Bridging Borders Through Coffee, Culture & Community

HUMBLUX logo in white text on a black background with white lines above and below the text.
A black and white illustration of a sailing ship with the words 'Sailor's Brew' and a coffee bean logo, surrounded by wavy lines representing water, and the name 'Sailor's Brew Coffee' written 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.

A comparison table showing metrics for the coffee and cultural industries including annual revenue, contribution to GDP, employment, per capita consumption, and market growth, with data sources and year references.

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 in a black 'Sailor's Brew Coffee' shirt and cap standing in front of a wall with the same logo, holding a black thermos, giving a thumbs-up gesture. There is a wooden door behind him and a black chalkboard with motivational quote, surrounded by decorative rope on the wall.
Three young men taking a selfie on a city sidewalk at night, with parked cars and city lights in the background.
A man standing behind a rustic wooden counter at a coffee shop called "Nailo's Brew Coffee." The man is wearing a black T-shirt and a cap, with bottled drinks and a coffee bag on the counter. The wall behind includes shelves with coffee bags, a decorative rope overhead, and nautical-themed decor like an anchor.
A group of five young men are standing against a black brick wall. One of them is taking a selfie with his arm extended. They are casually dressed, with some wearing hats and sunglasses, and appear to be engaged in conversation or interaction.

  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 indoors, with a closed door and a medicine cabinet in the background. The man on the left is wearing a beige beanie and a white hoodie, making a peace sign with his right hand. The man in the middle has long braids, wearing a striped shirt. The man on the right has long braided hair and is giving a shaka sign with his right hand.

Cultural Production for a New Era

Who We Are – Humblux

Collage of diverse people at a social gathering, including individuals speaking, listening, taking photos, and posing, with indoor and outdoor urban backgrounds.

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 Sailors Brew coffee leaning against a rock on a beach with ocean waves washing up on the sand.

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.

Introducing the Coffee That Bridges Borders

The Mathieu Da Costa Blend

A stylized promotional poster featuring a man wearing a straw hat and leather jacket with the text 'de-visual' in cursive, overlaid with illustrated graphs and charts, and a red and white logo at the bottom.

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.

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 featuring a graphic of a person wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat and sunglasses, with abstract lines and text related to coffee.
Gray T-shirt featuring a graphic of a woman with a straw hat, dark sunglasses, and striped outfit. The design includes geometric elements and text related to coffee and styling.
Gray T-shirt with a white line drawing of a sailing ship inside a circle and the text 'Sailor's Brew Coffee' underneath on the back.

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.

A stylized graphic of a man wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat, with a serious expression, overlaid with a red 3D graph line, a blue wave, and text that appears to say "de-quoi".
Red T-shirt featuring an artistic illustration of a man with a hat, sunglasses, and a beard, with abstract lines and shapes. The shirt has text saying 'Salt & Brew Coffee' and 'Mathieu Da Costa'.
Back of a red T-shirt featuring a white line drawing of a sailing ship surrounded by coastlines, with the text "Sailor's Brew COFFEE" underneath.

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

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.

A black and white logo featuring a sailing ship with three masts and sails, with the words "Sailor's Brew" on the upper sail, a coffee bean in the center, and "Coffee" written below with decorative lines.

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.

Black background with the word 'HUMBLUX' in white uppercase letters, centered between two thin white lines.

Bridging Borders, One Cup at a Time

Contact & Closing Statement