With the present situation, it’s pretty uncommon to hear about a new store opening here in the country. Brick-and-mortar stores are usually turning to digital platforms to reach their customers, if stay afloat.
Hence the recent opening of Nespresso’s second Philippine boutique at The Podium serves as a message of hope for other retailers struggling in these bleak, virus-ridden times.
“For us, the opening of Nespresso’s second boutique signifies hope,” said Patrick Pesengco, managing director of Novateur Coffee Concepts, Inc., the official distributor of Nespresso coffee in the country.
According to Pesengco, they “decided” to continue the construction of the store despite difficulties to provide their Club members with premium barista coffee in their homes and inspire other businesses which are likewise struggling during the pandemic.
“We are hopeful. We hope to inspire other Podium tenants,” he said.
The store opening, Pesengco added, was also their way of supporting the economy.
“We opened this boutique because we believe it’s a small role we have to play. We will provide jobs as well as revenue for our allied partners—logistics, delivery fulfillment, sanitation, and cleaning services.”
In addition to a “message of hope,” the boutique highlights the company’s commitment to sustainability.
Several years ago, single-serve coffee capsules, as in those offered by Nespresso and other brands, faced backlash—so much so that Hamburg, Germany even banned them—due to alleged adverse environmental issues.
Nespresso, however, clarified its coffee pods were in fact sustainable. According to an analysis by Quantis, Nespresso capsules, which are made of aluminum, have less environmental impact than plastic, and are recyclable and “upcyclable.”
“The fact that it’s made of aluminum means we are for sustainability. It costs more but it’s infinitely recyclable,” emphasized Pesengco.
Research also shows coffee capsules are more efficient in saving water—but that’s for another story.
Inside Nespresso’s 58-square meter boutique at The Podium, customers can check out the brand’s product range, from coffee grounds to machines, and the ways it champions innovation and environmental conservation.
Showcasing a calm open space, the “Wabi-Sabi” inspired store is reflective of the brand in terms of coffee quality and craftsmanship. The floor tiles, greenery, and muted coffee palette, among others were set to mimic coffee plantations and farms.
Furnishings include tabletops made from used coffee grounds and 100 percent sourced wood from reforestation programs, and LED-powered lamps, which imitate the natural light used in the coffee plantations.
In partnership with Negrense Volunteers for Change, the store also showcases wall tiles that demonstrate how Nespresso pods can be upcycled and transformed into beautiful, high-value art pieces, which also aim to encourage customers to join the initiative by dropping off their used coffee capsules at the recycling corner of the store.
According to Pesengco, the coffee grounds from the dropped off capsules are used as compost fertilizers, while the aluminum capsules are shredded and sent to a local smelter to be turned into other useful items like Victorinox Swiss Knives, pens, and limited edition chopsticks.
“Nespresso capsules could be carbon neutral—it’s possible if everybody cooperates, commits,” ended Pesengco.