1. Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
Ans: Fuel Juice Bar is located in Brooklyn, NY with 2 current locations. Fuel juice bar is a concept that was developed to provide healthy eats, with the first location in bedstuy Brooklyn. People in the area were yearning for a healthy food store with good clean food. And with the second location it was the same Idea, which opened up in November. The demand was there but nobody was supplying it. Fuel Juice Bar specializes in Cold Pressed Juice and clean all year around food. Our Superfood Bowls, which are made from Quinoa or Forbidden rice with vegan and Meat options, are full of flavor.
2. Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Ans: Growing Up in brooklyn and seeing the changes that is was going thru I saw an opportunity. I started reading and self educating myself and saw that majority if not all of the sicknesses and problems people have in our community is food related. So I wanted to make a change seeing that the demand was there.
3. What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
Ans: I started doing research and came across companies like juice press and juice generation. Seeing the direction they were headed in I saw potential in this field. The only difference was that these locations were only serving smoothies, cold pressed juices, and pre packaged foods. Not saying anything is wrong with this but Hot food was the missing component. I believe that is what differenciates me from the competition. Plus having a latin background I infuse that into our dishes creating wonderful flavored dishes.
4. What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans:
1- Believe in yourself and desire what you wish to accomplish
2- Have a plan and execute it
3- NO NEGATIVE THOUGHTS
5. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans:
1- Creative
2- Hard work
3- Persistence
6. How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans: All day. I am constantly thinking about ways to innovate or to make business better.
7. To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans: To mother and father who instilled a hard work and you can accomplish anything ethic that was instilled in me.
8. How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Ans: Marketing is always shifting via word of mouth or social media. I try to adapt to the changes but overall it is about having a good product without a good product marketing is useless.
9. Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
Ans: For first business it was myself and me reaching out to family for some loans. Second Business location I teamed up with friends who wanted to come on board and I knew they would bring something to the table
10. What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: Is being able to have a product or service that delivers and also always innovating and adapting to the changes in business
11. Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Ans: With more locations open and possibly expanding into other ventures
12. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans: Tesla
13. How important have good employees been to your success?
Ans: The right employees can make or break your business. There is No I without them (meaning employees)
14. How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
Ans: I don’t necessarily give up I just try to see if it would be worth it. Will it be something that can last. How much do I really know about this etc…
15. What motivates you?
Ans: Myself and just I have a drive for just wanting to do and be better
16. What are your ideals?
Ans: Respect, good morals and ethics. Treat the janitor with the same respect you treat a owner
17. How do you generate new ideas?
Ans: I Constantly read, read ,read
18. How do you define success?
Ans: Success to me is about making an impact not in my life but in the life of others. Via employment or just overall relationships with other people.
19. How do you build a successful customer base?
Ans: Delivering a product that is WORTH it
20. What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Ans: The success of a business depends on me
21. What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Ans: Being in business
22. What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
Ans: Taking risk
23. What kind of culture exists in your organization? How did you establish this tone and why did you institute this particular type of culture?
Ans: Respectful team culture. Teamwork
24. In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Ans: ambition