105: Nick Stone from Bluestone Lane and how he launched over 50 cafes in the USA
Meet Nick Stone from Bluestone Lane
In this week’s episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Nick Stone, the Australian founder of the United States’ fastest-growing premium cafe brand Bluestone Lane. Nick has worked to create a brand that serves great coffee with ‘love, compassion, and hospitality’ for every customer (including Taylor Swift). In this episode, Nick unpacks why relationship and connection are both so fundamental when building a brand, especially in the hospitality industry.
Prior to founding Bluestone Lane, Nick spent 11 years in corporate finance and advisory in Australia, New York, and London, after beginning his career as a professional AFL footballer for 6 seasons following selection in the 1999 AFL National Draft. Nick was a 2019 Finalist in EY’s New York Entrepreneur of the Year and has been recognized as one of the World’s Young Leaders of the Future
Biggest takeaways from Nick Stone
- How Nick opened 44 stores in 42 months [6:32]
- What it takes to start a hospitality business with no hospitality experience [9:19]
- Finding the right team members to create the right atmosphere [14:28]
- Tips for creating store consistency, while still maintaining a personalized, individual coffee experience in each store [24:32]
- How Bluestone navigated Covid-19 in the USA [34:30]
- The steps Nick took to build his network and how he used Instagram to expand his audience in the early days of his business [45:16]
- The day Taylor Swift visited Bluestone [47:30]
- 2 things to consider when building a brand, particularly in the US [51:13]
- Nick’s biggest piece of advice for small business owners [56:38]
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Links mentioned in this episode
- Nicholas Stone | LinkedIn
- Bluestone Lane | Australian Cafés and Coffee | Shop Subscriptions Online
- Bluestone Lane(@bluestonelane) • Instagram photos and videos
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