I’m Trang, here to share how we grew a sandwich and coffee shop from scratch with zero ad spend in just three months.
When the restaurant opened in April 2024, we wanted to create a relaxed, casual vibe that didn’t rely on traditional marketing. Instead, we focused on creating a genuine connection with the audience. Here’s what happened.
The Numbers:
- TikTok: 17,000 followers, 40 videos, 100,000 likes, with views ranging from 15,000 to 479,000
- Instagram: 1,269 followers, 13 posts, and 87,900 views on our most viral video
- Engagement: Hundreds of comments and thousands of likes on highly engaging content
- Ad Spend: 0€ (yes, zero!)
How We Did It
The key to success was personal storytelling. Instead of using the brand account to push out salesy content, we created a separate account for the shop’s owner. This gave the business a face, and people got invested in the owner’s journey.
We didn’t just focus on promotions—we gave people real, engaging content that added value. The owner shared behind-the-scenes moments, personal stories, and tips, which made the content feel more like a conversation than a hard sell.
The result? A community of people who felt connected to the business and wanted to support it. No ads, just authentic engagement. That’s how we grew organically and quickly.
