Creative Consultant for the Keilty's "Perks & Corks"
Coffeehouse/Wine Bar & Songwriter Venue
Coffeehouse/Wine Bar & Songwriter Venue
Perks & Corks, a coffeehouse/wine bar with entertainment in downtown Westerly Rhode Island was changing hands after several years of success. New owners Bryan & Jenn Keilty found me as a Perks fixture and insightful observer, having been a frequent patron and insider at "old" Perks. Helping to ease the transition, I had the opportunity to assist in remodeling and re-opening the "new" Perks. From that point on I offered my services as a creative consultant and designer to my new friends, helping them see beyond the bar and the real potential of their investment. Within the first year, their fresh look and energy brought them quick success, and we began looking at entertainment as the feature. As Bryan made his martinis famous, I kept an eye on staff and operations and observed the business trends. Eventually, during a stressful period, he would dub me General Manager while I offered assistance as his business grew quickly. As a friend I volunteered my services including booking entertainment. Within three years we were showcasing 7 nights entertainment, including the areas best Songwriter's Open mic, as I suggested to move towards a Songwriter Venue. A Sunday Songwriter Concert Series was formed and I continued to offer volunteer marketing services, graphic design and web management. The whole experience was a learning curve and beneficial for the trial and error of developing strategy from the inside, where usually I work from the observer's perspective. This 5 year experience has prepared me for tackling more small business consultation opportunities.
