Bridging Borders Through Coffee, Culture & Community

HUMBLUX logo in white text on a black background
A black and white line drawing of a sailing ship on the ocean, with the words "Sailor's Brew" and a coffee bean logo on the sails, and the text "Sailor's Brew Coffee" below.

More than coffee. More than culture. A movement.

The Opportunity

  • Coffee is a $100B+ global industry, but Black representation remains low.

  • Cultural storytelling has the power to expand brand reach and create deep consumer engagement.

  • This collaboration unites commerce and culture in a way never seen before.

Table comparing coffee and cultural industries with metrics on annual revenue, contribution to GDP, employment, per capita consumption, and market growth.

Positioning Sailor's Brew as a cultural product alongside Humblux within the Canadian cultural industry is a strategic move that benefits both brands while creating a niche clientele and broader market traction. The cultural industry generates CAD$58.5 billion annually—more than double the Canadian coffee industry's revenue—and employs over 648,000 people, demonstrating its economic strength.

By integrating Sailor’s Brew into cultural spaces, events, and collaborations, we can capitalize on Canada’s coffee consumption habits (2.7 cups per day) while aligning with a sector that thrives on experiences, storytelling, and lifestyle branding. This approach not only expands Sailor’s Brew’s market share within the coffee industry but also positions it as an essential cultural product, making it a staple within creative communities.

This strategy allows us to tap into a broader, more engaged audience that values both coffee and culture, fostering deeper brand loyalty and unlocking new revenue streams through cross-industry collaborations, exclusive experiences, and cultural partnerships.

A Collaboration Rooted in Destiny

The Story

A man standing in a coffee shop named Sailor's Brew, wearing a Sailor's Brew t-shirt and cap, holding a large black travel mug, giving a shaka hand sign, with a motivational quote on a chalkboard behind him.
Three young men take a selfie on a city sidewalk at night, with parked cars and streetlights in the background.
A man stands behind a wooden counter at a coffee shop named Sailor's Brew Coffee. The shop has black shelves with coffee bags, a decorative rope, and wall art including an anchor and the shop's name. The man is wearing a cap and a black T-shirt with the shop's name.
A group of five young men stand against a black brick wall on a city street, with one person taking a selfie. The first man on the left wears a blue cap, a mint green T-shirt, and has a serious expression. The second man wears sunglasses, a black T-shirt, and is focused on the man to his right. The third man is wearing a beige bucket hat, a gray T-shirt, and looks at his phone. The fourth man has dreadlocks, wears a bright blue cap backward, and brown shorts, examining his phone. The fifth man, in a gray cap and black T-shirt, is looking at the man with dreadlocks as they converse.
  1. After two years of searching for a Black coffee partner, London Smalley discovered Sailors Brew—a brand from his hometown, Pasadena.

  2. When his brother Zachary returned to Altadena, he found himself displaced by the Altadena fire disaster.

  3. While attending a community prayer meeting, Zachary realized that his longtime study mate was Travis Sailor, co-owner of Sailors Brew.

  4. A partnership was born—one that honors our shared history and drives a powerful movement forward.

Three young men taking a selfie in an indoor setting, with a sign in the background that reads 'PERSONNEL AUTORISÉ SEULEMENT.' They are posing with hand gestures, and all have dreadlocked hair.

Cultural Production for a New Era

Who We Are – Humblux

A collage of photos capturing different moments at a hip-hop or urban music event featuring artists performing, people in casual streetwear, and audience members enjoying the show indoors and outdoors.

About:

  • Family-owned business led by the Smalley family.

  • Specializing in cultural storytelling, music, fashion, and events.

  • Focused on bridging borders and empowering Black businesses.

a call to boldly set sail: A Coffee Brand navigating a Legacy

Who Is – Sailors Brew

A black bag of Sailor Brew coffee beer leaning against a rock near the shoreline with ocean waves in the background.

Philosophy:

Sailor’s Brew Coffee LLC is more than just a coffee company—it’s a movement, a call to action for dreamers, doers, and pioneers. Founded in 2018 in the heart of Pasadena, CA, we are a Veteran-owned and operated business with a mission to bring exceptional coffee and inspiration to every cup.

Our story began with a commitment to quality and authenticity. From sourcing the finest beans to perfecting our roasts, we strive to provide an unparalleled coffee experience for our customers. But we didn’t stop there. We knew that great coffee could be a vehicle for something even greater: inspiring individuals to be bold, ambitious, and creative in pursuing their goals.

Our motto, “Boldly Set Sail,” serves as a compass, guiding our customers to embrace life’s challenges and seize new opportunities with confidence. Whether you’re a go-getter closing deals, a mover shaping the future, or simply someone seeking a spark of inspiration, Sailor’s Brew is here to fuel your journey.

Description:

  • Inspired by Mathieu Da Costa, the first known Black navigator in Canadian history.

  • Represents resilience, exploration, and the power of storytelling.

  • Exclusive co-branded blend sold through both companies’ channels.

  • Revenue Model:

    • Wholesale partnership: Humblux purchases at wholesale, handling retail.

    • Profit-sharing model: Negotiable revenue splits on specialty products.

A stylized promotional poster featuring a man wearing a wide-brimmed hat, with graphical elements and text overlay, including a red arrow, blue line, and a red rectangle with white text.

Introducing the Coffee That Bridges Borders

The Mathieu Da Costa Blend

The Campaign & Engagement Strategy

More Than a Coffee—A Cultural Movement

Key Initiatives:

  • Coffee & Culture Events: Live activations featuring music, food, and storytelling.

  • Merchandise Collection: Co-branded apparel and accessories.

  • Exclusive Music & Content: Short films, hip hop releases, and cultural narratives.

  • Community Outreach: Tied into the “Dena is Not for Sale,” Altadena Rebuild and Little Burgundy arts movements.

Gray T-shirt with a graphic design of a person wearing a cowboy hat and sunglasses, with abstract lines and shapes, and text including "Scott's Brew Coffee" and "Mathews Da Costa".
Gray T-shirt featuring a stylized portrait of a person wearing a wide-brimmed hat with feathers, sunglasses, and jewelry, with graphic elements and text including "Sailor's Brew Coffee" and "Matheilda Costa."
Gray T-shirt with logos of Sailor's Brew Coffee and HumbLux on the back.
Image of a man wearing a straw hat, with a serious expression, and overlaid graphs and text highlighting economic or statistical themes.
Rust-colored T-shirt with a graphic of a man wearing a straw hat, sunglasses, and a jacket, with abstract lines and shapes. Text includes "Stir or Brew Coffee" and "Matfield Da Costa" with coffee strength indicators.
Back of a red T-shirt featuring logos for Sailor's Brew Coffee and HumbLUX, with a ship illustration and text

A conceptual example of a potential four-song EP titled Humblux x Sailor’s Brew: Sets Sail, designed to further drive awareness of the collaborative campaign and create additional revenue opportunities through collective marketing efforts.

A Movement with Built-In Demand

Market Potential & Audience

Core Audiences:

  • Coffee lovers seeking Black-owned specialty coffee brands.

  • Hip hop & cultural enthusiasts who align with authentic Black storytelling.

  • Community-driven consumers supporting local and family businesses.

Growth Potential:

  • Opportunity to scale across online sales, retail, and pop-up experiences.

Stronger Together

Mutual Benefits & Why It Works

For Sailors Brew:

  • No upfront investment.

  • Increased brand reach, cultural credibility, and new customers.

  • Exclusive product storytelling beyond traditional marketing.

Growth Potential:

  • Reach into the Canadian market with opportunities to scale across online sales, retail, and pop-up experiences.

For Humblux:

  • A respected Black-owned coffee partner.

  • Unique coffee blend that expands storytelling into new industries.

  • Deeper integration into community and commerce.

Let’s Make It Happen

Next Steps

Key Actions:

  • Finalize partnership terms (branding, pricing, revenue sharing).

  • Launch development and roll out of the Mathieu Da Costa Blend.

  • Plan first co-branded event & marketing campaign.

  • Call to Action: We’re ready to move forward — understanding the necessity to connect, discuss and exchange ideas in efforts to finalize the details.

Line art drawing of a sailing ship on wavy water, with a flag on the mast and the words "Sailors Brew" on a banner. Below, "Sailors Brew Coffee" is written in stylized script.
Humblux logo in white on a black background

Bridging Borders, One Cup at a Time

Contact & Closing Statement

Contact Details:

  • Humblux Team

  • Sailors Brew Team

  • Email & Social Media Links

We understand that many things will need to be discussed and worked out collaboratively; however, this is just a first glance.

We believe this collaboration is more than business—it’s a movement. Let’s bring it to life together.