Food is the ultimate social agent. There is no better catalyst for building and strengthening communities than food—and Nikita Hendricks of Nikita’s Juice is very well aware of this. Born and raised in Guyana, Nikita had to flee the nest in the hopes of a better life in the United States. After residing in Connecticut with her grandmother to attend Gateway Community College in New Haven, Connecticut, she found her way to Texas by getting a scholarship in Management Information Systems and Entrepreneurship from Baylor University.
For Nikita, this is an accomplishment she’s most proud of. “Apart from the scholarship and financial aid I received at Baylor, I single-handedly paid my way through college,” she said. “Sometimes, I look back and ponder on how I did it, but I know that it was God who made it possible for me.”
The then-aspiring entrepreneur had always dreamt of starting her own business prior to attending college and even when she started working full-time in the corporate world. Driven by her love for cooking, Nikita would always find herself brainstorming healthy and nutritious homemade meals, an allegory to the life she left.
“I remember, growing up, making my dad’s favorite ‘swank,’” she recalled. Nikita was referring to a Guyanese staple drink made of lime and ice. Now, in her free time, she creates the best fresh, tasty non-GMO juices in town.
The most important ingredient to Nikita’s journey is her passion. Like any budding business owner, Nikita wasn’t immune to cold feet. To promote her juices, Nikita makes door-to-door sales around Killeen, Texas, where she currently resides.
“Before selling my juices, I was so nervous to approach people to tell them about my brand! Over time, I developed confidence. Even at the grocery store, car wash or whenever she’s running errands, I make sure that people know about Nikita’s Juice,” she admitted.
The bold and creative juice mogul also has her networking skills to thank for helping her form amazing connections with like-minded individuals. Although Nikita loves to hear her customers rave and appreciate her products, she reveals that some days aren’t as great as most. What gets her out of rough patches and pushes her forward is this foolproof mantra: she will knock on doors until all her juices are sold!
“Every no that I receive brings me closer to a yes so I keep pushing” Nikita said.
Through Nikita’s positivity, grit, and determination, the journey has been incredibly rewarding. For the humble business owner, seeing Nikita’s Juice put a smile on her customers’ faces brings her the utmost satisfaction.
“Nikita’s Juice is built on community, and we value what our customers think,” Nikita shared. “We use their input to perfect our craft in order to continue making them happy!”
Through the challenges she faced, Nikita feels as if she’s grown tremendously as a person. However, the passionate juice innovator confesses that the learning process will never stop, despite its continuous growth and success, and that she’s taking every day, step by step, with an open mind and heart.
“I would like for Nikita’s Juice to be a household name. I want people to remember us for our brand integrity and for staying true to providing fresh, quality juices. I would like to be known for going above and beyond for our customers,” she said.
With her positive mindset, passion for her craft, and thirst for knowledge, Nikita’s journey to success is bound to be fruitful.
