THE JUICE BAR CONCEPT THAT ALMOST DIDN’T MAKE IT!

When we first conceptualized our restaurant, we were convinced that a juice bar concept comprising fresh fruit juices, smoothies, sandwiches and salads would be a hit in Accra! We spent months holding team meetings to perfect our concept, scouting the perfect location and designing the menu. But when we finally launched, we were shocked to find that customers just weren’t biting!

For months, we struggled to attract more than a handful of customers per day. I was on the verge of giving up, convinced that we had misread the market entirely. But then something changed. I started listening to our customers, really listening. And what I heard was that they loved our juices, but they wanted more. They wanted healthy local food options, a welcoming atmosphere, and a sense of community.

So we pivoted. We expanded our menu to include healthy local meal options, revamped our interior design to create a cozy atmosphere and built a sense of community by opening our doors to customers to book our restaurant space for events, bridal showers and corporate sessions, which was also a strategy to enhance our menu sales.  Slowly but surely, our customer base started to grow and with time, we became a highly rated healthy food solutions restaurant in Accra and a preferred and accessible location for special events.

Lessons Learned: Don’t be afraid to pivot when something isn’t working. It’s easy to get attached to our original ideas, but sometimes the best thing we can do is let go and try something new.
Actionable Tip: Conduct regular customer feedback sessions to stay attuned to the needs and preferences of your customers. It’s amazing what you can learn when you take the time to listen.