Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kayla Hall. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Kayla, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear how you think where to draw the line in terms of asking friends and family to support your business – what’s okay and what’s over the line?

When I started my business, I reached out to friends and family for support, a common approach for many entrepreneurs. Their initial encouragement meant a lot to me, and their willingness to provide feedback, testimonials, and even some financial assistance boosted my confidence. However, I also realized that their personal connection with me might have influenced their judgment, leading to less objective feedback. I’m grateful for their support, but I’m aware of the potential challenges that come with mixing personal and business matters, which is why I’m striving to be transparent and professional in all interactions.

What’s Appropriate:

Seeking Feedback and Input: It’s appropriate to ask for feedback and input from family and friends about your business idea, product, or service. They can offer valuable insights and suggestions from their perspective as potential customers or clients.

Asking for Testimonials: If your family and friends have used your product or service and genuinely believe in its value, it’s appropriate to ask them for testimonials. Their positive reviews can help build credibility for your business.

Word of Mouth Promotion: Encouraging your family and friends to spread the word about your business within their networks is appropriate. Word of mouth can be a powerful marketing tool.

What’s Not Appropriate:

Pressuring or Guilt-Tripping: It’s not appropriate to pressure or guilt-trip family and friends into supporting your business. Everyone has their own financial commitments and priorities, and they should feel comfortable saying no without feeling guilty.

Ignoring Honest Feedback: If family and friends offer constructive criticism or express concerns about your business, it’s not appropriate to dismiss their feedback. Listen to their input and use it to improve your venture.

Overreliance on Personal Connections: Relying solely on personal connections for ongoing support is not appropriate. While their initial help and encouragement are valuable, building a sustainable business requires reaching a broader audience and attracting diverse customers or clients.

Mixing Personal and Business Matters: Avoid mixing personal and business matters in ways that might create conflicts or strain relationships. Be clear about expectations and boundaries when seeking support from loved ones.

In summary, it’s entirely appropriate to seek various forms of support from family and friends, such as feedback, testimonials, and word of mouth promotion. When it comes to financial assistance, transparency, professionalism, and written agreements are vital. However, it’s essential to respect their boundaries, be open to feedback, and avoid relying solely on personal connections for the long-term success of your business.

Drawing the line between support from family and friends with a new business is crucial for maintaining healthy relationships and ensuring the success and independence of your venture. Here are some guidelines to consider when determining where the line should be drawn:

**1. Financial Contributions and Agreements:

Clearly define any financial support or investments from family and friends in written agreements. This will prevent misunderstandings and potential conflicts in the future.
Avoid accepting financial assistance that could put strain on your loved ones’ finances or create a sense of obligation.
**2. Feedback and Advice:

Welcome feedback and advice from family and friends, but maintain an open mind and don’t ignore constructive criticism.
Draw the line when it comes to unsolicited or excessive interference in your business decisions. Remember, you are the one running the business.
**3. Word of Mouth and Promotion:

Encourage word-of-mouth promotion from family and friends, as it can be valuable for initial marketing efforts.
However, avoid pressuring or expecting them to promote your business continually. Your venture should succeed on its own merits.
**4. Separating Personal and Business Relationships:

Keep personal relationships separate from business matters to avoid potential conflicts or resentment.
Set clear boundaries and expectations with family and friends regarding the dynamics of your professional and personal interactions.
**5. Diversify Support Networks:

While family and friends can be an excellent source of initial support, work towards building a broader support network of customers, clients, mentors, and advisors from diverse backgrounds.
**6. Independence and Responsibility:

Take ownership of your business’s success or failure. Relying solely on family and friends for support can hinder your entrepreneurial growth and independence.
Embrace the challenges and learnings that come with building a business on your own merit.
**7. Gratitude and Appreciation:

Express genuine gratitude for the support you receive from family and friends.
Acknowledge their contributions, whether it’s financial, emotional, or through word-of-mouth promotion.
By setting clear boundaries, maintaining open communication, and appreciating the support you receive, you can strike a balance that allows you to leverage the positive aspects of family and friend support without compromising the integrity and independence of your new business. Ultimately, the success of your venture will be a reflection of your hard work, dedication, and ability to build a strong customer base and network beyond personal connections.

Major shout to the support of my family, friends, and communities. Particularly my auntie Jacqui Boston for always having my back and ensuring that I turn my goals into reality.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Are you aware that incorporating a daily freshly squeezed juice into your routine can provide numerous benefits for your immune system, energy levels, and overall well-being? By doing so, you’re effortlessly nourishing your body with the essential fruits and vegetables it needs to thrive.

There was a time when I wasn’t aware of this myself.

Greetings! My name is Kayla Hall, and I am the proud owner of The City Juicery.

Each of our meticulously crafted recipes is designed to address common lifestyle-related diseases that often stem from a lack of knowledge, physical activity, and unhealthy eating habits.

Among our selection, our most popular juice is currently Cotton Candy Beetz. This unique blend of red and golden beets offers a delightful taste while providing maximum benefits from the beets themselves.

Upon opening a bottle of Cotton Candy Beetz, the sweet aroma of fresh cotton candy will captivate your senses. However, the flavor will present a well-balanced combination of sweetness from pineapple, crispness reminiscent of apples, and a subtle hint of tartness derived from freshly squeezed lemon.

Starting a juicing business was never part of Kayla’s initial plan. She had her sights set on education policy and was well on her way. However, the toll of her work began to weigh heavily on her. It began with one health issue that quickly snowballed, leaving her without any viable solutions. In search of ways to improve her health, she took matters into her own hands and conducted extensive research. That’s when she discovered the power of juice. Beginning with 8 ounces of green juice and a daily ginger shot, she gradually noticed improvements in her well-being. Others around her also took notice. As she shared her experience with others, they became eager to join in on the journey. Through word of mouth, her reputation grew, and she found herself juicing for 20-30 individuals per week. What once started as a personal endeavor had transformed into a thriving business.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Several key factors have contributed to building The City Juicery’s strong reputation:

Quality Products: Our commitment to delivering fresh, cold-pressed juices made from high-quality, locally sourced ingredients has consistently impressed our customers. The premium TASTE and health benefits of our juices have played a significant role in establishing our reputation.

Health and Wellness: The emphasis on promoting health and wellness aligns with the growing consumer demand for nutritious options. Our tailored recipes designed to target lifestyle diseases have resonated well with health-conscious individuals and those who might need a little more information to make an informed decision.

Community Engagement: Actively participating in local events, collaborating with other businesses, and supporting community initiatives has helped us connect with our customers on a personal level. This engagement fosters trust and loyalty.

Transparency: We’ve maintained transparent communication about our ingredients, processes, and business practices. This transparency creates a sense of authenticity that customers appreciate.

Passionate Leadership: As the owner and a Nashville native, my genuine passion for wellness and the community shines through in everything we do. This authenticity has resonated with customers, who see our business as more than just your average juice bar.

Innovation: Introducing services like Door Dash delivery, 1:1 Coaching and leveraging technology to enhance accessibility has shown our commitment to convenience and staying relevant in a changing market.

Local and Family-Owned Identity: Being a black-owned, woman-owned, and family-operated business has helped us stand out. Supporting local businesses and being actively involved in the community has further solidified our reputation.

Word of Mouth: Positive customer experiences have naturally led to word-of-mouth recommendations, a powerful tool for building a reputation.

Media Exposure: Participation in events, collaborations, and our commercial have given us media exposure, further enhancing our visibility and reputation.

Consistency: Consistently delivering on our promises, whether it’s the taste of our juices or the quality of our service, has been pivotal in maintaining and enhancing our reputation.

In essence, it’s a combination of product quality, community engagement, transparent communication, authenticity, and a commitment to health that has contributed to building The City Juicery’s strong and positive reputation.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Story of Building Audience on Social Media: In general during live interactions at the markets and pop up I am consistently asking people “Do you follow us on Social Media?” Have you seen our New Juice Recipe on IG? etc

Start with a Strong Foundation: The City Juicery began by creating profiles on major social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Tik Tok. Each profile was consistent in branding, using our logo, colors, and style.

Authentic Content: We focused on creating content that genuinely reflected our brand’s values and offerings. Our posts showcased not only our delicious juices but also our commitment to health, community, and local partnerships.

Engaging Visuals: High-quality and visually appealing images played a significant role in attracting attention. Vibrant photos of our juices and the juicing process grabbed people’s interest. I have now had the opportunity to work along side professional videographer (TY TV) and photographer (Marvin Rutherford) .

Storytelling: We shared stories about our journey, the people behind the scenes, and our community involvement. This personal touch made our brand relatable and created a sense of connection.

Consistency: Regular posting kept our audience engaged. We used content calendars to plan ahead and ensure a steady stream of posts.

Interact and Respond: Engaging with our followers was a priority. Responding to comments, messages, and mentions showed that we valued their interaction. In addition, doing LIVE reviews at events.

Collaborations and Partnerships: Collaborating with local influencers, businesses, and organizations expanded our reach. It exposed us to new audiences who shared similar interests.

Hashtags: Using relevant and trending hashtags helped our posts become discoverable to a broader audience interested in health and wellness.

Advice for Building Social Media Presence:

Define Your Brand: Clearly define your brand’s identity, values, and mission. This forms the foundation for your social media content.

Know Your Audience: Understand your target audience’s interests, preferences, and behaviors. Tailor your content to resonate with them.

Create Engaging Content: Post content that informs, entertains, or adds value to your audience’s lives. Visuals, videos, stories, and infographics can all be effective.

Consistency is Key: Regular posting keeps your audience engaged and informs them that you’re active and relevant.

Interact and Respond: Engage with your followers through comments, likes, and responses. This fosters a sense of community and shows you value their input.

Use Hashtags Wisely: Research and use relevant hashtags to expand your reach. But avoid overloading your posts with too many hashtags.

Collaborate and Network: Collaborate with influencers, complementary businesses, and relevant organizations. This introduces your brand to new audiences.

Analytics and Adaptation: Monitor your social media analytics to understand what works and what doesn’t. Adapt your strategy based on the insights you gain.

Be Authentic: Share behind-the-scenes glimpses, stories, and personal experiences. Authenticity builds trust and connection.

Patience: Building a strong social media presence takes time. Don’t get discouraged if results aren’t immediate. Stay consistent and focused on your goals.

The journey of building a social media audience is both exciting and challenging. By staying true to your brand, engaging authentically, and consistently providing value, you can gradually build a strong and dedicated online community.

SPECIAL MENTIONS TO MY MOTHER MY FATHER AND ALL OF MY FAMILY, FRIENDS and  Communities of supporters.

Contact Info:

• Website: thecityjuicerynash.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecityjuicery/
• Facebook: The City Juicery
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCALL1_Cju_KO9DYEj25W7pQ

Image Credits
Marvin Rutherford Photography