Brewing Success: The Smith Brothers' Coffee Journey
Brewing Success: The Smith Brothers' Coffee Journey
What key traits does it take to build a successful business from scratch?
Paul Smith: One key trait we have, which is common among entrepreneurs, is persistence. Persistence has been a major factor in our success. Beyond that, what drives me is the opportunity to create something. We started our company from scratch 21 years ago, and the chance to build a team, a customer base, a brand, and a logo is something I absolutely love. It’s what motivates me every day, along with the joy of connecting people and introducing them to the magic of freshly roasted coffee.
What steps help business owners let go of products holding back growth?
Paul Smith: We learned, probably a decade ago, not to become too attached to any one idea or product. We had a great product that was actually holding us back. It was difficult to let it go, but once we did, we realized it was the right decision. It taught us that when you focus on business growth and efficiency, it becomes easier to make tough decisions. We've gone through this process multiple times since.
Jared Smith: We started as a chocolate company, and when we added coffee, we came up with a mocha called the Great Lakes Mocha. We used real chocolate and melted it into the cup, which created an amazing drink. It was a premium mocha, but it was complicated to make. You could get it right, and it was fantastic, but it was also easy to mess up. When one of our stores got really busy, we realized that this drink, which we were emotionally attached to and thought would make us famous, was actually holding us back. It was a tough decision to remove it from the menu because we had spent so much time perfecting it. But once we got rid of it, our business actually got busier almost immediately.
Why is collaboration crucial in competitive industries?
Jared Smith: I remember my younger self being very competitive and secretive, determined to keep everything under wraps, not letting anyone know what we were doing. We thought we knew everything and would just push forward. Of course, you need to be smart about certain things—like if you're developing a product that needs a patent because of the investment, you must protect it. But there’s also value in being open to communication and collaboration. I believe multiple people can be successful, even in the same industry. While we may compete in the coffee business, I don’t have to share my exact recipes, but I think we can still communicate and root for each other’s success. We don’t have to always root against each other. By being more open to collaboration, we create more opportunities without having to fight so hard to keep everything secret.
How can family members effectively balance roles in business?
Paul Smith: You need a sounding board, and in the past, we've overwhelmed certain staff, especially in marketing, with too many ideas. But when we bounce ideas off each other, it works well because we're both into it. We each have different personalities, and that balance has been great for our company. People often ask how we manage to work with family, and it works because we have complementary strengths—he excels where I might lack, and vice versa. In the early days, it was tough. There were many hard, miserable moments, but having someone to go through it with made all the difference.
*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.*
