Today we’d like to introduce you to Lydia Tunstall
Hi Lydia , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Juicing wasn’t a business strategy initially. I wanted my young children to eat a rainbow diet. Being a nerd at heart with multiple degrees, I read studies during graduate school on demographic cohorts and their disease susceptibilities. I wanted better for my children but wasn’t open to preparing or consuming some foods in a rainbow diet. So, I went back to my roots and thought juicing them would be the best way.
It began when my son, small at the time, shared that he didn’t want to eat his vegetables. While I was encouraging him on how great they were for him and how they would make him big and strong, he called me out on what he had observed, unbeknownst to me. My son, T.J., explained that he didn’t want to eat his vegetables because he saw me discreetly throwing mine out each night after dinner without touching them. Being a huge advocate of honesty with children, especially when they are aware, this realization made me return to my roots of juicing, inspired by my Caribbean family background.
After a stint of trial and error and many evenings of my children refusing to drink the juice and sharing how disgusting it was, one night during dinner that changed—they asked for more juice.
Then my juicing expanded to friends and family, having them taste organic, real juice that wasn’t diluted with water and had no sugar added. It benefited the whole family and was a great option for our bodies. As guests came over, I offered them fresh juice, and everyone loved it. Even vegetables they normally wouldn’t consume were enjoyed in the liquid recipes I put together.
Word of mouth is powerful. People in the community began asking me to make juice for children who were vitamin deficient and others with texture issues.
While making juice for the community, I would purchase the produce, spend lots of time cleaning, preparing, and pressing the juice, all at no cost. This made me realize it might be a communal need, so I prayed about it. God affirmed that this was a path He placed me on that I did not see coming. I talk to God like He is my homegirl or homeboy. I said, “Okay, Lord, if this is what you want me to do, then you are going to have to send me a sign and send me the customers too.” Shortly after, I received my certification and rented space in a shared kitchen for shipping and grab-and-go orders. Then, someone from Crunch Fitness reached out, requesting interest in a partnership. From there, I’ve been creating the history that I’m living out now with hundred of customers visiting my brick and mortar.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing about the road from shipping orders to a physical brick-and-mortar store has been smooth. Getting funding was incredibly hard, but it made me work smarter to secure it independently. I faced discrimination from prospective landlords and dealt with the political challenges of being a double minority business owner, which is not for the faint-hearted. Even some of my relationships were challenged. But God prepared me for it all before any of it took place. People I once considered friends simply disappeared. One thing about me is that I always show up for my people in every way. However, when the opportunity arose for some to show up for me, they did not. This isn’t about airing dirty laundry, but to inform the next young man or woman to keep going no matter what comes your way. Stay focused and know that the breakthrough is getting closer. I have to acknowledge all of my friends and family that showered me with love and support and the substantial strangers as well.
Throughout the entire process, I was broken and fighting many battles at once. I lost five family members over a five-month period, was still working a corporate job where I faced discrimination, and was T-boned by an 18-wheeler, which totaled me vehicle and left me partially handicapped. I felt like I was losing my mind. The enemy was trying to attack me from every angle, but he wanted my mind the most. Yet, I knew nothing could ever break my trust and faith in the Lord.
I was battling numerous challenges while trying to maintain my corporate job to fund my brick-and-mortar business. I felt like I was failing my family because I was so consumed with everything and couldn’t be my best for my husband and children. When the brick-and-mortar was finally complete, I was still in therapy for the physical and emotional damage from the accident. Just when I thought I had endured enough, I was diagnosed with two large tumors in my uterus, one the size of a cantaloupe and another slightly smaller, along with five additional tumors. My entire uterus is affected.
So, to answer your question about whether the road has been smooth: no, it hasn’t. Lol
While still partially handicapped, I will continue to keep God first and move forward. I won’t go into detail about my health, which remains a daily battle, but I will say that I have chosen a holistic path.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Cold Pressed Gwinnett is Top-tier cold pressed juice bar and cafe experience in Gwinnett. Our menu is 100% organic dairy-free and sugar free. Our juices are crafted with superfoods, ensuring a nutrient-packed punch in every sip and bite. We never dilute our juices with water, guaranteeing maximum flavor and health benefits in every bottle.
We are an all-organic restaurant offering plant-based food, detox juices, and gluten-free raw options. We specialize in making all of our nut milks and sauces in-house using the finest ingredients for optimal health. What elevates CPG is our commitment to providing truly healthy food that also tastes amazing. With minimal wait times and consistently high-quality service, our customers frequently compliment us on their dining experience.
Because it’s not just about the juice – we pride ourselves on offering incredible customer service to make everyone’s experience with us seamless and enjoyable. Whether you’re looking to kickstart a healthy lifestyle or simply enjoy delicious, wholesome drinks, our menu is renowned as the best tasting in Gwinnett.
I invite everyone to taste the difference with Cold Pressed Gwinnett and discover a juice and raw food experience like no other. Your body will thank you, and your taste buds will rejoice!
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
I recommend forming your business right away, subsequently creating an account with Dun & Bradstreet to get a duns number for the business and creating brand awareness.
Ensure your business pages look professional, as you never know who is watching. Avoid taking a profit, reinvest it all back into the business. Keep your day job. Once you’ve opened a brick-and-mortar location and completed at least one year of operation, take a small profit. Invest in a physical address for your business that is not a home address and a phone number that is not a virtual number, but should instead by a separate line in the name of the business. You have to have good credit to start a business, it will be the credibility that all lenders need. Secure lines of credit for your business as soon as possible
Even if you’re not ready for a physical location, start exploring rental spaces and introduce yourself to the health department to understand health codes and expectations for future spaces.
Before selecting a rental space, ask current business owners about their experiences with the property manager and the shopping center as a whole. Above all, love what you do. Every day will be different, and it won’t always be easy. Do not invest a lot of money into classes or people that have done it, I’ve found they will never really provide you with all the information that you’ll need. Trust in taking the time to do the research yourself. Taking the shortcut only proves that there are things you will miss. Find a mentor, respect their time and offer a benefit to them in return. Last, create a circle of people that you can learn from on your path and also make certain they can learn things from you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.coldpressedgwinnett.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coldpressedgwinnett
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColdPressedGwinnett/
- Other: Cold Pressed Gwinnett Juice Club (Group on Facebook)
