Exceptional Student Entrepreneur Highlight: Sean Smothers
On a chilly October morning in 2021, a small booth stood alone in College Green. The smell of coffee drifted through the air and, as many college students made their way to classes, they stopped to grab a cup, but what they didn’t know was that they were getting much more. Jukebox Java is committed to bringing new music to the students of Ohio University by stamping a unique QR code on each coffee sleeve, which directs listeners to a specific song on Spotify.
Senior Sean Smothers felt a calling to bring people together once again through two of the most important aspects in a college student's life: coffee and music. Finding a commonality amongst music lovers opens the doors to endless conversations about favorite artists and genres and ultimately brings people closer than ever. Smothers realized that after the pandemic, a large population of students were glued to their phones rather than meeting the thousands of people that surround them on campus. To combat the digital takeover, Smothers created Jukebox Java to open conversation amongst everyone who passes by his stand.
“I identified a couple things that I thought brought everyone together… so I thought of music, and music is the one language that brings absolutely everyone together regardless of race, background, or culture,” Smothers said. “Something as simple as putting this out there that we all have in common that’s on coffee, which I get everyday, it’s a simple icebreaker.”
Jukebox Java was an idea turned into reality by the help of a few family members close to Smothers, who always pushed him to try the business idea and never be afraid to fail. Smothers has faced challenges that he still is learning from, as any business owner may face, but the biggest of all was getting started. The fear of failure and the unknown holds many entrepreneurs back from carrying out their ideas, but Smothers pushed through those fears thanks to those close to him.
“My parents own their own wine shop in Ohio and as much as they worked during my childhood, it brought them happiness and was almost a home away from home,” Smothers said. “All these long hours to make something that’s my own to have that freedom.”
Although Smothers was not an entrepreneurship major, he was encouraged by faculty and those close to him to carry out his business plan. The fear of failure never held him back, which led to Jukebox Java becoming the success that Ohio University needed. Smothers encourages all other students, whether they define themselves as entrepreneurs or not, to pursue their own endeavors even if they do fail from time to time.
To carry on his passion, Smothers is looking to buy a food truck and share Jukebox Java across the country.
Want to get in contact with Sean? Send him an email or contact him on social media!
- ss568718@ohio.edu
- Instagram: @jukebox.java