The enterprise “Ulaf Ste” is a coffee bar that was founded by Radmila Perik and Martin Angelov, located in the “Old Bazaar” in Bitola. The enterprise owners are both deaf and this is why through their work, they want to inspire the locals, especially youth in the society, that there is a lot of potential in the deaf community and also the people with different disabilities. Part of the decoration of the coffee bar is photos of the Macedonian sign language so the customers can learn while they are in the bar.
Challenge overviewThey opened the coffee bar a few months before Covid-19 in Skopje. They faced some struggles such as the number of clients that dropped for many different reasons. The clients could not visit the coffee bar because of the restrictions (vaccines, masks and social distance), which led to a decrease in income. They did not give up. Determined to succeed, they looked for alternative ways to improve the bar and the market. That brought a positive outcome and helped them stay on the market and develop.
Also, one of the main obstacles was that when people were wearing masks, it was difficult for the owners of the coffee shop to communicate because they were reading from their lips. However, they did not give up whatsoever, and they were very satisfied with the outcomes.
Establishment of the organisation/initiative/enterprise
By opening Ulaf Ste, Radmila Perik and Martin Angelov wanted to send a message that deaf people or people with different disabilities, in general, are capable of coming up with different business ideas. They are facing the same struggles as the rest but still achieving their goals. The team wanted to prove that they can contribute just as much as the rest to society. Inclusion is the key.
Management structure and governance
Momentarily, the owners/employees are Martin and Radmila and the barista/waiter Kristina, who has a temporary service contract.
It is for profit, and they have a very simple management structure because there are only five people employed in Ulaf Ste.
Principles of work, objectives and activities
Currently, the coffee bar is open every day, with extended hours on Friday and Saturday evenings. The team organises cultural and social events for the local community.
The main principles are honesty, unity, impartiality, humanity, and creativity. The main goal momentarily is opening a pizzeria on the second floor of the local and helping at least five young people with fewer opportunities in Bitola.
Target groups
All age groups aware of this coffee shop benefit because of its idea that promotes Social Inclusion. The diversity of people it attracts is what makes it a best practice because people that can speak and hear can learn a bit of sign language for better communication. The coffee bar is also visited by guests from other cities and tourists.
Innovation
The products and services, which generate 95% of the income, are similar to the other cafes in Bitola, such as serving different types of coffee, natural and healthy juices, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and organising music events and concerts. However, what makes them different is, first of all, the main idea and motivation behind the business, the good example that the owners present, which is motivating the deaf community and people with different abilities to pursue their entrepreneurial ideas and make them alive. This is the first and only enterprise in Bitola that is owned by deaf people. Through this, audience outreach is broader than in other businesses. Besides that, they use their cafe to educate their clients to learn the Macedonian sign language, as they have pictures of all the sign language alphabet on the walls, and they also organise social education events in their cafe.
Key partners
Ulaf Ste works with different suppliers from the country. It is an independent small business with a social agenda and cooperates with different non-profit organisations in the city.
Impact and Evaluation
The positive impact on the local community is multifaceted. Ulaf Ste tries to educate people about the deaf community in the city but also to help society by encouraging people to pay more attention and take care of the environment. At the core of its mission is the social inclusion of disadvantaged people, and Ulaf Ste serves as a good example for all young people with business ideas in the city.
Recommendations
Ulaf Ste Coffee Bar was established during the Covid-19 pandemic and the fact that both owners are deaf shows that hard work pays off in the end. This is why they have been chosen as a best practice to show that they are no different from the rest just because of the language barrier.
This best practice can be taken as an example to other countries in a way that these people can show that they are working smoothly despite their language barrier. It is good to promote the idea that people with certain disabilities can also work in society and have a business that functions normally. The idea of promoting social inclusion in society can be easily adapted to any country.
Lessons Learned
During the establishment Radmila Perik and Martin Angelov learned that everything can be done if planned correctly, and they also proved that people with disabilities can contribute as much to society as people without disabilities.
References
Ulaf Ste Facebook profile.
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