First Pods, and then iPods

Good morning... What can I get for you?

Today's post needed to be posted from Lake Quinault, WA... so it'll be earlier than usual... sorry but the connectivity in the rain forest of Washington State is somewhat poor.

Here's another partner story for you. Back in the day... when Starbucks was all amped at being able to sell machines that used the latest "POD" technology... there was a fella in merchandising that headed up brewing equipment. His entire job was to pump up the stores to sell Espresso pods.

Now, I'm not sure if he named himself this or if it just made sense, but he ended up calling himself "Pod Boy". Every brewing event update e-mail came with a personal greeting from Pod Boy. It got to be insane. I ran into him one day at the SSC a few years ago and thought it would be humorous to call him "Pod Boy" for old times sake. He just rolled his eyes.

So, Pod Boy left a few years ago... it was a blow as he had been a fixture in brewing equipment for a long time. To this day I have yet to see another partner with as much piss and vinegar about selling espresso machines.

So why even mention him?? Well, he made quite an impact on me at brewing event time and one year even took the time to drive out to my store to train me and my partners on selling the new "Barista" machine to the best of our abilities. We sold 42 of them... and I never forgot it. Occasionally, a customer would come back with one and we'd show them how to use it... rather than return it, they took it home.

Yes, Pod Boy was good... and he made the rest of us good... and regardless of whatever mistake he made or person he rubbed the wrong way, you can bet that alot of Starbucks customers have machines and pods because of that guy.

Thanks Pod Boy...

Pat Nerr...