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

Sydney, appreciate you joining us today. Do you have a hero? What have you learned from them?

My hero would definitely be my father. He is the definition of perseverance, grit, and discipline. He came from nothing and made something of his life, and in the process of doing so he changed lives, inspired others and gave back to the communities around him. My father passed at the age of 34, when I was ten years old, but his legacy lives on today. Before passing, he was a NCAA Men’s Basketball National Champion, and 9 year NBA veteran and NBA Coach. He was never supposed to land the scholarship, or even be in the NBA. He was the second to last pick and got cut, only to become one of the top five guards the following season. After his passing, I constant run into people all over the country who can’t wait to share stories with me of how he impacted their lives in some way or another. I learned, that people are always watching, and each interaction could be life changing for the other person. I learned to always lead with kindness and compassion. There are days that the juice bar where I am utterly exhausted but to our employees and customers, I aim to lead with kindness as I watched my father do. Life get’s hard for all of us, and people are constantly going through things so If I can be a bright spot in someones day, I am happy. My father has been dead almost 30 years and he kindness still lives on, I hope that folks can say the same about me long after I am gone.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am the co-owner, alongside Lavell Wells, of Cherry Pickin’ Juicery & Goods located in Louisville, Kentucky. We opened in September 2023 after seeing a need for healthy food and juice options in downtown Louisville. Both of us come from business and marketing backgrounds and had never opened a brick and mortar business, let along one in the food service space. We ended up working with a company called, Goodnature leading up to our launch on everything from cultivating our menu, to having their consultants come out and train our staff. We wanted to be as prepared as possible with our new venture. We are located in the heart of Bourbon County, but with us being at a tourist destination, folks are always looking for a balance in their diet. So, we created a space for those to come in and get some good nutrients for their body and support their health and wellness efforts. Alongside our juices, smoothies, bowls, and other food options we provide the opportunity for our customers to participate in our run club to work on their physical health as well. It has been awesome creating a community of wellness. I am most proud of the pride that our customers take part in consuming our products. The main thing that we preach with our business/brand is that we all need balance when it comes to our health and wellness. I eat fairly clean 80% of the time but I love a good cheat meal, late night pizza, and other treats. I want others to not feel judged about their habits and feel good among a community of people who are also doing the best they can with their health and wellness.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

My co-founder is also my significant other. We actually met online during the pandemic. He was (and still does) work as a film producer and I was working in sports marketing. We connected over many things but our creativity and worth ethic led us to wanting to open a business together.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

Funding our business was definitely a process. We applied for a community loan and got approval at the end of 2023. We were shocked but super excited because it really put the dream within reach. We decided to move forward but knew we would need additional capital along the way to see it through. From credit cards, to personal investments we were able to pull things together to get opened!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cherrypickingoods.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cherrypickingoods/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CherryPickinGoods/
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/cherrypickingds
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cherry-pickin-louisville

Image Credits

Zaineb Hassan