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Key Takeaways Darren Spicer built Clutch Coffee Bar around energy, consistency, and authenticity, proving that strong branding can turn everyday transactions into loyal relationships.
Spicer left a stable corporate career to sign his first business deal while on his honeymoon.
From donating proceeds to honor a fallen officer to supporting local nonprofits, Spicer shows that great brands are built by showing up for the people they serve.
Darren Spicer is a sports nut. He hasn’t missed an Oregon Ducks home football game in 18 years.
For most people, that would mean a short drive to Eugene on Saturdays. For Spicer, it means a seven-year bi-coastal commute from North Carolina to Oregon. “I drive or fly back for every home game,” he says. “Eighteen years straight. My family thinks I’m crazy, but it’s my happy place.”
That kind of devotion says everything about how Spicer builds things. He doesn’t do halfway.
Spicer is the co-founder and CEO of Clutch Coffee Bar, a drive-thru coffee company. The name Clutch came straight out of his love for sports. “When a player delivers in crunch time, they’re clutch,” Spicer says. “That’s what we want to be for our customers every day, every transaction.”
Related: Their Restaurant Sign Is So Famous It Has 1 Million Followers. Here’s How They Turned a Viral Hit Into a Business.
The Three Cs of Business
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