By JULES LAVALLEE
Your passion for dance from a young age shaped your early ambitions in the fitness industry. How did those years of dedication to dance influence your approach to fitness training and building your personal brand?
My dedication to attending dance school for many years influenced my approach to fitness and building my personal brand. Mentally with determination and focus the structured environment of strict dance classes teaches discipline and focus which has helped shape my career, and it built friendships, confidence, and creativity. Dance taught me the importance of Fitness and how physical health maintenance can reduce the risk of chronic diseases, improve mental well-being and longevity of life. As a result of this, I wanted to create something to help boost well-being further. Connecting with clients one-to-one on a personal level I became more aware that many people were suffering with health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, digestive disorders, mental health and more. I realised that the majority of my clients were not consuming enough natural sources of vitamins and minerals needed for healthy diet. This inspired me to look into ways to easily consume healthy nutritional natural food such as fruit and veg in a fast and effective way, improving health issues and overall well-being.
Transitioning from working as a personal trainer to founding Juicy Vibes Healthy Smoothies is a significant leap. What inspired you to make this entrepreneurial move, and how did your experience as a trainer prepare you for it?
I decided to experiment with blending a variety of sweet, exotic, juicy fruits and vegetables with hints of bitterness, zesty and spicy flavours to create unique and tasty smoothies and juices. Being creative and adaptable played a big role in the success of this, allowing me to change effectively in a way that would make my life more vibrant and meaningful, making it easier to take the risk and create my own business. Once I had my vision, there was no going back. I believed in myself and was confident in my goals and what I wanted to achieve. Having strong self-belief encourages you to take risks pursue your passions and maintain a positive mindset. When you believe in yourself, you’re more likely to push through obstacles and setbacks, leading to personal growth and success. It’s about recognising your worth and embracing your unique qualities, which can empower you to make choices that align with your true self. This also allowed me to see my entrepreneur qualities, realising that I don’t like authority because the motivation to leave a steady income that is safe and reliable to risk it all and do your own thing because I didn’t like a position of authority and I needed to be my own boss.
JVS has achieved remarkable growth in just a year. What do you think is the secret behind your juice bar’s success, and how do you ensure your products stand out in the competitive healthy beverage market?
The success of my juice bar involves around creating juices that maximise your health and well-being using only natural products that contain no adjectives, preservatives or added sugars. With a unique taste due to the balance and volume of each ingredient which form from natural products that create vibrant, eye-catching & Tasty juices. Also, attractive branding with positive quotes help contribute to this.
Your clients from the gym have become loyal customers of JVS. How have you leveraged your fitness background and personal connections to grow your brand and attract a wider audience?
I offer a diverse menu that caters to a wide range of customers’ preferences and dietary needs to improve overall health and well-being. Over a 12 month period, I have built regular clientele by ensuring an inviting environment to make customers feel comfortable and welcome as well as providing customer loyalty cards to encourage repeat business and positive word-of-mouth. With the support of my regular customers and by focusing on these aspects, my juice bar will thrive further and become a favourite spot for health-conscious customers.
JVS has recently expanded to Central London and the West Midlands. What challenges have you faced during this expansion, and how do events like Skills4Startups® Festival Roadshows help you build partnerships?
The biggest challenge I have faced is judging the volume of produce required to sell at larger events to a number of customers in a one-day event. My Business Partner, is the Founder and CEO of Skills4Startups® Festival Roadshow and she has guided me as part of the S4S Founders Framework, to take huge precaution on which smoothies to select at big showcases that will bring in solid sales and reduce produce wastage. Sofia has advised me to keep an audit trail of which juices and smoothies are popular in taste and health benefits to sell at wider events across the UK. I am a solo-entrepreneur, and it can be difficult to manage JVS pop-up bars across the UK on my own and develop partnerships at these events with other businesses and exhibitors. So, we have introduced the ‘pouch strategy’ where I pre-make a number of healthy juices and smoothies in pouches and a number of shots, which I take with me to the festivals so I can engage with new customers much more effectively. The S4S Founders Framework teaches me to put long-term partnerships before quick sales on the day of the events, as these new business deals can lead to substantial long-term revenue.
Your vision for JVS extends beyond national growth to a global scale. What are your strategies for taking JVS worldwide, and how do you plan to maintain the trademark quality and taste of your products as you scale up?
My Business Partner and Founder and CEO of Skills4Startups (Britain’s First Mobile Business School Festival 4 Startups) – Sofia Azam – is planning to take her mobile business school across the UK, USA, Riyadh and Malaysia. Her plans are to introduce JVS into the global markets using local quality produce to support founders and entrepreneurs with their health and well-being. The local produce will ensure that JVS is maintaining quality in taste whilst supporting the country’s local produce economy.
Sofia believes that my brand is attractive to the international community, especially countries like the USA where companies are placing health over ‘burnout’. Many companies are now holding health days in their workplaces to boost better productivity and a positive culture. I look forward to taking my business to the next level of growth with Sofia Azam and Skills4Startups®
