The juice world is a tough one to break into. From finding brand recognition to securing shelf space, it can seem too daunting a task for some entrepreneurs.
But in 2014, Hana James and her team launched their purpose driven beverage into the market and never looked back. Their commitment to making a juice that not only tastes great, but also is good for your body and the planet made them a standout in a packed space. Now, after successfully growing into a trusted brand in their native Canada, they are continuing to branch out and take the US by storm.
Allow me to introduce Hana James…
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My name is Hana James, and I am the Co-Founder & Director of Community at Greenhouse. We are a plant-based, Canadian beverage company seeking to make healthy and sustainable the new normal.
My partners, Emma Knight & Anthony Green, and I, wanted to bring a product we loved and believed in to the Canadian market. We started back in 2014 with our first location in Toronto and since then have expanded our product offering, our stores (all within Toronto) and our distribution to grocery stores across Canada. We believe in creating a delicious product that gives our customers catalytic ways to grow their healthiest lives through daily habits.
We launched on a freezing day on January 8, 2014 – we didn’t think anyone would come (given we were selling cold beverages and it was -30 out), but we sold out within an hour! To get us to this day, we spent months of recipe testing, designing the space, the logo – but we really spent a lot of time deciding what our commitments would be going forward. We wanted to create a product that was organic, packaged in glass and committed to low sugar (without sacrificing the taste). As we continue(d) to grow, we have stayed true to these commitments.
We have always been transparent with our customer. In the early days, we did a lot of sampling to make sure each customer was purchasing something they really enjoyed and discussing why our products were priced as they were. As we’ve grown, we have stayed true to our commitments to quality, organic, low-sugar products. We are also constantly innovating and looking at ways to grow, so our customer knows they can come to us for new products.
Things are going! We currently have seven stores across the GTA, a great e-commerce site that services all of Canada and are stocked in grocery retailers across the country. Greenhouse is also just beginning our foray into the US and are now currently stocked at select Fresh Mart stores. We will continue to innovate with new and exciting products being launched (keep an eye out later this year) and continue to grow within Canada and the US.
Persistence is key. Starting a business is not easy, but being clear on what you want to achieve and sticking with it will drive your business forward. Be creative with problem-solving. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
greenhouse.ca
drinkgreenhouse.com
Twitter: @GHJuiceCo
Instagram/TikTok: @greenhousejuice
Facebook: facebook.com/greenhouse
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