Blend Smoothie And Salad Bar

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Scaling A Business Takes Vision Ambition And Funding

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When we started, we were typical new-business owners, doing whatever it took to get open and operating as cost-effectively as possible, explains Alaina. We purchased used equipment and did a lot of the setup ourselves.

They were determined to make the new shop their standout, flagship location the one that would set the standard for every Blend location going forward. This vision includes a longer-term plan to eventually franchise their business.

To realize their vision, everything had to look great, operate efficiently and exceed customers expectations at every level. And to accomplish that they needed money.

At first and like so many entrepreneurs they were going to use up their personal savings and reserves.

As luck would have it, though, before making a common and very costly mistake, Alaina ran into one of her neighbors, Raphael, who works in finance. He advised her not to burn through her savings because, he warned her, there are always bumps in the road.

Through his professional networks, Raphael knew about several lenders that can help small businesses and he recommended that Alaina and Jose contact Pursuit.

Fifth Blend Smoothie And Salad Bar Opens In Beacon

BEACON Alaina James knows all about the frustration connected to not being able to find healthy, energizing food and drinks around anywhere.

The 33 year old, Newburgh Free Academy 2005 graduate and standout sprinter vividly recalls both her and her teammates fruitlessly searching for places to grab a healthy, fresh smoothie, salad, anything nutritious, after a challenging workout, burning calories on the track, desperately needing to refuel.

There was absolutely nothing available where you could get something healthy and fresh, even a real apple or carrot juice or protein shake, not even a bottled one, explained James, who opted for fruit over junk food as a teen. Since it was so hard, I knew it just had to be the same for others as well.

A grassroots, family run business, BLEND immediately became a healthy eating alternative, fully embraced by the community. Offering numerous choices, customers have the opportunity to create their own meals and drinks, including such options as: salads, wraps, parfaits, fruit cups, acai bowls and avocado toast. Patrons not only rave about the yummy appeal of the food, but are grateful for its easy access and other priceless intangibles.

Frequently Asked Questions About Blend Smoothie And Salad Bar

Is Blend Smoothie and Salad Bar- New Windsor currently offering delivery or takeout?

Yes, Blend Smoothie and Salad Bar- New Windsor offers both delivery and takeout.

What forms of payment are accepted?

Blend Smoothie and Salad Bar- New Windsor accepts credit cards.

How is Blend Smoothie and Salad Bar- New Windsor rated?

Blend Smoothie and Salad Bar- New Windsor has 3.5 stars.

What days are Blend Smoothie and Salad Bar- New Windsor open?

Blend Smoothie and Salad Bar- New Windsor is open Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun.

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Blend Smoothie Bar Builds Business Success With A Loan From Pursuit

Alaina James and Jose Medina know what goes into creating a wellness-based business with a healthy financial foundation, too. As co-owners of Blend Smoothie and Salad Bar, Alaina and Jose opened their first shop in New Windsor, NY in 2014. Based on what Alaina describes as a go with your passion plan, they provided delicious and nutritious meals, snacks and shakes as alternatives to the typical fast foods that they saw all around them.

When we started, it was almost impossible to find something as simple as a ginger-carrot juice that wasnt also loaded with sweeteners or preservatives, explains Alaina.

Today, theyve grown their enterprise to four locations in the Hudson Valley region, including independent shops in New Windsor, Middletown and Monroe, and a partnership location with ShopRite in Mohegan Lake.

Alaina explains that after studying criminal justice and nursing, her passion for helping people evolved into an idea to help people get better from the inside out. Weve got to put nutritious foods in the tank, she explains. Blends loyal customers agree, from people looking for healthy fast-food alternatives to others who have had life-changing diagnoses and want to give their bodies the nutrients to heal.

A Bright Future For Blend

Blend Smoothie and Salad Bar

The Blend team is excited and relieved to be open in the new space and already, the location is generating impressive revenue. Business is strong in the existing locations, too.

When it comes to funding, in the past I was uncomfortable taking out loans, admits Alaina. But now I realize how essential they are for a good foundation and even more so if you want to grow. Im really happy that we decided to get our business funded and that we went with Pursuit. The next time we need help, well definitely go back.

Clearly, Pursuit wants small businesses to succeed and they set you up for success, Alaina says.

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How Much Does Blend Smoothie & Salad Bar In The United States Pay

The average Blend Smoothie & Salad Bar salary ranges from approximately $32,474 per year for Marketing Coordinator to $59,194 per year for District Manager. Average Blend Smoothie & Salad Bar hourly pay ranges from approximately $10.93 per hour for Barista to $14.50 per hour for Line Cook/Prep Cook.

Salary information comes from 174 data points collected directly from employees, users, and past and present job advertisements on Indeed in the past 36 months.

Please note that all salary figures are approximations based upon third party submissions to Indeed. These figures are given to the Indeed users for the purpose of generalized comparison only. Minimum wage may differ by jurisdiction and you should consult the employer for actual salary figures.

  • 2.0not the worst but not the bestWorking at Blend has its pros and cons. Im going to be fair. This is a good job if youre young and still in school. I never had a rude customer and you can learn about what healthy foods they have. The biggest con is management. Your hours will be …Food Service Worker New Windsor, NY – June 14, 2021
  • 1.0Promises made, promises brokenUpon hiring you will be promised a lot of things but once youre pushed through the training program youll be the only one who remembers any of those promises. No matter how many times you tell upper management about things that only they can fix,…Manager

It Tastes Just Like Vacation Minus The Clearing

Blend Smoothie and Salad Bar is located on the outskirts of New Paltz in a town called New Windsor . Blend is exactly how it sounds, offering a wide variety of colorful, healthy, organic food from smoothies, to açaí bowls, to salads, and let me tell you, everything is delicious. I have been a loyal customer since day one and after contributing an estimated $2,000 to their business , I do not exaggerate when I say that Blend is the real deal. Although it may be a little bit of a hike for those students without cars, I highly suggest you gather your group and make your way down, because you will not be the same after your experience. Yummy, healthy food is hard to come by these days so when you discover a small, local business devoted to making your body happy, it should be talked about.

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Blend Smoothie And Salad Bar Promotes Healthy People And Healthy Communities

BLEND Smoothie and Salad Bar in Middletown, NY off of Route 211 sits in a plaza surrounded by fast-food chains like Popeyes, Pizza Hut and Burger King. These options are typical for the area of Middletown, which is densely packed with low-cost grab-n-go choices that fit the lifestyles of locals and Orange County Community College students and staff. Not only does BLEND stand out for its healthy options and 90s music playlist, but the friendly staff also keeps people coming back time and time again.

BLEND Smoothie and Salad Bar was opened 6 years ago by current CEO, Alaina James. James attended John Jay College in New York City where she obtained a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice. After graduation, she still felt that she could be doing more to help people. She returned home to New Windsor and started her Nursing degree at Orange County Community College. Although helping people in need made her happier, she felt there was a better way to help others before they reached a severe place in their health.

Feedback from customers was positive enough to have business hours expand from 6 days a week to 7 days a week.

The customers are really what inspires the business to keep growing. The feedback from the community is overwhelmingly positive. Even just before our meeting to talk about BLEND, James was talking to a customer who has been undergoing treatment for cancer and was supplementing treatment with a whole foods diet that BLEND was instrumental in making possible.

Bumps In The Road Became Major Detours But Pursuit Helped Blend Through

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In 2019, Blend was approved for a loan through Pursuit and soon, Alaina and Jose had the funds they needed to bring their vision to fruition.

Fortunately, their passion carried the team through some rough spots on the road to success: While the flagship location in Monroe was scheduled to open in 2019, construction delays pushed the opening into 2020.

Thank goodness we took my neighbors advice and got a loan, admits Alaina, or the construction issues would have completely blown our budget. There were so many unanticipated things that needed fixing. The store had water damage, the plumbing and electrical systems had to be updated and just about everything else needed to be fixed or replaced. Theres no way we could have covered all the costs. And on top of that, the pandemic-related closures meant that life around town was essentially at a standstill.

Despite the challenges, Alaina and Jose opened the new location in mid-May.

Having the business loan from Pursuit helped us cover construction and operating costs, Alaina says, which meant that we could keep moving forward. Our business was open for take-out and we offer subscription services, too, that can be delivered or picked up.

Business went down significantly at first, says Alaina, but after the initial shock, I think a lot of people became more conscious of what theyre putting into their bodies, and they wanted the healthier foods and smoothies that we offer.

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What Parents Say

We are so grateful to have Anna study at Kidzone for the Last three years. Thank you so much for giving her the opportunity to experience that learning is fun at an early age. Kizone marks a new start for Annas life and she has gotten tons of love, joy and happiness during this wonderful 3 years at Kidzone.

We want to raise a kind, thoughtful, and intelligent child in an environment where these qualities are valued. Kidzone is the perfect school for our child small classes, excellent and engaged teachers, caring community, and strong academics. It is more than I could have hoped for.

We are so grateful to have Anna study at Kidzone for the Last three years. Thank you so much for giving her the opportunity to experience that learning is fun at an early age. Kizone marks a new start for Annas life and she has gotten tons of love, joy and happiness during this wonderful 3 years at Kidzone.

We want to raise a kind, thoughtful, and intelligent child in an environment where these qualities are valued. Kidzone is the perfect school for our child small classes, excellent and engaged teachers, caring community, and strong academics. It is more than I could have hoped for.

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