One of our favorite aspects of working at Prosper Strategies is having the opportunity to regularly partner with changemaking entrepreneurs who are truly paving the way in their industries. Last month, we decided to make a habit of paying homage to these purpose-driven leaders and their companies in our new blog series: Changemakers to Watch. (Check out our first changemaker feature here if you missed it!)
This month’s changemakers are Amanda and Brandon Neely, owners of Overflow Coffee Bar, and they’ve got us craving a Nutella Mocha with a warm croissant (and social impact) on the side.
Located in the South Loop of Chicago, Overflow Coffee Bar is creating a true community atmosphere locally, one cup at a time. The coffee bar opened 5 years ago after Amanda and Brandon noticed the lack of businesses and sense of community in the South Loop, one of the nation’s fasting growing areas. According to Amanda, Overflow’s biggest mission is “to inspire a genuine and local community of people who change the world with their purchasing power, time and talents.”
As a social enterprise and low-profit limited liability company (L3C), turning a profit takes a backseat to social impact at Overflow. Through the coffee shop’s dedication to fair labor amongst all of its employees and its practice of ethical economics, Overflow truly fills a void in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood while remaining socially conscientious in every aspect of the business.
Meet owner: Amanda Neely
We chatted with Amanda in order to gain more insight into Overflow’s history and business practices. Amanda has always had a passion for bridging together communities, though didn’t always think coffee would part of the equation. Prior to opening Overflow, Amanda had never worked in a coffee shop. Instead, it was her husband Brandon’s dream that led Amanda to quit her cubicle job in the name of social impact.
Choosing to open up shop in the South Loop was a personal one for the Neelys. Both Brandon and Amanda grew up in poverty and felt a special connection to the revitalization of the South Loop, as well as the people who lived there. Prior to relocating to the South Loop, the Neelys lived in Pilsen, though found themselves constantly in awe of the South Loop. According to Amanda, she “would often find [her]self crying because [she] was falling in love with the people there.” This passion led them to seek out a solution that would help “inspire a genuine and local community” for people of all backgrounds.
“We Can’t Decide Tomorrow to Serve Folgers” – Amanda
Coffee is grown in some of the poorest cultures in the world, making it an obvious choice for the Neelys, who believe in ethical economics. Ethical economics is the practice of taking others’ economic situation into consideration when purchasing and selecting products, whether that be the farmers who grow their coffee or the vendors they work with daily. Rather than serving Folgers or another mass-produced brand, the Neelys make a real difference in the lives of farmers by purchasing only direct trade coffee (which pays at least 25% more than minimum fair trade). Overflow also values its relationship with vendors and forges relationships that go far beyond finance.
Brewing up a Profit and Making an Impact
While Amanda names marketing and developing a pricing system as some of the “biggest learning curves” when first starting out, their dedication to garnering strong connections with the community has built their customer loyalty (as well as their email lists). Having strong mentors across industries has also been crucial to Overflow’s success and has allowed the Neelys to excel in their business operations, as well as brew up a profit.
Need a caffeine boost? Visit the Neelys and Overflow Coffee Bar to learn more about their story and get a great cup of coffee.
