Hopefully you are having a great day. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Mike Shaak, I am the founder of ShaakWave Coffees Inc. (pronounced shockwave). I started the idea about 6 years ago, when I went to a local market and bought some coffee to brew at home. It was a very bitter burnt tasting coffee. So I did some research and figured I would try my hand at roasting coffee. After a lot of failure I figured out how and what was the best way for me to roast the beans.
Here is where the tricky part comes in, I am totally blind so you can imagine the learning curve that I went through. I also found that with my chemistry background I understood the changes that the bean underwent in the roasting process. I know you are saying a "blind man roasting coffee". It is quite the art and takes patients and time, I am a bit of a perfectionist so it only made sense I wanted the perfect cup of coffee in the morning.
Have you ever seen a person in a wheelchair, holding a white cane, or disabled in some fashion. I bet you have, have you taken the time to just walk up and say hello? Maybe offer to help if they are in need. I was confronted with blindness at 37 years of age and really was not prepared, it was a sudden occurrence and left me quite angry at first. 6 plus years later I can say it really is a better life and I try to help others, be apart of my community and live by example, as we all should.
I thought long and hard before I decided to do this campaign. I thought how much good can I do, how will I be able to put others to work that may be unable to secure a job else where. What do I really have to give? The answer was relatively easy, I can give a job to someone who truly wishes to learn and provide for themselves. I can show the community that no matter what happens in one's life anything is possible with the correct mind set.
We have opened our first shop, as of December 2nd. The shop is located in Boise ID. We had a great Opportunity to purchase a small shop already running. We are having pretty good success for only being open for a few weeks. The concept of a blind person running and founding a business seems foreign to some then they sit and talk to me, then it all becomes very clear.
By contributing to this campaign, you will be helping me to help myself. You will be helping many others see that anything is possible regardless of a disability. You will be paving the way to to put other people like myself to work so they can provide a better living for themselves and there families.
What We Need & What You Get
We have all of are seller permits, sales tax, federal and state papers done so we are a legitimate business entity in the state of Idaho. We have a small cafe account that we service weekly. They buy espresso and single origin coffee for pour over brewing. We also sell at the local farmers market every Saturday with great success.
We have been given the opportunity to purchase a retail facility. The coffee house is building and equipment. We are in need of a roaster, at this point as I roast all of the beans by hand currently. There will be bulk green beans purchased as well as branding items for the new operation. Such as cups, sleeves , and bags. We are also needing to do a Grand Opening event For Studio C, along with some extra marketing in the local are to promote our delivery service
All of the rewards listed will be from ShaakWave Coffee Inc. The funding will all go to setting up the space, branding, and inventory. If we don't reach the goal we will still start the project. There will just be a longer timeline on the rewards going out.
As a contributor to this campaign you will be giving to your community. You will be giving several people the chance to go back to work. You will be showing the world that any thing is possible as long as you reach for it. In this day and age we are losing the sense of community, the grace that other people exhibit, and the fellowship of mankind. These are the basis of all of us we just turned it off somewhere in history. Help to put a little back in to the world. We are doing a food drive as of right now for the Holiday season. We also have 2 socially disadvantaged employees hired on and serving drinks.
As with life and business there are always challenges. I have overcome some big hurdles in life and as I started this idea. Each challenge is different and as I move forward the only real challenge I see is the hiring of willing people to work. I have started the company on the basis of getting through all challenges, like i did when I lost my sight.
We are trying and succeeding in going market share in the Treasure Vally area, doing so has not been an easy task. We make a different product, as well as a different model. The hope is to stand out as different and provide a consistent quality product.
Other Ways You Can Help
Just send a shout out to all your friends, I have heard of many things going viral that really made no sense why not make something viral that will change a few lives.
Some people just can't contribute, but that doesn't mean they can't help. Share The links and Know that you are doing a little to help a few.
Thanks for your time,
Mike Shaak
Founder