Where did you get your business idea?
Well, they all connect. My husband actually came up with the idea to make fruit tea. He would get juices from other places and enjoy them but they were so expensive. We wanted to make the teas but without the outrageous prices so we thought why not make something good with a better price.
When did you make your first sale?
It was to a friend who was having a birthday party in 2016. Later in 2017, we did a Pop-up Shop and that was our first public sale.
What is unique about running and owning a business in Murfreesboro?
I think a lot of success in this town comes from networking and forming relationships. If you are not from here like I am, it is difficult to form relationships because you do not have those foundations already in place.
How do you advertise your business?
For starters, it is important to tell your story through your marketing. We use social media a lot (Facebook and Facebook Live) to post our products. In addition, showing and being authentic is the best way to market; it shows reliability.
If you could wave a magic wand to get rid of a problem in your business what would it be?
I would get rid of the Fruit Tea having to be refrigerated. Our teas have to stay cold which puts a limit on us. When people want our product in their stores, we have to figure out how we can transport it without it going bad since it is all-natural ingredients.
If you travel back to the day you started your business what advice would you give yourself?
I wish we would have gotten a trailer a little earlier. However, you kind of have to go through the processes and appreciate the stages.
What is one business lesson that you would share with other entrepreneurs?
You have to start with an end goal in mind and be careful you are not creating a job but a business. Make sure you build your business to run without you.
Are there any books or podcasts you listen to to help you?
The E-Myth book has opened my eyes to see my problems when we started the business and helped me make changes. I started listening to the podcast “Getting things Done” because I am a creative person and fairly organized but listening to that helped me see how others stay organized to build their systems and make them more effective.
What do you use for your daily To-do list?
Google is my friend because of the various options it offers like calendars and tasks. It helps and allows me to stay organized even when having a busy schedule. Of course, I write some things down when it’s in the moment, but I prefer digital assistance.
Discover more about Franklin’s Fruit Tea here.
