Today we’d like to introduce you to Kandyce Richmond.
Kandyce, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In June 2017, my husband and I welcomed a sweet baby girl. After having her, I did not know if I wanted to go back to work after my maternity leave. As my leave began to come to a close, I had a conversation with my husband, John, about the emotional roller-coaster I was on about going back to work after the baby. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to pull the trigger to be a stay-at-home mom. Yet, I was feeling a ton of guilt about leaving our daughter and going back to my career.
John is always looking for new business opportunities to get involved in. So, when he turned to me and said “Kandyce, you would be really good at running a smoothie shop” I thought that it was such a random thought, but not far-fetched. We are plant-based. So, smoothies and juices are an everyday staple in our home, and owning a smoothie shop seemed right up my ally the more I thought about it. The good news is that I did not have time to think long because the very next day Mango Tree was put on the market. How crazy? The hubs came home and said “there is a smoothie shop for sale in the area. Let’s check it out.” We went. We loved it. We bought it. The very best part is that our doggy’s name is Mango and the store is named Mango Tree, so naturally, John and I thought it was fate.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road to success was not initially the easiest for me because I was completely swamped with mommy-hood. going back to work and the business. Oh my gosh! I took on entirely too much. I was a sales rep, and my territory was over an hour away. Everyday I would get up in the morning (after getting up several times throughout the night with the baby), get us dressed and out of the house. I would drop her off, go into the store before I started my calls, and then headed most times an hour and a half away to work. I was done. I was exhausted, spent, frustrated, overworked, and quickly losing steam. Owning a business seemed like a great idea, but owning a business with a seven-month-old, and trying to transition into going back to work was less than ideal. I would not recommend it.
On that note, the advice that I would give to women starting out is, don’t listen to me. Do it anyway! Yes, it’s a lot. Yes, you will be burned out (especially if you have small children), but with drive and a fierce will it will all come together as it should. I transitioned out of my job in September 2018 to run the business full-time, and it has been the best decision thus far. Don’t be afraid to delegate. Ask for help. Most importantly, try not to feel guilty for not being able to get it all done. You cannot be everything to everything. It is okay to walk away, take a breath, and save some things for later. It will be fine. Trust me.
We’d love to hear more about Mango Tree Raw Juice and Smoothies.
At Mango Tree, we specialize in tasty health. What I mean is that we specialize in healthy items that actually taste good. There is a huge misconception that just because something is good for you, that it does not taste good. That’s simply not the case. Yes, we do smoothies and acai bowls, but we do it better than your favorite. All of our smoothies are handcrafted to have their own special personality and our bowls are hands down the best in the state. We juice fresh daily, too. We will be serving the classic items like avocado toast and nut butter toasts and a few other tasty treats in the very near future. We’ve got a lot of great things coming down the pipeline that we are super excited about.
As a brand, we are most proud of our products and our customer service. The good folks that choose to spend their money and their time with us know how much they are valued and how much we appreciate every single one of them. Every person who steps foot into Mango Tree is considered a new best friend. We get to know them, their orders, and we give them a multitude of reasons to come back. We want our customers to know that they are family to us! We are beyond thrilled to put a smile on their face, and a tasty tickle on their tongue with every visit.
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
Absolutely! My greatest gift is my gift of voice. I am an orator. I am a songstress. I communicate best through song. I am a motivator. I love to motivate those around me. I reach people with my words. It is my divine purpose.
Growing up, I always received a “needs improvement” in talking on my progress report. I just can’t help myself. I’m not someone who talks your ear off. Well, I was when I was much younger. Now, as a woman, I’m someone who has something to say. So, whether I’m singing, acting, or just making conversation, I’ve always known that I had something special when it came to my voice. With that being said, I have also always known that I wanted to do my own thing. I’m so use to walking to the beat of my own drum, that often times I felt stifled within certain work environments. I love being myself, and I’m at the place in my life where I have to be in a space where I am perfectly me at all times. I have always been very self-aware and very much my own person. I lose passion quickly when I’m not living in my purpose, and Mango Tree is a part of my purpose.
Contact Info:
- Address: Mango Tree
3900 Legacy Park Blvd
Suite D-200 - Website: magnotreeatl.com
- Phone: 678-903-4419
- Email: richandreplenished@gmail.com
- Instagram: mangotreejuiceandsmoothies
- Facebook: Mango Tree Raw Juice + Smoothies
Image Credit:
Kandyce Richmond
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