Busy Nothings in Newport News, Virginia, founded by Debbie (known affectionately as Lady Carroll), was born from a 20+ year love of coffee and a background in direct sales. What began as a personal passion gradually transformed into a full-fledged business—a cozy café where community and hospitality take center stage.
Debbie describes the café as an extension of her home.
“I rarely entertain at home anymore—Busy Nothings has become that space. I get to connect with my customers, welcome them in, and create a place that feels personal.”
Her community is diverse: students, remote workers, real estate agents meeting with clients, and most recently, a niche group of Jane Austen lovers—thanks to her unique brand identity tied to the fictional persona “Lady Carroll.” From Pride & Prejudice-inspired drink names to whimsical social media cameos, the shop blends old-world charm with modern café culture.
Why Dripos? A Lifeline from the Start
Debbie’s journey with Dripos began out of frustration with Square and other past systems. After weeks of trying to set up Square with zero support, she discovered Dripos—and within hours, was onboarded by Jack, Dripos’s co-founder.
“It was that immediate response and support that won me over. Within a day, I was set up. I’ve been loyal ever since.”
She also emphasized how Dripos eliminates the need for multiple subscriptions:
- POS
- Loyalty
- Reporting
- Payroll
- Supply Chain
All housed in one system, replacing the fragmented and often expensive stack used by her former employers.
Features That Changed the Game
1. Reporting
Debbie uses Dripos’ reporting daily to track sales trends, monitor ticket averages, and stay on top of monthly food and beverage taxes.
“Compared to past systems, reporting in Dripos is a dream. I can find everything I need with just a click.”
She also uses the tax withholding feature to set aside beverage tax automatically, helping her avoid the chaos of managing those payments manually— something she saw go wrong often at other shops.
2. Loyalty
Debbie credits the Dripos loyalty system for increasing repeat customers, especially because it’s fully digital and requires no punch cards.
“It’s easy, it works, and customers love it.”
She’s planning to expand into email campaigns and explore deeper promotional opportunities in Dripos this year.
3. Customer Support
Ultimately, Debbie’s favorite part of Dripos is the people.
“Even when it’s my fault, Dripos always shows up. I’ve never worked with a vendor that goes this far for you.”
A memorable moment for Debbie was during the holidays, when a payroll mistake delayed her employees’ pay. Despite the issue being on her end, the Dripos team did everything they could to solve it, and offered to help if any of her team faced a hardship from the delay.
Looking Ahead: Growth Fueled by Support
Busy Nothings is currently preparing to launch a roasting program and new menu featuring coffees named after Jane Austen characters and novels. Debbie also plans to experiment with mobile ordering and Dripos’ supply chain features.
“I’ve only scratched the surface of what Dripos can do, and I’m excited to explore it all.”
Final Takeaway
Busy Nothings is a living reflection of the company’s personality, passions, and values. And with Dripos, Debbie can keep her focus where it belongs: on the customer.
“Put people first, and the rest will follow. That’s how I run my business—and I’m glad I found a partner that works the same way.”