For small business owners, building a brand doesn’t have to start with a big budget. For David Granda, it started at the library. Through Anythink’s The Studio makerspace, he found the tools, training and confidence to bring his coffee business to life.
“When I first moved to Colorado in 2020, I started to come to Anythink Libraries with my kiddos,” Granda said. “Quickly on one of those visits, I (discovered) The Studio and the equipment, and I started to get curious about it.”
The Studio, with locations at Anythink Wright Farms and Thornton Community Center, is an all-ages makerspace where users are encouraged to learn, explore and create using technology at low to no cost. It’s home to 3D printers, UV printers, laser cutters, engravers, Cricut design tools and much more. Knowledgeable staff provide guidance and help, which Granda said inspired him to get involved.
“(The staff) were so welcoming, and that allowed me to have the confidence to come and ask questions and start exploring.”
He first started out by trying the various tools and technology available, but “little by little, it became a way to shape my coffee brand.”
Granda owns and operates SVF Coffee Bar, which brings customers a specialty coffee experience to weddings, corporate activities and other events. He uses coffee beans grown directly from his family’s farm in Ecuador. Their focus is on hospitality and storytelling, he said.
“We help people understand where their coffee comes from and create a space where people can connect.”
With help from Anythink staff, Granda began using The Studio to create marketing materials for SVF Coffee, including branded T-shirts, key chains, stickers and even the wooden logo now displayed on his coffee cart.
“Each one of those pieces has helped me to bring my coffee brand to life in many tangible ways,” Granda said.
He was quick to credit The Studio’s team for educating and empowering him.
“The staff was key in pushing me to think bigger and guiding me through the process to help each one of those pieces come to life. I think one of the great things they do here is they don’t just do it for you; they equip you. And once they equip you, it gives you the confidence to do it yourself and make it your own.”
The Studio Specialist Hannah Cline said it was exciting for her and others to help provide Granda with that “foundational training” so he could achieve his vision.
“We really got to see him start from scratch,” she said.
The Studio can be a great resource for small business owners like Granda, Cline said, offering a place to start.
“A lot of people have wonderful ideas, but they don’t necessarily have the tangible skills to bring them to life,” she said. “(The Studio) can be a really good place to get your feet wet in a low-pressure, low-cost environment.”
Granda agreed and said he would recommend using The Studio to other entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses.
“Especially when you are first starting out, financial resources can be very limited, and The Studio allows you to explore ideas before you scale up,” he said. “It has been a great resource for my brand, and it can be a great resource for other small businesses.”
Granda’s relationship with Anythink has only grown over time. He recently partnered with Anythink to serve drinks at recent Maker Fairs, including the May 9 at Thornton Community Center.
“To be able to reach out and bring him in as a vendor was really cool,” Cline said. “He was truly the highlight of our last vendor fair. He’s just been a great partner and friend of the library.”
While Granda has successfully used The Studio to help build his company brand, he wants the community to know this resource is for everyone, especially families.
“Spaces like The Studio don’t just help businesses; they help families and communities.”
Last year, his 7-year-old son requested Granda take him to The Studio to create a birthday gift for his grandmother.
“He used the laser engraver to create a bookmark for his grandmother, and I thought that was just beautiful,” he said.
