Luup

29/07/2026

Before this product, Nicky had a thing where she’d zip off to a hairdresser who would put colour on her roots between visits. She’d then zip home and wash it off however many prescribed minutes later.

Now she has Done.

28/07/2026

Before we trigger a mass cafe exodus: we have pumpkin soup on the menu today as well for the true zucchini haters.

The poor zucchini.
We know you don’t love them.
Thats why we put them in a soup where you won’t even taste them.

Mediterranean.
Think capsicum.
Tomatoes.
Garlic.
That Mediterranean deep, slightly smokey flavour.

And don’t say we said this but you could even add a little cream.

Winter delish.

27/07/2026

Jackets coats jumpers.
And a promise to maybe simplify the social media ex*****on.

Maybe.
No rash premature promises.

25/07/2026

Ange and Shea’s Sunday Stack.
But make it winter.
And do not be afraid to take it out briefly.
And then take it back inside.

18/07/2026

Everything Sunday requires.
Other hand free for waving to fans.
Shading eyes from the sun.
Punctuating sentences with flourish.

15/07/2026

It’s our Salmon Bagel.
Homemade hollandaise mayo cream.
All the other identifiable bits.

Plus hilarity.
Because we trademarked that so we feel compelled to use it multiple times a week.

Yum.

14/07/2026

When the New Products Under Consideration packaging is so photogenic the post assembles itself.

Praise be because the epic video productions of the last few days were both exhausting and just a taste of what the next gen Luup staff are plotting behind the scenes.

Enjoy this palette cleanser while we all catch our breaths….

13/07/2026

Are there better ways to promote the gamut of delicious drinks on sale at Luup?

Surely.

10/07/2026

The 30% Off Sneaker Sale.
Everything that’s here.
Whatever sizes are left.

Sarah’s idea.
I just plant the chaos.
And shoot the video.

09/07/2026

The struggle is real.
And obviously constant.

07/07/2026

Twice this past week I have found myself in conversations which confirmed what I have long argued: unless you are an exceptional operator, with more than one owner physically participating, it is incredibly difficult to make money from a cafe and like your life at the same time.

It’s why those who do it well deserve their flowers; looking at you , , .ontheesplanade.

Show me your new cafe venture, and I’ll show you burnout, the constantly shifting sands of underlying, unseen costs, and my personal favourite - cafe equipment - some of which you should spend the big money on for commercial grade, and the rest of which you should just buy the regular for-home stuff and save your pennies on but no I couldn’t tell you which are which because that is another constantly-evaporating-just-as-you-think-you’ve-grasped-it-enigma from The Land Of Cafe Ownership.

It’s a place where there’s nothing like a 6-day week of blistering hours, except perhaps the 7th day - always a Friday, weekend or public holiday - when you can be sure that one of the above-mentioned pieces of equipment will absolutely s**t itself. Faster than you can sob through an understanding of Technician Rates Outside Weekdays.

The competition for cafe patronage is fierce, and ferociously narrow margins are the result. Unless customer volumes are high, it’s going to be very hard to step out from behind that coffee machine sooner than 5 years in.

Which is not to say we don’t love our cafe.
Really, we do.
But we’re ten years in.
We have a side game.
Our systems are tight and our staff are perfection.

That takes time, gruelling time.
So sure; own a cafe.
But be prepared to love it looooong time through the years that it owns you.

06/07/2026

Ever wonder why so many shopping experiences feel hollow? Cookie cutter? Draining?

Like the The Traders at the Merricks General Store THE TRADERS

And we all know I’ve forgotten to mention a bunch more ARGH. But this is quite clearly Pomme at The Studio & Co.

Women dreamed this. And it doesn’t get much dreamier than Rasasara • Ayurvedic Living

Continuously times forever.
We’re motivated and clever like that.

Women do this. Women make this. Women feel this. When women are in these spaces, we’re home.

05/07/2026

This is an ode to the woman behind the camera. Luup’s videographer, Girl Friday, taker-on-of-projects and woman I’ve been calling My Bitch (aka My P.A) for the past 6 months. Hey Lexi.

And if you’re wondering what her mother might say about it, you’re reading it.

The reason why Lexi has featured so heavily in the Luup reels over the past couple of days is A) she films a lot of them so… of course; but also B) she’s going away for like 2 months and A) what am I supposed to do in her absence but also B) her Mum is So Stoked that she’s going out into the world.

But also I look forward to her coming back because ain’t no one gunna give it to you straighter (nor plump your tyres harder) than your daughter.

(And also Lexi; as your social media-driving mother I expect you to like and comment on all Luup posts while you’re away. No pressure).

01/07/2026

Let us dispel any myths.
We do not have it together.

I originally scheduled a Stress & Anxiety event for tonight and then didn’t fully switch it to ‘Date TBD’ in the booking system. Apologies to anyone who received a reminder. To confirm: this event will happen in August along with our next Luup Event Series.

And in case any one of you is still thinking “Nonetheless; those Luup people seem to have it somewhat together.” Spoiler alert: we have nothing together. Please accept this BTS reel as proof.

What we do have are attempts at ASMR, a slim chance that we can stay silent through filming said ASMR, and a tiny ponytail.

Hopefully that will suffice.

And as a final Wednesday reflection: if you are really lucky in life, there will be a few moments where you realise you love your job and everyone you do it with.

This has been one of them.

29/06/2026

Confessions of a reluctant cafe owner.

Brought to you by the Luup Egg Stack.
Whole grain toast.
Laughters.
Smashed avo seasoned with salt pepper lemon juice.
More laughters.
Eggs. Coz it’s an Egg Stack, right?
Baby spinach.
Grilled broccolini and cherry tomatoes.
Dukkah. Feta.
Pesto. Fig reduction.
LAUGHTER. Critical ingredient.
Voila.

For a group of enthusiastic amateurs-but-healthy-eaters led by an ex-hospo employee who didn’t want the cafe headache, we go alright.

28/06/2026

Place of contemplation.
Of quiet revelation.
Of reviewing all life choices in the throes of winter school holidays.

Hot tip: put them in old clothes. Let them jump in puddles to the point of filth. Plonk them in a bath. That’s at least two hours of low effort, high presence parenting right there.

Beyond that, can only offer Luup refuelling.
Bring colouring. Stress not.

Two weeks to go.

26/06/2026

It’s cold outside but it’s buzzing inside.
And thank you to YOU GUYS for being that buzz.

Promise I’m spending all of the brain-firing thinking time to think up new little ways to thrill you all. Or make your visit smoother. Or deliver That Thing You Didn’t Know You Wanted But Lookee It’s Here!

Happy weekend to all of our people: old, new, welded on or wondering when they can make it down here and inside.

This Luup is for you.

21/06/2026

I’m exactly what no one wants to see at Luup.
Side note: today I took it one step too far and actually pulled some time behind the coffee machine. People were trying to hide their ‘if you’re making, then maybe not’ faces. I get it.

But mostly, I’m a business owner with a camera, an insatiable appetite for footage and a hunger for an angle or a person or a movement I haven’t captured before. Because social media is a thirsty beast. But I’m absolutely parched.

Signs I might be lurking nearby include:

Staff suddenly ducking for kitchen cover.
Neck-throwing eye rolls.
Deep sighs and Any Minute Now resignations.

But don’t worry, people.
Apart from accosting everyone I meet and assuring them that they’ll look good and it’s only a snippet, I’m relentless.

See you here.

07/06/2026

31/05/2026

It’s big(her) things 2026.
And it’s well underway.