Smoothie Startup From Home

[ethical PR]

Nick you did make me smile.. The idea of a diet coke being a healthy lifestyle choice low calorie yes - healthy certainly not

However I agree with the broader discussion about not making health claims the OP can't sustaniate.

I think there maybe a market for those liking for an'au naturale' product but I would use plastic not glass and as I and others have said distribute through relevant outlets after product testing at markets and events

 

[chris.green]

Hi guys,
thank you for your posts. Any ideas how to conduct the market research I was talking about? Do you think that my idea of £500 investment in samples would be a fruitful one? As for arguments:
I am for glass because it is more safer then plastic for our health. If foods or drinks are kept in plastic containers, studies have shown that nasty chemicals from plastic are transferred to foods or drinks.
Organic veggies and fruits are environmentally friendly because there are no pesticide nor herbicide used in the production. Basically an organic farmer takes care about the land. Keep the land free of chemicals and you've got healthy foods. Organic land means more creatures which live in the grounds.
Drinking green smoothies or any other smoothies on a daily basis, made from organic veggies and fruits, with no sugars added or yogurts WILL change your life around. We have to eat loads of green leafy veggies to improve our health both mentally and physically. Almost half of our daily diet should be green leafy veggies and as you can not chew 1 pound of green leafs it's better to smoothie them.
Our human nature makes us to doubt everything. We need studies to show us that eating fast foods or any other food that harms human body, will at some point in our life damage our health. We tend to forget the common sense when it comes for the foods we eat. After all you are what you eat. (Human digestive system is a vegetarian one).
By the way, did you know that Diabetes can be cured in 30 days with a raw vegan life style? I would recommend everyone to read Dr. Joel Fuhram's book "Eat to Live".
I do not make statements about smoothies based on nothing.

 

[ethical PR]

Hi

Before you do your research you need to decide who your customers are.

You've been advised on here that it's unlikely for you to run a viable business delivering to office professionals because of the logistics involved and because people like me (one of your target market) prefer to impulse buy and wont want to order in advance.

However if you have done your homework and have the figures to show that office deliveries stack up then go ahead and market test through samples but remember people will take lots of things for free - that doesn't mean they will pre order it for next day delivery.

The general consensus here is that you would be better trialing it at food markets where you can give away samples and sell at the same time you could also see if you could ask to do this at health food shops and gyms.

By the way plastics don't ' leach into/contaminate food and drink products' and you can't 'cure' being a diabetic by having a raw vegan diet. Rather some types of diabetes can be managed by diet but this does not have to be a raw vegan one.

Scaremongering with inaccurate information is wrong and when it comes to someone's health is even worse.

Trial your product in the right places to attract your target audiences and if you are successfully selling your product and getting feedback on it from your target audience this will help you to decide how to take your business forward.

 

[chris.green]

Hi, thank you again. I will not argue with you about my statements about the raw vegan life style and its benefits. There are tons of information about the affluence diseases which can be cured with this life style. Try The China Study by Dr. T Campbell. By the way did you know there is not such a thing as "Irreversible Heart Condition"? Any how, it's up to every single individual to pick up the correct information which does make sense. After all it's all about common sense. Nutrition has just started to be studied recently. When traditional medicine cannot cure, guess what, people turn to nature as the last solution. And it works, people get better when they feed their bodies with real foods high in nutrients, phytonutrients and live enzymes. Magic? Definitely not, just the way the human body works.

 

[fisicx]

If foods or drinks are kept in plastic containers, studies have shown that nasty chemicals from plastic are transferred to foods or drinks.

Incorrect. There are 5 standards of plastic used for food. Choose the right one and you can use them safely.

By the way, did you know that Diabetes can be cured in 30 days with a raw vegan life style? I would recommend everyone to read Dr. Joel Fuhram's book "Eat to Live".

This is so wrong it's dangerous. Type 1 diabetes cannot be cured, it can only be managed. Type 2 diabetes can be controlled by diet in many cases but not all.

 

[NickGrogan]

I do not make statements about smoothies based on nothing.

No, you make statements based on lies and misinformation, some of your statements are potentially dangerous.

there is not such a thing as "Irreversible Heart Condition" - Lie, ask any heart specialist
Nutrition has just started to be studied recently - Lie, unless you consider ancient Greece as recent. Plato wrote about in the C5th BC.
people get better when they feed their bodies with real foods high in nutrients, phytonutrients and live enzymes - A dangerous lie, there are many, many diseases on which diet has little/no effect.
live enzymes - Lie, enzymes are chemicals, they are neither living nor dead.
If foods or drinks are kept in plastic containers, studies have shown that nasty chemicals from plastic are transferred to foods or drinks. - Lie, millions, if not billions are meals and drinks are prepared and stored every day in plastic containers. Where are all the sick/dead people.
Drinking green smoothies or any other smoothies on a daily basis, made from organic veggies and fruits, with no sugars added or yogurts WILL change your life around. - Lie, it may improve your health, it may not, it depends on what you were eating before and after you drink smoothies, among other things.
Human digestive system is a vegetarian one - Lie, look at your teeth, study your stomach and intestines. Are they like those of a horse/cow? Why not?
did you know that Diabetes can be cured in 30 days with a raw vegan life style? LIE, AS MENTIONED ABOVE TYPE 1 IS INCURABLE. NOT ONLY ARE YOU LYING, YOU ARE PUTTING PEOPLE'S LIVES AT RISK.

 

[ethical PR]

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/What-is-diabetes/Is-there-a-cure/

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Diabetes-type2/Pages/Treatment.aspx

 

[Urban Publications]

If a vegan diet is so beneficial then where am I getting my intake of Vitamin B12?

I have just read that 92% if vegans are B12 deficient

also this

• Animal protein contains all the essential amino acids in the right ratios. It is important for muscle mass and bone health, to name a few. Vegans don’t get any animal protein, which can have negative effects on body composition.
  
  
• Creatine helps form an energy reservoir in cells. Studies show that vegetarians are deficient in creatine, which has harmful effects on muscleand brain function
  
  
• Carnosine is protective against various degenerative processes in the body and may protect against aging. It is found only in animal foods.
  
  
• Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) is the most active form of Omega-3 fatty acids in the body and primarily found in animal foods. The plant form of Omega-3s, ALA, is inefficiently converted to DHA in the body

 

[Christine Hough]

Regardless of whether the health claims are valid, you would not be able to make any such claim without masses of evidence. Double blind trials ets

 

[Christine Hough]

To Lie or not to Lie?

Nothing is as final as people would say in medicine one way or the other. Medical science is based on a particular way of testing efficacy. Much folk medicine has not been tested in the same way and is anecdotal. (Doesn't mean its not true in some cases)

When all is said and done many times individual's health / illhealth does not pan out as a doctor expects. Same is true on herbalism too.

I think both overstate the finality of their case and there is much than can be done to improve health which is not medicinal.

This film http://www.superjuiceme.com/ was certainly interesting but by no means a proof in every case.

 

[chris.green]

Hi,
I am not here argue with you guys. I am searching business related advice. In the end every one is free to believe whatever he/she wants.

I am wondering though, how a cow or a chicken gets its protein from grass? hmmm.....strange, isn't it? grass has proteins? no way... maybe the scientists who said that 100 g of broccoli has more protein than 100 g of steak, they were all insane.

B12...well this vitamin is made by a bacteria found in dirt. Animals do not wash what they are eating, so animals get their B12. Humans wash their foods, so, no more dirt, no more B12. That is way most of the vegans or raw vegans have B12 deficiency. But guess what, there are B12 supplements which, by the way, are not made from animal flesh.

And a bit about proteins... did you know that the human body has over 2 millions kind of proteins? Did you know that proteins are made from amino-acids? All you really need are amino-acids not proteins. And there are just 9 essential amino-acids that your body cannot produce. As a wonder of nature just plants produce essential amino-acids...not animals.

Plants = Essential Amino-Acids PRODUCERS
Animals (including humans) = Essential Amino-Acids CONSUMERS
... so basically, when humans eat meat, they actually eat second hand essential amino-acids. It's quite straightforward thinking. It's not rocket science.

Enzymes...has anybody heard about digestive enzymes or the metabolic enzymes? do you know how they work? do you know that let's say a raw broccoli has digestive enzymes that will help digests its self once it's in your stomach so your body will not have to produce more then the normal quantity of the digestive enzymes, so your body could produce more of the metabolic enzymes which are much need it for everyday function of your body? Did you ever wonder why you feel sleepy after a nice dinner which was all made from cooked foods?It's because your body is busy to produce more digestive enzymes, in order to digest the cooked food which has no living enzymes, instead of metabolic enzymes.

Any way, I believe it's not polite or nice to call somebody a LIAR when you do not have any strong evidence that his/hers statements are wrong. As for the part that I might misleading people and play with their health...well, do not worry for that...as they can take legal action against me if they will deteriorate their health because of my smoothies or because I say smoothies will change their life around. I do not advise people which have any kind of health issue to give up their medication or not to see their GP. All I say is that the raw vegan life style can cure most of the affluence diseases. People are free to check if what I say is a LIE or not. All I want to do is to make and sell smoothies.

So, PLEASE, if you have any advice related to businesses that you are more then welcome to share it and I appreciate that, BUT if you don't have any, and all you want is to post something, then PLEASE write me in PM.
Thank you guys

 

[Urban Publications]

As for the part that I might misleading people and play with their health...well, do not worry for that...as they can take legal action against me if they will deteriorate their health because of my smoothies or because I say smoothies will change their life around. I do not advise people which have any kind of health issue to give up their medication or not to see their GP. All I say is that the raw vegan life style can cure most of the affluence diseases. People are free to check if what I say is a LIE or not. All I want to do is to make and sell smoothies.

Its not about peoples health deteriorating due to your smoothie, ,its about the claims, that are flawed you are making

No disrespect you are looking at all the positives of the product and have forgotten to search for the negative effects of a vegan lifestyle.

You mentioned supplements for B12, well if the vegan diet was so great why do we need to start taking extra supplements to get a balance of what the human body requires

Its fair enough that you want to sell smoothies,, no problems, but statements like "All I say is that the raw vegan life style can cure most of the affluence diseases" is a very bold and is not proven,

But I am sure if you start making claims like that Food Standards Agency and Department of Health will be knocking on the door, just as they did when Innocent smoothies started making claims that one of their smoothies is equivalent to two pieces of fruit or veg a day, and it was apparently only equivalent to one

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-s...lty-of-making-false-health-claims-395806.html

 

[Christine Hough]

Urban Publications is right. If you make any claim for your product you need to be able to back it up with hard evidence.

I for one am not knocking you for wanting to sell smoothies, and in many cases I think they do benefit. That is a personal opinion. In business a personal opinion is not enough to state benefits either in writing or in conversation with your customers.

This forum also shows that not everyone agrees with you. You cannot foist your view or remedies on anyone. I have seen smoothie bars open and close in our city.

Even if you are 100% right it does not make for a good business. You need to think clearly about your marketing and the claims you will be making. Your comments about B12 leave me wondering if you will be cleaning the produce first. I am sure you will. But nature is not always an effective cure, pathogens also dwell in earth and animals do get ill and die.

 

[fisicx]

Chris, nobody has a problem with you selling smoothies. But you are projecting a lifestyle concept that can't be verified.

If you just sell the product then you will be fine. Put unsubstantiated claims on the bottle and you will be in trouble.

 

[chris.green]

Fisicx thank u for this advice. On the label will be just my logo and nutrition facts like calories and so on.

 

[CompuGlobal-Hyper-MegaNet]

As for the argument - whether it's true or not, it doesn't matter. All that matters is that consumers believe it and buy into it - and they do, in huge volumes.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...homeopathic-remedies-theyre-popular-work.html

The major flaw I see in this idea is that logistics will be prohibitively expensive for a relatively low cost item.

 

[chris.green]

There was this woman from Chicago I think, who started exactly the same business I want to start. She prepared fresh organic smoothies and then she sold them to busy working ppl. So I was thinking that if this was possible in the US than why not in the UK also. Her business is growing and she recently opened a smoothie bar also.

 

[Raw Rob]

Chris, I run a raw food business, if you get your business started I can help you with promoting it, through my website and printed magazine (for free, although there are also paid adverts available in the magazine.) Please feel free to PM me.

 

[Urban Publications]

Fisicx thank u for this advice. On the label will be just my logo and nutrition facts like calories and so on.

Its not just about the label, you cannot make these claims anywhere, ie Website, Online advertising, Offline etc etc, you cant promote this smoothie the way it sounds like you want to promote it

ie
"did you know that Diabetes can be cured in 30 days with a raw vegan life style?"
"Human digestive system is a vegetarian one"

After you sparked a bit of interest in this Vegan/Veggie debate I did a little research and if I am being totally honest, the people promoting/recommending this diet seem to be Vegetarians, vegans and the more green people among use, whilst the scientific research seems to point in the opposite direction..,,which include more allergies, cancer and mental health issues in Veggie's

I can speak for most that we have the up-most respect for you starting your own business, and the consumer will respect you giving them facts ie 100% organic, No additives, No added sugar etc etc you will lose ALL that respect very quickly with unproven claims....until of course you have your smoothie tested by the right bodies to prove us all wrong,,,,,But sorry to say I doubt you will be able to prove us wrong, look at the market leaders, how much do you think they have paid on researching their products, £000's, they cant even claim that the drink is worth 2 pieces of Fruit or Veg...Its worth 1 no matter how many bottles you drink in one session

 

[chris.green]

Just to make it clear for me. If we need to eat five a day ( veggie and fruits) and lets just presume I make a smoothie from two bananas, 2 oranges and a bunch o spinach. So my math skills tells me that I have 3 portions out of 5. But some authorities will tell me that I have just one? If this is what they will tell me, then my friends we live in a very sick and insane world.
I have one question thgouh, as I am a raw vegan, I have watched and seen many raw vegans like Victoria Boutenko e.i. that spread the word about this life style making claims and writing books. No authority was bother so far with them. Doctors makinv claims and actually cured diabetis with raw vegan and vegan life style (dr. Joel Fuhram), probably you've heard about the Gerson Therapy curing final stage cancer. People with cancer were sent home with only months to live, they turned to nature as they had nathing to lose and they got cured. There are planty of confesions. There are ppl who make a living from spreading the word about the raw vegan and vegan life style. So my question is, how come they are not in trouble? I mean they make the same claims I made. They sell books written by themselfs, products, they even have catering businesses, they travell the world teaching ppl how to change their life with this raw vegan life style. How is this possible?

 

[Christine Hough]

There is freedom of speech. If you are selling a book arguing that (for example) you can knit earthworms into a compost blanket, you can do that. You can say your book is about earthworm compost because it is. You are rightly describing it, and pple can read and make their own mind up taking other research/experience into account.


But if you are selling the earthworm blankets and making claims for them, you can only say what is proven, because customers are buying the blankets on the basis of what you say. They are not buying information but a product.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

I don't like smoothies of any sort.

 

[businessfunding]

OP - from my perspective you are letting yourself be dragged into an irrelevant and destructive argument.

If you want a debate on the relative merits of veganism etc, start a different thread.

This thread is about your business model.

I'm presuming that you target market isn't dedicated vegans? (If it is you will need to derive specific benefits against other vegan options) - nor people who don't like smoothies?

More likely, you are targeting busy executives, who would favour something health but aren't committed to it?

Using softer terms like 'tasty', 'healthy', 'fresh', 'local' etc will create a positive ambience without stirring up debate (look at the way Innocent do it). It will need to be tasty to get repeat orders and referrals - it will need to be convenient to keep them out of Pret.

 

[fisicx]

The problem is their business model appears to be based on promoting the lifestyle benefits - which is where they may come unstuck.

I agree if they just stick to the fresh/local/convenient angle they might get some business but I tried one of these green veg smoothies at a farmers market this weekend and didn't enjoy it at all.

 

[Christine Hough]

I do like juicing and usually have a juice most days, I suspect that there are many health benefits. So I wish Chris well.

I would not start a business up around juicing in my area though because I have seen others fail. Its one thing to be convinced yourself, but another to persuade others.

You need to make credible claims which you can back up. You cannot use hearsay or anecdotal evidence other than as testimonials.

Your target clients may not share your beliefs

If they do they are probably the ones who already make their own

You need to deliver as they want it at the right time, temperature, place.

You need to provide consistent quality which meets food hygiene standards.

My concern for Chris is that just because it is good for someone's health does not mean people will buy it. Making health claims which are unbelievable is not going to help convince people. I don't say 'not true', but 'unbelievable' ie outside the range of belief of the potential clients.

I think there is enough information out there to improve most people's health and some fairly drastically, but out behaviour is more complicated that that.

The benefits of smoothie/ juicing is just one of many voices shouting at people.

 

[businessfunding]

My concern for Chris is that just because it is good for someone's health does not mean people will buy it. Making health claims which are unbelievable is not going to help convince people. I don't say 'not true', but 'unbelievable' ie outside the range of belief of the potential clients.

I think there is enough information out there to improve most people's health and some fairly drastically, but out behaviour is more complicated that that.

The benefits of smoothie/ juicing is just one of many voices shouting at people.

There is plenty of counter information which suggests that juicing renders ingredients nutritionally worthless and - in the case of fruit - positively dangerous.

My point is that the OP should avoid making any hard claims at all, just like Innocent do.

As you have said, most buyers will be buying into the vague belief of goodness - their key motivators will be taste, convenience & potentially price

You can imply healthy without making spurious claims - that is more than enough for most consumers

 

[NickGrogan]

Hi,
So, PLEASE, if you have any advice related to businesses that you are more then welcome to share it and I appreciate that, BUT if you don't have any, and all you want is to post something, then PLEASE write me in PM.
Thank you guys

If people make false claims, I'd rather point them out to everyone, than have them go unchallenged.

Business Advice

Your gross profit margin is too low, £1 won't go anywhere.

I want fresh smoothies, made now, not last night and stored in a fridge/car.

If you make false or exaggerated claims about health benefits, I will assume everything else is a lie. So, I will presume that they are not organic/green/etc and that you've bought some from ASDA and poured it into a different bottle. (This happens)

If you make false claims, trading standards will close you down at some point, and your public liability insurance will be void, making you personally liable.

There are rules as to what counts towards the "5 a day", you cannot make your own interpretation.

People want to order food/drinks/smoothies to consume now, not the day/night before. This has been fairly well covered in another tread.

Personal delivery to offices will be too expensive on a low value item, how can you deliver 1 smoothie to 3 separate offices all at 1:30.

If you turn up to any office and ask to speak to all the staff about your smoothies, to sell the benefits, you will be turned away. You may be able to explain to the receptionist in detail and give them samples for everyone, but your message will not be passed on.

People will drink almost anything if it's free, very very few will actually buy. Watch what happens in your local M & S, when they give wine/cookie samples.

There is a good market for smoothies, but you're looking in completely the wrong place.

Do some market research, find out who buys green smoothies, and where they spend their time. That is where you need to be selling.

 

[Urban Publications]

Just to make it clear for me. If we need to eat five a day ( veggie and fruits) and lets just presume I make a smoothie from two bananas, 2 oranges and a bunch o spinach. So my math skills tells me that I have 3 portions out of 5. But some authorities will tell me that I have just one? If this is what they will tell me, then my friends we live in a very sick and insane world.

You are in the market for making smoothies but have not done your research, blitzing fruit and veg breaks down the fibre content

Quote

"Disrupting the fiber, as happens in the process of making a smoothie, exposes more of the surface area of the food. This means it is absorbed more quickly, making it more likely that it will effect your blood sugar and insulin levels. Not only that, but the more of it you want to consume. When the food is whole, or even chopped, we have more invested in the project of eating by chewing, an important part of the digestive and satiety process."

I have one question thgouh, as I am a raw vegan, I have watched and seen many raw vegans like Victoria Boutenko e.i. that spread the word about this life style making claims and writing books.

She is selling her opinion, what a surprising miracle, the whole family had different illness's which were cured because they all followed the diet of her $68 book, she is saying this has cured her family, she is not promoting bi-products stating "This drink will cure yadda yadda yadda".

David Icke writes books do we all need to believe his claims???

No authority was bother so far with them. Doctors makinv claims and actually cured diabetis with raw vegan and vegan life style (dr. Joel Fuhram),

Please read the research to counter this study

Weight loss can help diabetics, it doesnt mean that a vegan diet is the reason, Joel Furnham carried out a study, of which has been later to been found flawed, the saving grace was that the members he did the study on lost weight, which will help in the control of diabetes...he was later found that he lied regarding the results

probably you've heard about the Gerson Therapy curing final stage cancer. People with cancer were sent home with only months to live, they turned to nature as they had nathing to lose and they got cured.

Now you are skating on VERY thin ice, some people may find this comment very insulting, again you have not done your research, studies have shown that it may be possible for cancer to just disappear....but no real strong evidence, especially non toward a vegan lifestyle

There are planty of confesions. There are ppl who make a living from spreading the word about the raw vegan and vegan life style. So my question is, how come they are not in trouble? I mean they make the same claims I made. They sell books written by themselfs, products, they even have catering businesses, they travell the world teaching ppl how to change their life with this raw vegan life style. How is this possible?

Can you show us links etc where these people are selling products with the same statements you are making, you have been drawn in and you are their perfect customer, if you want to believe them that is your prerogative, just dont start selling products with BS claims that you have no proof.

I can not see anything on Cancer Research, Diabetes UK stating that a vegan or a bloody smoothie has got anything to do with curing these illnesses.

Most of the people you have named dropped have been referred to as Quacktitioners

"a term that has long been understood to refer to untrained persons who pretend to be physicians and dispense medical treatment."

 

[NickGrogan]

probably you've heard about the Gerson Therapy curing final stage cancer. People with cancer were sent home with only months to live, they turned to nature as they had nathing to lose and they got cured.

Do you mean this one?

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/abo...ementary-alternative/therapies/gerson-therapy

£4000 per week for coffee enemas and a ton of fruit?

Have you ever heard of "survivorship bias", you might want to look it up before you make any more claims.

If you only look at those who survive then anything can be proven to work.

Let's imagine 100 people with incurable cancer, if they are very lucky 1 or 2 may survive a few years and be "cured"

If that one survivor happens to be a vegan or following some strange diet plan, then people will claim that the diet cured them, completely ignoring the other 5 or 6 vegans/dieters that died.

By the same logic if everyone who has incurable cancer spends 1 hour per day jumping up and down and singing, a few would survive and be "cured", so I can prove that jumping up and down cures cancer. Do you believe that I "cured" cancer?

 

[Urban Publications]

Let's imagine 100 people with incurable cancer, if they are very lucky 1 or 2 may survive a few years and be "cured"

I think you left out a few 000's on the 100

 

[ronnie7272]

Any advice is highly appreciated.
Chris

To sustain your business in the early days you need some reliable repeat orders. Create a list of sizeable private and public organisations in your local area and target them as key accounts. Most of these organisations will either have in house or third party catering in place who might already be offering fresh juices or steal your idea to keep the costs low. However it's worth a try. It's far easier to develop your business when you have sizeable repeat orders.

Telephone Health & Safety for advice on what you need to do to run your food business at home.

In terms of market research, simply fill your car/van with free samples and start door knocking but leave business cards and leaflets and start building up a potential client list / mailing list. As you are going round different local businesses ask them to complete simple questionnaires so you will gain a better understanding of price points, packaging, delivery, expectations etc. Industrial estates are a good idea as they are easily accessible but I would also go to big office blocks. As far as logistics in concerned, forget your business model based on pre-orders only. You just need to get out there, develop brand awareness and sell. Once your smoothies are sold out they are sold out, you have created a demand and disappointed customers will start asking if they can pre-order. If you haven't sold out towards the end of the day then just discount.

However whatever you do, don't go OTT on preaching the benefits of the raw vegan lifestyle as you are developing a brand and you don't want to nurture any negative thoughts associated with your brand. As a consumer I believe the raw vegan lifestyle does have benefits but I don't want to be preached it. All I am interested in is how much it cost and how fresh it is? I would prefer organic but I don't want to pay a premium. That's my opinion, now go and find out what everyone else's opinion is by doing your market research. You shouldn't ignore the comments made by contributors to your post which has resulted in a debate about whether or not you are stating fact or fiction as these people are a small sample of your potential client base and this is a good case study for you to understand what objections you might be expecting to overcome if you go OTT on selling the concept. You are selling a healthy drink to the general public period, no need to make any other claims. The general public have enough intelligence to understand eating/drinking more fruit and veg is healthy, they are just too lazy to do it and that's the gap in the market you are trying to fill.

As far as the business based in the US who has made a success using the same business model, you need to remember fruit and vegetables are far cheaper in the US than in the UK and Europe. If you can get the price point right I think you will have a successful business.

Don't be too stubborn about only having one product to sell - green smoothies. Again I understand the benefits from consuming greens and in the early days it's probably best to stick to green smoothies to make life easier but in the long term be open-minded with developing your product range.

 

[Christine Hough]

By the same logic if everyone who has incurable cancer spends 1 hour per day jumping up and down and singing, a few would survive and be "cured", so I can prove that jumping up and down cures cancer. Do you believe that I "cured" cancer?

There is some indication of benefits. I watched Jason Vales documentary of 12 people he took away for 28 days with a variety of illnesses. One was on 22 tablets a day and afterwards was on only 2. He could not walk far beforehand and by the end had done a long walk (5 or 10 km I recall)

Everyone of the 12 had benefited substantially. A range of illnesses improved, and these were the long term ones which cost the NHS and people a great deal: blood pressure; diabeties; IBS; colitis; depression; overweight; skin disorders; asthma.

As well as a pure juice diet, he also gave them a wonderful holiday in sunny Portugal, beautiful surroundings, daily exercise classes and personal coaching.

I suspect he also took 12 who had pretty poor diets beforehand.

However you cannot make these claims for a product applied as an add-on to an existing lifestyle. Nor without scientific appraisal.

 

[chris.green]

Hi guys,
thank you for all your posts. I have learned something useful, in business I'll better off to keep my beliefs for myself, right? Got it.
Next question if I may
Apparently I cannot start my business from home, so I need to find and rent a kitchen space. For this I need more money, which I do not have. Do you think it's a good idea to get along a friend as a partner? My friend would like to join me and he has some cash. So probably he will want to get like 30% of the business, while my wife and I will get the rest of 70%.
Cheers

 

[fisicx]

Kitchen space and all the equipment (such a sterilisers and chillers), and the van with coolers and marketing.

Why can't you get a business loan?

And you will need funds to cover costs for at least 12 months, probably 24 months.

Are they going to pay your wages of just the rent of the unit?

 

[Raw Rob]

Apparently I cannot start my business from home,

Why not? If you have a suitable kitchen, you just need to contact your local council health and safety department and they will come and check if it is ok.

 

[NickGrogan]

Hi guys,
thank you for all your posts. I have learned something useful, in business I'll better off to keep my beliefs for myself, right? Got it.
Next question if I may
Apparently I cannot start my business from home, so I need to find and rent a kitchen space. For this I need more money, which I do not have. Do you think it's a good idea to get along a friend as a partner? My friend would like to join me and he has some cash. So probably he will want to get like 30% of the business, while my wife and I will get the rest of 70%.
Cheers

Really bad idea, no matter how it pans out, this will lead to problems. Never take investments from friends.

Not sure about the splits either. If your friend is putting up all the capital, and therefore taking all the risk, why are you and your wife getting 70%?

If you go ahead, please spend some time and money on a partnership agreement that covers everything, and start thinking about what you'll say to your friend when all the money is gone.

 

[Urban Publications]

I'll better off to keep my beliefs for myself, right?

Yes, or write a book on them

Apparently I cannot start my business from home, so I need to find and rent a kitchen space.

Starting a business is about taking risks, not just financial, you are currently in research, at this point I don't think you are going to be given the death penalty for creating a few samples in your own kitchen, get your idea out there, see what the response is. if its a positive one then advance, if its negative then go back to the drawing board, it doesn't have to cost a bomb to see if it will work.

Giving my personal opinion, by all means bring your "Asparagus and Sweetcorn Smoothie" to 250 office workers but if it tastes like s#*t and the price isn't right then sling your hook, if its priced right, tastes right and makes my morning poo smell like strawberries, then you've got my vote

 

[businessfunding]

Hi guys,
thank you for all your posts. I have learned something useful, in business I'll better off to keep my beliefs for myself, right? Got it.
Next question if I may
Apparently I cannot start my business from home, so I need to find and rent a kitchen space. For this I need more money, which I do not have. Do you think it's a good idea to get along a friend as a partner? My friend would like to join me and he has some cash. So probably he will want to get like 30% of the business, while my wife and I will get the rest of 70%.
Cheers

Great, lesson 1 on board

Lesson 2 - how can anyone put a value on your business if you haven't worked and understood the business model?

Before looking for funding you really need to spend some time looking at this and fully understanding this - ideally you should start the business without resorting to loans or investment

 

[ethical PR]

Agree with business funding. Your priority at this stage is your business and marketing plan. And of course carry out your market research. You can also identify what sort of business support, grants and loans are available nationally and locally.


This will help you understand whether trying to sell into offices is a feasible model, or as has been suggested here that you would be better reaching potential customers through famers markets, markets, gyms, health food shops and festivals.

Once you know who you are potential customers and how you can best reach them you can think about what sort of marketing activities and costs will be involved in bringing your product to market.

 

[JonnyMP]

There are likely to be local regulations you will need to follow on food safety and preparation, which might involve inspection of your kitchen facility. The only issue that I have with this idea is how you will make it profitable, considering you will have to cover the cost of the actual product as well as delivery costs, not to mention employees or other business related expenses. Will you have some type of minimum order per customer?