In 2019, I worked as social media manager (and barista) for Three Ladies Cafe (TLC) in Davis, CA. In addition to creating and sharing content for TLC's Instagram, I also revamped the cafe's print and digital menu, redesigned the chalkboard menus displayed in the space, regularly updated smaller chalkboard menus brought to local farmer's markets, and responded to Yelp reviews.
Background info:
TLC is a small, locally-owned cafe that sells baked goods, smoothies, and breakfast and lunch food. With an emphasis on locally-sourced food and primarily plant-based ingredients, the cafe is a bright, clean, pleasant space that incorporates its values into its decor and branding, featuring lots of greens, oranges, and natural imagery. In many ways, part of my job as the social media manager was to draw in customers during a slow season. For local social media inspiration, I looked to the social media presences of local chains like Temple Coffee, and followed popular Sacramento-area hashtags used commonly by nearby small businesses and foodies.
I developed a social media content calendar, and regularly took and shared high quality photos of the cafe, bringing in models, arranging food and merchandise flatlays, and showcasing seasonal drinks. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, when the cafe set up a booth at local farmer's markets, I especially focused on Instagram Stories to bring in customers and highlight the treats we had available.
Visual style:
The cafe's beautiful natural lighting is one of its highlights, and my goal was to present it as somewhere inviting, inspiring, and refreshing to visit, while emphasizing in the business' values around the importance of nature and family. A focus on community and connection was a common theme in the cafe's visual language.
