HPStir Coffee Company, Jeff Brockman
HPStir is a local Coffee Company based in Harrington Park, NJ. To date we solely sell at farmers markets, events, word of mouth and online. The initial plan was to crowd fund & profit share a coffee spot, then COVID hit. After parking the idea for almost a year, Jeff and Sung reconnected in February of 2021 and HPStir was officially formed in June of 2021.
The concept of HPStir started in 2019, by Jeff Brockman and Sung Yoo. Jeff - a councilman, firefighter and co chair of the Harrington Park Business Alliance, and Sung - a member of the Environmental Commission and local realtor, discovered they shared a passion for bringing people together, giving back and good coffee.
Our beans are fair trade organic, sustainability sourced and single origin. This means they are pesticide, mold and mycotoxin free, with zero to no acidity. The beans are grown and harvested globally from co-op family farms where the community all work together to sustain. This was an important part of our concept from inception. We wanted to ensure the product aligned with our values.
We needed direction. A great idea and concept doesn't always equal good business. We needed experts to poke holes in our plan in an effort to fortify those areas. In addition, we were looking for validation of our concept and after meeting with Mike and Bob we knew we made the right decision.
Mike and Bob were instrumental in assisting us with creating a larger vision. So much so that we are now in the process of moving to brick and mortar. We've been in the black since day 1 and have taken our coaches' advice very seriously.
Always hold onto the passion and the feeling of why you wanted to start this venture. Figure out your "why" and that will sustain you through the tough times. That being said, don't be so rigid that you don't listen to expert advice. The business side of entrepreneurship is real and it's what will make or break you. Don't assume you know everything. Listen to those who have walked the path before you, let them poke holes in your concept and put your ego aside. Finally have fun! The journey may at times feel like a chore, however action and activity will keep you going.
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