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In the News Archive Clementine’s Kitchen: Service Keeps Them Coming Back For More Gourmet Retail Report, Special to HOMEWORLD BUSINESS® May 3, 2003 - By Greg Sleter, Senior Editor David Babcock and Drew Chernoy have taken their collective passion for cooking and fine food and transformed them into a high-end gourmet shop that caters to cooking enthusiasts. In less than a year, Clementine’s Kitchen has built a loyal following by offering more than just high quality cooking and kitchen accessories sought by its customers. Article Archive 'World-class shopper' and Partner Open Kitchenware Store With a Little Help From Their Friends By Kathryn McKenzie Nichols Foodchain 10/10/02 By Raymond Napolitano What keeps our patrons coming back is the service we provide,” said Babcock, co-owner of the store that opened last July. We are able to use our in-store demonstration kitchen not only to provide cooking instruction, but provide a hands–on look at the proper use of certain kitchen tools. Once they have a given item in their hands and are shown how to use it properly, it creates a real level of excitement”. The store makes good use of its kitchen by providing in-store cooking classes throughout the year. Babcock, who trained at the renowned Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Academy and taught at the California Culinary Academy, noted that patrons often come to the store looking for a certain item and leave with something different. ȁ woman recently came in looking for a silicone cannele mold,” he recalled. “I told her that she would be better off using a copper mold, as silicone molds do not allow the cannele to brown properly. She ended up purchasing the copper molds and a few other items as well.” In addition to his cooking knowledge, Babcock has also leveraged new technologies in home electronics to help boost sales. “I went out and bought TiVo, which allows me to record all the cooking programs shown on local TV,” he said. If I see a particular item on a PBS cooking show or one that Martha Stewart is using, I’ll order those items and have them in stock usually in a few days. It’s a good feeling when a customer comes in looking for the item and we have it in stock.” He admits keeping tabs on the latest kitchen tools is a bit of a challenge. Our continual goal is to carry products that are hard to find,” he said. “This includes everything from cookware to certain types of cooking salts.” But even with carrying the right products and offering insight to patrons, Babcock knows the success of Clementine’s Kitchen comes down to relationships with patrons. People don’t always come in to shop,” he said. “They feel comfortable enough to come in, have a cup of coffee and just talk about food.”