Chapter 26
‘Sasha? Sasha, did you hear me?’ asked Chloé. ‘Can I take some more footage of the café? Then could we book my Matcha Maker Special?’
Sasha gave herself a shake. She hadn’t been listening to Chloé at all.
Instead, she’d drifted to somewhere she really mustn’t travel.
Fantasizing about Ben. She had to stop it right now.
She smiled at Mr Davis and his granddaughter.
‘That’s amazing, Chloé. And these are on the house, by the way.
’ She placed their drinks on their table, with slices of the raspberry and chocolate matcha roll and a salted-caramel matcha tart.
‘It’s the least I can do – your post of Mollie and Paloma’s party has given our Instagram account hundreds of new followers. ’
Chloé had posted a reel of last week’s party which had been a welcome distraction from the looming lease renewal decision.
The reel had nearly thirty thousand views, and the numbers were going up every day.
Sasha had been so surprised when she opened up the Matcha Moments Instagram account and seen all the notifications and comments.
‘Whoop-whoop!’ cheered Chloé. ‘Let’s post some more reels – give your new followers more to look at.’
It was a quiet afternoon, so she had time to instruct Sasha on some basic Instagram marketing techniques.
Reels would bring her more outside followers.
‘There’s so much here that’s worthy to show people.
The lattes. The desserts. Plus, what about the photography exhibition? Those shots are so cool.’
‘Rowena would love that. She’s only sold one or two so far.’
‘Make sure to tag her. She could get a few more sales from your new followers.’
‘We change the artists every couple of months. I have a watercolour illustrator lined up for next month,’ Sasha told Chloé.
Mr Davis’s mobile rang and he chatted for a while before calling Sasha over.
‘I wondered, Sasha, if you need more customers – we could do with a venue for our festival committee meetings. We usually hold them in the church hall but Reverend Gillian just called me – an old pipe has burst and it’s flooded. ’
‘Is this for the Bramleigh Festival you help with, Pops?’ asked Chloé. ‘The one I came to last year?’
‘Yes – you did enjoy it, didn’t you? Our committee meetings have been going on for a while and it’s all hotting up now the festival is only a month or so away. It’s on the weekend of the bank holiday at the end of May. What do you say, Sasha? Can we meet here?’
‘Of course,’ said Sasha. ‘Just let me know when your next meeting is. I can keep the café open late for you, no problem.’
‘Perfect!’ Mr Davis smiled. ‘It’s Thursday at 7.30 p.m. I’ll let the committee know. We’ll pay you a room-hire fee, of course. We normally give the church ￡80, if that will suffice. And we’ll need teas and coffees and snacks.’
‘Yes, perfect. I can provide all that.’
Sasha thought back to the festival last year.
It had been wonderful to take part, although she hadn’t known the townspeople so well yet.
The high street and the roads alongside the green had been pedestrianized and local businesses set up stalls on the green.
The town festival attracted visitors from further afield, even London.
It would be great to promote her Matcha Maker Specials there.
‘I love the festival, it’s so much fun!’ said Chloé. ‘I’ve tried bell-ringing in the church, and spinning outside the yarn shop.’
‘Last year we enjoyed running the matcha stall,’ agreed Sasha. ‘We’d only just opened so I didn’t know everyone like I do now. This year, Nathan can sell his cakes, if Anders doesn’t need him to help in the bakery.’
‘And you can advertise your matcha readings, my dear,’ added Mr Davis, echoing what was in Sasha’s mind.
‘Maybe some mini-readings?’ suggested Chloé. ‘My followers will love that.’
‘You must both join us at the meeting,’ declared Mr Davis. ‘Chloé – you said you’d help with the festival’s social media accounts? And Sasha – we can all have a think about how you can bring in more revenue so you can renew your lease.’
‘Feels as if everyone knows the café is in danger of shutting.’ Sasha wasn’t quite comfortable with the whole town knowing her business.
‘We’re all rooting for you, my dear – no one wants Matcha Moments to shut,’ said the older man, pressing Sasha’s arm kindly.
That’s what it was like, living in a small community – everyone wanted to get involved and help out when you were in trouble.
She wasn’t used to it, but she had to admit it felt good not to battle her problems on her own.
‘I really have to sit down and look at my figures,’ said Sasha, feeling tears threaten; the end of April was only a couple of weeks away and she needed to make a decision soon. ‘But they’ve put the costs of the lease up by fifty per cent.’
‘Doesn’t seem fair,’ muttered Mr Davis. ‘Maybe with the warmer weather people will get out more.’
‘This café is the perfect size for events,’ said Chloé.
‘The party was so amazing – you could look at promoting evening hire for parties and corporate dos. How about approaching all the local businesses? They might want to have a summer party for their clients or employees. You could link them up with caterers, bar staff. Like you did for Mollie and Paloma. Corporate rates could be lucrative if you do it as a package.’
‘Wow – how do you know so much about event hire?’
‘I studied business at uni before starting my blog. I started out with make-up and skin-care subscription boxes,’ explained Chloé, ‘but I found my followers wanted lifestyle tips more than anything – and I had more hits on my posts with personal content. Gradually I moved into lifestyle influencing. It isn’t easy, keeping the algorithm going.
I’ve learned a lot and I’d like to pass on my social media knowledge to small businesses. ’
‘I definitely could do with some help. I’m sure others would too,’ said Sasha. An idea popped into her head. Chloé’s marketing skills would be perfect for Ben if he ever wanted to sell his ceramics or set up a website.
‘I’m also trying to build up my own platform, Chloé Creates,’ she carried on. ‘I want to help people with their IG and help grow small businesses. Your matcha lattes, smoothies and desserts are absolutely perfect for socials. You really must post more – you’ll get more followers the more you post.’
‘I’ll try to – Annie, you can help, can’t you?’
‘Definitely!’
‘Except, Chloé, my dear,’ said Mr Davis, ‘Is there any danger of us having so many youngsters come to the café to take photos that us old-timers won’t get a seat?’
‘Don’t worry, Mr Davis.’ Sasha winked at him. ‘I’ll be sure to keep a table free for my favourite regulars.’