Innovation

Corey’s NYC Bagels contribute to United Nations SDGs in many ways, through their products as well as their commitment to helping those in need. Corey and his wife Laurie contribute to the greater good of their community both personally and through their profits. Their donations, environmentally friendly practices, and inspiring awareness have made their business all the more sustainable.

Beyond their delicious products, Corey and his wife Laurie, are actively involved in giving back to the community. As wish granters to Make-A-Wish, they donate a portion of every sale Corey's Bagels undergoes to Make a Wish Foundation. “We have the blessing of Make-A-Wish, Illinois and it’s very hard to get for a non-franchise company.” By incorporating philanthropy into its business model, Corey's Bagels demonstrates an active contribution to the well-being of children with critical illnesses, as well as a strong social conscience and a desire to make a positive impact on the world. This innovative approach to business aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being.

Additionally, through their “Corey's Bagels Coloring books” they hold a mission of teaching children how to make and bake bagels, while educating where bagels come from and the history of a New York style bagel. Coloring books are a unique innovation to engage with the community, particularly the younger generations, but the product also brings awareness through giving back. For every coloring book sold, a minimum of $1.00 is donated to Make-A-Wish, Illinois. This initiative can be seen as contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education.

Aside from their donations Corey’s Bagels fosters a family-like atmosphere within its business and operations. “It's the way I treat my customers and employees, all like family. My guys don’t work for me, they work with me and every customer is equivalent to a guest in my home”. By creating a positive and supportive work environment it allows for improved employee morale and productivity. This innovative approach to employee and customer relations aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.

“There is a homey warm feeling that keeps people coming back.”

- Corey Kaplan

Inspiration

Corey’s journey began in the heartland of New Jersey. As a teenager, he worked at a local bagel shop during his last two years of high school. There, he practiced his craft by making bagels with a passion that would become much bigger than a high school job. A chance conversation with a trusted neighbor led him to Florida in the early 1980s, where he stayed with him and got the opportunity to open his first small bagel shop on Mary Island.

The success of his initial venture fueled his ambition and within a year, he expanded to Melbourne, Florida. As his business grew, so did his dreams; eventually owning and operating 13 bagel shops, all carrying the name "Corey’s Bagels."

However, life had other plans. A family health crisis forced Corey and his family to relocate to Chicago in the late 1990s. Despite the challenges, he opened a new bagel shop on North Avenue and Sheffield in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. This location would become a well-known Chicago institution, carrying on the legacy of Corey’s passion for bagel making.

Overall impact

Corey's Bagels, a family-owned business, has demonstrated a unique approach to their business innovations. By prioritizing quality, community, and employee well-being, Corey and Laurie have cultivated a loyal customer base and a positive impact on the local community.

One of the short-term effects of Corey's innovative approach has been increased customer satisfaction and loyalty. By treating customers like family and providing high-quality products, Corey's Bagels has developed a strong reputation. This has led to positive word-of-mouth, ultimately contributing to the business's success. Additionally, the company's commitment to charitableness, through donations to Make-A-Wish Foundation has enhanced its brand reputation and strengthened its connection to the community.

In the long term, Corey's innovative approach has the potential to inspire other businesses to prioritize sustainability, community engagement, and employee well-being. By demonstrating the positive impact of these values, Corey's Bagels can contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future. Furthermore, the business's focus on quality and tradition can help preserve their traditional baking methods and support local businesses.

Business benefit

Because of Corey and Laurie’s innovation of both their coloring books and bagel chips, they added an extra wrinkle to their business that generates Corey’s NYC Bagels revenue, as well as allowing their business to donate part of the proceeds to Make-A- Wish. With the increase of third-party delivery apps such as UberEATS and DoorDash, as well as the recent pandemic, Corey’s NYC Bagels has certainly had their struggles. When discussing the use of food delivery apps Corey said this, “the challenge is they bring business, but take a lot of money, taking 30% of your ticket cost as a fee for them.” When factoring in the cost to produce the food, along with other fixed expenses Corey’s NYC Bagels is breaking even or losing money on every online order. By creating their coloring books and bagel chips, they are bringing in extra revenue that may help their business stay alive, while also providing education and helping children in need.

An increase in revenue from both the coloring books and the bagel chips, as well as other revenue from bagels and sandwiches sales, could potentially help Corey’s Bagels continue to stay open and help its employees maintain work. Both Corey and Laurie value the family-like aspect that they have created with their employees with Corey saying “It’s the way I treat my customers and employees, all like family. My guys don’t work for me, they work with me and every customer is equivalent to a guest in my home.” By continuing to earn revenue from all of their products Corey’s NYC Bagels can continue to provide for both Corey and Laurie, as well as the employees that they care so deeply about.

Social and environmental benefit

Laurie’s innovation of the children's coloring books has a multitude of benefits to society. The coloring books educate children on the bagel making process and all of the ingredients, preparation, and love that goes into making a true New York City bagel. Additionally, the proceeds that go to Make-A-Wish, Illinois have a tremendous impact on the sick children and their families. By educating and giving back to children in need, Corey’s NYC Bagels’ impact on the community around them cannot be overstated.

In addition to their coloring books, the bagel chips and other sales that go directly to Make-A-Wish have a tremendous impact on the children and families that need help the most. Corey and Laurie have a passion for helping these children and their families and their only motivation for doing so is, “because we want to give back”. Their extreme generosity has had an impact on all these families' lives.

By continuing to stay open and operate Corey’s NYC Bagels helps its employees and their families. With recent challenges and disruptions to their business model, it’s a lot easier said than done. “If I mess up at this, the people that work for me and my family are affected by my mistakes or misjudgments. There are many obstacles with owning your own business and I don’t know if it's scary, challenging, or both, but it’s a different business plan than I had a long time ago.” While it’s certainly difficult and will remain that way to continue to run Corey’s NYC Bagels, Corey and Laurie’s passion for bagel making bagels and everything else that they do gives them the utmost confidence that they will continue to do so. Their positive impact on children, families, employees, and more has made the community around them a much better place.

Interview

Corey Kaplan, Founder/CEO