves beautiful food and there are people behind those

food and there are people behind those

food and there are people behind those businesses and sometimes we forget so

businesses and sometimes we forget so

businesses and sometimes we forget so reviews actually scared the crap out of

reviews actually scared the crap out of

reviews actually scared the crap out of me I hate them when I get a ripped like

me I hate them when I get a ripped like

me I hate them when I get a ripped like a notification on my phone that we’ve

a notification on my phone that we’ve

a notification on my phone that we’ve been rated on Yelp or Zomato my heart

been rated on Yelp or Zomato my heart

been rated on Yelp or Zomato my heart literally drops regardless of what the

literally drops regardless of what the

literally drops regardless of what the rating is and now people are usually

rating is and now people are usually

rating is and now people are usually kind but there’s something so much more

kind but there’s something so much more

kind but there’s something so much more empowering about a platform that allows

empowering about a platform that allows

empowering about a platform that allows the business owner and the patrons to

the business owner and the patrons to

the business owner and the patrons to engage in a productive dialogue this

engage in a productive dialogue this

engage in a productive dialogue this changed my business for me this is like

changed my business for me this is like

changed my business for me this is like a survey that was ongoing I was able to

a survey that was ongoing I was able to

a survey that was ongoing I was able to see what our customers were into based

see what our customers were into based

see what our customers were into based on the comments I received the amount of

on the comments I received the amount of

on the comments I received the amount of likes on a photo private messages all

likes on a photo private messages all

likes on a photo private messages all this stuff and then when it comes to

this stuff and then when it comes to

this stuff and then when it comes to sharing these photos young people were

sharing these photos young people were

sharing these photos young people were integral to my business we tend to

integral to my business we tend to

integral to my business we tend to criticize the younger generations

criticize the younger generations

criticize the younger generations self-centeredness their obsession with

self-centeredness their obsession with

self-centeredness their obsession with their phones and their inability to see

their phones and their inability to see

their phones and their inability to see the lack of difference between a staged

the lack of difference between a staged

the lack of difference between a staged Instagram photo in real life but I just

Instagram photo in real life but I just

Instagram photo in real life but I just want to point out and say thank you to

want to point out and say thank you to

want to point out and say thank you to all the young people that have come to

all the young people that have come to

all the young people that have come to my shop because they were so open-minded

my shop because they were so open-minded

my shop because they were so open-minded and as Armand said we do vegan food I

and as Armand said we do vegan food I

and as Armand said we do vegan food I know there’s a cliche run that but um so

know there’s a cliche run that but um so

know there’s a cliche run that but um so we do vegan food and I know that our

we do vegan food and I know that our

we do vegan food and I know that our garnish and our crazy edible flowers and

garnish and our crazy edible flowers and

garnish and our crazy edible flowers and the way we do our food is not for

the way we do our food is not for

the way we do our food is not for everyone I can appreciate that but the

everyone I can appreciate that but the

everyone I can appreciate that but the way that these people sort of latched on

way that these people sort of latched on

way that these people sort of latched on to our business and they were so

to our business and they were so

to our business and they were so open-minded and then they shared their

open-minded and then they shared their

open-minded and then they shared their stories

stories

stories and without them we would have been dead

and without them we would have been dead

and without them we would have been dead in the water as far as storytelling goes

in the water as far as storytelling goes

in the water as far as storytelling goes being able to use this platform also

being able to use this platform also

being able to use this platform also opens up channels for businesses and

opens up channels for businesses and

opens up channels for businesses and interests that may have otherwise been

interests that may have otherwise been

interests that may have otherwise been silenced so when we think about who’s

silenced so when we think about who’s

silenced so when we think about who’s largely in control of the distribution

largely in control of the distribution

largely in control of the distribution of news and whose stories get told it

of news and whose stories get told it

of news and whose stories get told it isn’t usually you know young female

isn’t usually you know young female

isn’t usually you know young female entrepreneurs like me so yeah having

entrepreneurs like me so yeah having

entrepreneurs like me so yeah having this platform to be able to sell my

this platform to be able to sell my

this platform to be able to sell my story and sort of tell about my

story and sort of tell about my

story and sort of tell about my experience

experience

experience says in a sort of safe environment with

says in a sort of safe environment with

says in a sort of safe environment with everything and the fact that people

everything and the fact that people

everything and the fact that people started listening and adding to it was

started listening and adding to it was

started listening and adding to it was just so special now sorry that’s a bit

just so special now sorry that’s a bit

just so special now sorry that’s a bit slow I have another little secret for

slow I have another little secret for

slow I have another little secret for you um I make the food a flora and fauna

you um I make the food a flora and fauna

you um I make the food a flora and fauna every day alongside our wonderful staff

every day alongside our wonderful staff

every day alongside our wonderful staff but I’m not a professional trained chef

but I’m not a professional trained chef

but I’m not a professional trained chef and in fact when we opened as I said the

and in fact when we opened as I said the

and in fact when we opened as I said the budget was small and then we couldn’t

budget was small and then we couldn’t

budget was small and then we couldn’t afford a real chef so my partner and I

afford a real chef so my partner and I

afford a real chef so my partner and I it was just the two of us at first we

it was just the two of us at first we

it was just the two of us at first we looked back and forth at each other and

looked back and forth at each other and

looked back and forth at each other and we kind of sized each other up and I

we kind of sized each other up and I

we kind of sized each other up and I guess it’s me I’m the one I’ll do this

guess it’s me I’m the one I’ll do this

guess it’s me I’m the one I’ll do this and for me this is the most

and for me this is the most

and for me this is the most uncomfortable thing in the world

uncomfortable thing in the world

uncomfortable thing in the world learning how to cook for a crowd with

learning how to cook for a crowd with

learning how to cook for a crowd with limited resources in the world’s tiniest

limited resources in the world’s tiniest

limited resources in the world’s tiniest kitchen it was unreal the heat the

kitchen it was unreal the heat the

kitchen it was unreal the heat the pressure the timing it was all too much

pressure the timing it was all too much

pressure the timing it was all too much but you know having Instagram was like

but you know having Instagram was like

but you know having Instagram was like having a little cheering squad and we

having a little cheering squad and we

having a little cheering squad and we were when we were finally ready to

were when we were finally ready to

were when we were finally ready to release our full like our first full

release our full like our first full

release our full like our first full menu I was already getting feedback on

menu I was already getting feedback on

menu I was already getting feedback on what people were interested in and I was

what people were interested in and I was

what people were interested in and I was sort of you know sending these photos

sort of you know sending these photos

sort of you know sending these photos out so I already had a good base upon

out so I already had a good base upon

out so I already had a good base upon which to build my menu and it seriously

which to build my menu and it seriously

which to build my menu and it seriously gave me the confidence and the tools to

gave me the confidence and the tools to

gave me the confidence and the tools to move forward and you know it made me

move forward and you know it made me

move forward and you know it made me almost become a chef I feel like he was

almost become a chef I feel like he was

almost become a chef I feel like he was like life school it kind of gave me like

like life school it kind of gave me like

like life school it kind of gave me like a qualification you know so anyway these

a qualification you know so anyway these

a qualification you know so anyway these days I still work at flora and fauna

days I still work at flora and fauna

days I still work at flora and fauna every single day except today we’ve been

every single day except today we’ve been

every single day except today we’ve been lucky enough to amass some amazing and

lucky enough to amass some amazing and

lucky enough to amass some amazing and super loyal customers as well as a

super loyal customers as well as a

super loyal customers as well as a nineteen thousand Instagram followers

nineteen thousand Instagram followers

nineteen thousand Instagram followers and I am so so grateful to say that our

and I am so so grateful to say that our

and I am so so grateful to say that our shop is loved by many as I mentioned we

shop is loved by many as I mentioned we

shop is loved by many as I mentioned we now have staff that are helping us to

now have staff that are helping us to

now have staff that are helping us to take our business further there’s some

take our business further there’s some

take our business further there’s some of them and I’m so grateful for the

of them and I’m so grateful for the

of them and I’m so grateful for the lessons I’ve learned so far and for this

lessons I’ve learned so far and for this

lessons I’ve learned so far and for this digital dialogue that will hopefully

digital dialogue that will hopefully

digital dialogue that will hopefully allow us to grow more into the future

allow us to grow more into the future

allow us to grow more into the future thank you

thank you

thank you you