Today we’d like to introduce you to Haley Love.
Hi Haley, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
it all started during a community health fair in Waco, Texas. I had just moved there from Atlanta to start my first big girl job as a public health specialist at the Waco McLennan County public health District. In preparation for the health fair my colleagues and I decided to host a smoothie demonstration so we came up with different recipes for healthy, delicious smoothies and I ended up making the smoothies for the event. Once I made them and I tasted the smoothies, I was thoroughly impressed and I was excited for the community members to try them. As soon as I saw the look on their faces after they tried my smoothies, I knew that I was onto something greater than just smoothie demonstrations at my job. They couldn’t believe that something so healthy could also taste so good!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s definitely been a challenge to follow my dreams and run a business. My professional background is in public health so running a business was never something that I thought I would do. As a first-time business owner, there were so many things that I had to learn and a lot of research that had to be done and that I’m still doing. Additionally, I’m self funded so that has limited my reach to different populations and partnerships across greater Houston. I’m currently working on obtaining grants so that I can offer my smoothies at different locations and keep my prices low. I’ve also had to overcome self-doubt and comparing Twenty4:7 Smoothery with other, more established smoothie businesses out there.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I don’t just talk the talk, I walk the walk! Health and wellness isn’t just a brand or something to make money off of; it’s a way of life for me. The sole reason I decided to start my own smoothie business was because I wanted to introduce people to a healthier way of eating that is also tasty and accessible to them. In my professional life, I do HIV/STD research and outreach as a Program Coordinator for the Wellness in Houston Program at THEE Prairie View A&M University. I’m also a group fitness instructor and have been coaching boxing fitness in the greater Houston area for about two years now. I am extremely proud of where I am professionally because I get to help others live a better quality of life and collaborate with partners across the city to address barriers to health. This type of work has greatly influenced the purpose and goals I have for my business.
What’s next?
My goals for the future include continuing to work in the Greater Houston community to educate, advocate and provide resources for healthier living. I’m hopeful that I can obtain a grant soon to further this mission through my smoothie business. I don’t want to just sell smoothies, I want to introduce people to a new lifestyle through healthy eating. I want to make healthier eating accessible to people who don’t normally see smoothie businesses in their communities and who don’t normally have access to nutritious snack foods and at an affordable cost.
Pricing:
- Hazina (Green smoothie) – $7.50
- Sunshine (vitamin C packed smoothie) – $7.50
- Red Sea (best seller, berry smoothie) – $8
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twenty47smoothery
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/haleyalove
Image Credits
No Ceilingz Photography Ellis Event Photos
