Today, we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Walker.
Hi Ashley, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
-2017 PBC Rising Star Award -Palm Beach County Office of Equal Business.
-Opportunity 2019 Minority Owned Business of the Year- PB Matchmakers 2022 ABCDE Certified S/M/WBE for Airport Concessions.
-2019 Graduate of the Jim Moran Institute of Global Entrepreneurship, FSU (PBC location).
-2019 Contract recipient from the Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (to open storefront location in Riviera Beach).
-2020 Selected as a Super Bowl Caterer through the SBLIV Business Connect program. Served at the NFL Super Bowl LIV Official Tailgate in Miami, FL.
Publications:
South Florida Times
CNBC with Shepard Smith
Travel Noire (Discover the Palm Beaches).
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Keeping a restaurant staffed through an economic crisis. Having to figure out creative ways to compete with other employers to maintain a professional and knowledgeable staff. Finding creative ways to incentivize staff to commit to working and demonstrating excellent customer service.
Finding avenues to market the business in a way that would not break the bank. Small businesses often have small marketing budgets but need constant marketing. Running a business and learning how to outsource tasks for others. Learning to step away and work on the business and not in the business.
I appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Smoothie Me Please?
I am from RB and started a business there. The menu is dedicated to the people and places of Riviera Beach. It’s a love letter to the ancestors and elders who committed their lives to mentoring children in the neighborhood and to people who serve the community through activism.
We offer fresh food ingredients and are the first restaurant to bring creative snack options to the city to combat food scarcity and access. We have community programming that focuses on educating and empowering the community on healthy food options and their effect on mental health.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Hard work ethic and disciplined lifestyle (health and fitness). A heart to feed our nearby homeless community for free, being excellent in business acumen.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @smoothiemeplease
- Facebook: @smoothiemeplease
