Bridging Borders Through Coffee, Culture & Community

Logo with the word 'HUMBLUX' in white capital letters on a black background, separated by two thin white horizontal lines.
Line art logo of a sailing ship with three masts, surrounded by waves, with the text 'Sailor's Brew' on the sails, and a coffee bean illustration in the center. Below the ship, the text reads 'Sailor's Brew Coffee'.

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.

Comparison table of coffee industry and cultural industry metrics in 2022 and 2023, including 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

Young man wearing a black cap and black T-shirt holding a reusable coffee cup, inside a coffee shop called Sailor's Brew, with motivational quote on the wall.
Three young men taking a selfie on a city sidewalk at night. The man in front has long braids and is wearing a purple jacket. The man in the middle has dreadlocks, a beige cap, and is wearing a cream hoodie. The man on the right is wearing a white t-shirt with a graphic design and black pants, and is making a gesture with his hands. Cars are parked along the street, and a building with graffiti and a leafy mural is visible in the background.
A man behind a rustic wooden coffee counter at Sailor's Brew Coffee shop, with three bottles and a bag of coffee on the counter, nautical-themed decorations on the wall, and a door in the background.
A group of five young men standing against a black brick wall, some are taking pictures or videos with their phones.
  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 gray wall and a sign in the background. All are making hand gestures, with one flashing a peace sign and another making a shaka sign.

Cultural Production for a New Era

Who We Are – Humblux

Collage of diverse people at a social gathering, including speakers, musicians, and attendees in casual and streetwear outfits, some engaging in conversations, taking photos, and performing.

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's Brew coffee with water droplets, leaning against a stone wall near the shoreline with waves and water 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 person wearing a straw hat with a wide brim, looking to the side, with a serious expression. The background includes overlapping graph lines and a red rectangular element with 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 featuring a woman wearing a hat, with abstract lines and shapes, and text that reads 'Sitting & Brew Coffee' and 'Matheila D. Costa'.
Gray T-shirt with a graphic design of a woman wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat, sunglasses, and coat, with abstract lines and the words 'Sabor y Brav' and 'coffee'.
Gray T-shirt with a white line drawing of a sailing ship inside a circle, and the text 'Sailor's Brew' and 'Coffee' beneath it.
A stylized graphic featuring a man wearing a straw hat and striped shirt, with a red 3D graph line, a blue wave line, and a red bar chart overlayed. There is a logo or text in white and red at the bottom of the image.
Red T-shirt featuring a stylized illustration of a person wearing a wide-brimmed hat with a large brim and a feather, sunglasses, and a jacket, with geometric elements and text reading 'Sattori-Kraw' and 'Matthieu Da Costa'.
Back of a red T-shirt featuring a white line drawing of a sailing ship inside a circle and the text "Sailor's Brew Coffee" below the drawing.

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 of the Mathieu da Costa Blend.

  • Plan first co-branded event & marketing campaign.

  • Call to Action: We’re ready to move forward—let’s connect to finalize the details.

A black and white line drawing of a sailing ship with three masts on wavy ocean water, with the coffee cup in the middle of the ship's sails. The ship has a banner reading "Sailor's Brew" and a coffee bean symbol. Below the illustration is the stylized text "Sailor's Brew Coffee".
HumbleLux logo on black background with white text

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.