Detroit Metro Teen looking to BRUW his entrepreneurial talents
With just 9 days left in his Kickstarter campaign, Max Feber is more than 70 percent on his way of hitting his financial goal to launch cold-brewing BRUW product. Here is my article from the Dec. 10 issue of the Detroit Jewish News.
The weather might be getting cold, but West Bloomfield teen Max Feber, 17, thinks the timing is hot to launch BRUW, a new cold-brewing method for drinking coffee, which he invented and is now awaiting patent approval.
On Nov. 19, the junior at Frankel Jewish Academy launched a Kickstarter campaign at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/feber/bruw-cold-brew-simplified. As of Dec. 2, BRUW enticed 87 backers contributing $4,195, making Feber well on his way to reaching his all-or-nothing funding goal of $9,500 by Dec. 23. If BRUW hits this milestone, Feber will pour this startup funding into the manufacturing and distribution phase. Feber said BRUW would be made in Michigan and retail online for $30.
The BRUW filter is a double-sided Mason jar lid with a filter in the center. The coffee is cold-brewed for 12-24 hours and then filtered from one jar to the other in a sealed, spill-free environment. And, for those who like it hot, Feber said it could be easily concocted into a warm beverage: just add a bit more water, heat and serve.
“The recipe for cold-brewed coffee has already been invented,” said Feber, who describes himself as a “self-proclaimed coffee snob.” He prefers a medium grind and recommends a four grams of water to 1 graham of coffee ratio. “I wanted to create a method that was easy, inexpensive and required no electricity. You could enjoy the cold brew coffee on a camping trip or at school.”
This is not the budding entrepreneur’s first attempt at starting a business. There was the at-home businesses with imports from China and he briefly tried his hand at creating photomontages for Bar and Bat mitzvahs. This time, he believes that BRUW will be a hit.
Feber conceived the idea for BRUW in a dual-enrollment course in partnership with Lawrence Technological University. Students were required to create a product prototype and pitch the idea to the class. He spent a great deal of time perfecting a prototype with both primitive and professional materials.
“I created countless prototypes ranging from using a 3D printer to making one at my kitchen table with a hot glue gun,” Feber said.
During the Kickstarter campaign, Feber is busy promoting his idea through social media and getting as much support as possible from family and friends. Then, there is also the stuff that the typical high school junior must juggle: class, studying, a part-time job, college prep and extra-curricular activities.
“Let’s just say I am making great use of a color coded calendar these days,” Feber said.
Whether or not BRUW succeeds, Feber said he has learned much from the experience and it will certainly shape his path to choosing a college and career.
“I will always be an entrepreneur, and I am going to study business, no matter what,” Feber said. Starting a business may be risky business, but one thing’s for sure: in his teen social circle’s drinking cold brewed coffee is hot. Still, he is chided.
“Close friends joke with me and say I might fail. But really, everyone is happy and excited for me. And no one has tried to sabotage me, yet.”
Living in Michigan, Week One
Guess what, everyone? I’ve made it to the other side. And I’ve unpacked enough boxes to rationalize that I’ve earned some time to write you my very first blog post as a Michigander!
The long months of goodbyes are over.
And the hellos to new neighbors and friends are beginning.
Most of the uncertainty is also gone. I’m sitting in my new house. The kids are registered for school. And after my first week of being a freshly minted Michigander, it’s not so bad. In fact, it’s great.
Off the bat, Michiganders are living-out-loud, go out-of-your way NICE. And they are proud to be from Michigan.
Take our first morning in town. With no pots and pans, and not even a table to eat upon, we had to dine out for every meal, including breakfast (oh well.).
It was a Sunday and I wanted to buy a copy of the Detroit Free Press from the vending machine outside this local diner. A woman seated in a booth next to us saw me fishing for some change. Without me asking, she offered me some quarters in exchange for some single bills. How nice was that?
The second (and third) instances I caught on to the kindness of the people of Michigan was at the grocery store.
Now, as I have written in some of my “Good Bye to Rochester” posts, and I knew this would come, but leaving Rochester has put me in a bit of a mourning period for Superior Mother of all grocery stores.
So, on one of my first trips to a supermarket here (and that’s all it is, just a supermarket), I must have been mumbling to myself on how much I missed Wegmans or how I couldn’t find anything in this dingy Michigan grocery store when another customer, a woman my age approached me, looked me in the eye, and actually inferred: “Are you alright?”
This brought me to some clear distinctions between Michiganders and New Yorkers: Most New Yorkers try to avoid looking one another in the eye at all costs. Ever look someone in the eye in a crowded subway car? Unless you want to start a fight, I bet you wouldn’t.
And, if you are in New York, and you happen upon someone mumbling to themselves, you walk the other way.
But here this woman was, actually caring about my well-being because of my grocery store aisle mumbling. I simply explained I was new in town, well, in STATE, and I was having a hard time finding my way around. Even in a grocery store.
When I found the stuff I was looking for, I got on a check-out line behind a tall African-American man. After putting all his items on the belt, he realized he had forgotten a few items he wished to purchase. He turned to me and said:
“Ma’am, why don’t you go ahead of me. I might be a while.”
Again, I was astounded by the kindness.
Another unexpected find at the supermarket: fireworks.
Two years ago, Michigan recently passed a bill allowing for the public and legal sale of fireworks. So, along with picking up your milk and eggs at the supermarket, in the days leading up to July 4, you could also stock up on Bone Breakers, Power Surges and Detonators
This new development is receiving mixed reviews from Michigander retailers and consumers. But, if increased availability of fireworks is making you edgy, you can also pick up a nice bottle of Chardonnay or Merlot. Sale of wine and liquor is also legal in Michigan supermarkets. You can even purchase some Mondavi “Private Label” at Target.
Moving In:
With the arrival of the moving van and the hard work of our movers (a shout out to professional movers everywhere: thank you for your back and arm breaking work. Our head mover in Michigan was working with four torn ligaments in his rotator cuff. Didn’t stop him from hauling in box after box and participating in bringing up some heavy dressers up to the bedrooms. I believe he is scheduled for surgery this week and I hope the moving company is picking up his medical bills.), it is starting to feel like home.
We couldn’t find our placemats right away. Instead, we are dining on the plethora of paper used to wrap all our possessions. Add some crayons, and it’s like we are eating out at Macaroni Grill!
Next time, I’ll write about walking and bike riding in the Motor City.
Come see the Sorry Side of SEARS: A woeful tale of customer disservice
Tailgating? No.
You tell a customer to wait around for you for four hours.
You show up even an hour later than the time window said you would be there.
No mere mortal customer can get in touch with you.
You can charge $250 for 30 minutes of work.
I get paid less than that after I’ve filed two weeks’ worth of columns.
And, as a SEARS repairman, you get paid hand over fist for your incompetency. And then, no mere mortal customer can reach you directly afterwards to complain. Man, I’m in the wrong line of work!
And the work the customer waited around for doesn’t even fix the problem.
AND, you are not even obligated to leave the customer a reachable phone number to get you back the same day. That woeful customer (that would be … me) must once again be thrown into the 1-800-MYSEARS abyss.
Because I purchased – for extra money – a SEARS Home Appliance Service Contract, my family is plunged back to the 19th Century and we have lived without refrigeration for four, going on five days. Most of my food has gone bad. Some of it is in deep freezer storage thanks to the kindness of my neighbors. The squirrels in my yard are fighting over the rest.
1-800-MY-SEARS???
My Sears? Well, you can kiss my ……
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Stacy Gittleman 