04/04/2026
I didn’t grow up with much. There was no "childhood home" to go back to, no family inheritance, and no silver spoon. My reality was a single mother doing everything in her power to keep us afloat, a sister living with my grandparents, and a family of uncles and elders who stepped in to fill the gaps. Because of their love, I didn't even realize we were "poor." I just knew I was a happy, creative, and deeply empathetic kid. They gave me the most important resource of all, the belief that I was capable.
At 13 years old, while most kids were focused on middle school drama, I was focused on profit margins and wax temperatures. I started Simplewick, a candle business I ran right out of my home. It was my first real taste of entrepreneurship. That business eventually ended, but I don’t look at it as a failure, I look at it as my tuition. It gave me the strategic mindset and the business knowledge that you just can't learn in a classroom.
Life moved fast after that. I’ve been living on my own and providing for myself since I was 16 years old. I traded my childhood for a head start on my future. I started working at Starbucks, and what began as just a job quickly turned into a genuine passion. I fell in love with the art of a handcrafted beverage, but even more, I fell in love with the connection. I love talking to people, hearing their stories, and serving a community. I realized then that I didn't just want to make coffee, I wanted to create an experience.
Only a couple of months ago, the idea of owning my own coffee trailer felt like a dream that was "too big." I almost let it fly over my head because the path to get there seemed unachievable for someone like me. I looked at the licenses, the trailer, the equipment, and the costs, and I almost let fear win.
But this past month, I decided that "unachievable" wasn't a word I was willing to accept. I have been working nonstop, day and night, to turn that "too much" into a reality. From the legal paperwork to the trailer itself and every single bag of supplies in between, I am now on my very last steps of opening.
I’m sharing this because I want anyone reading this to know, You will never achieve if you do not try. Mistakes are going to happen, they are just a different way of learning. I’m not letting fear get in the way of my success, and you shouldn't either.
Kow Coffee Co, It’s been a long road from making candles to building a coffee empire, and Im glad to share a cup with you all.
With genuine love, Nevin ☕️🐮
