Princess Juicy Joy Gans-Lartey, the founder and CEO of Juicy’s Depot, has shared her experience of creating and managing a successful branding company.
Juicy’s Depot is a company that specializes in creating branded products, such as towels, bedding and linen, mugs, banners, and more.
Juicy Joy began her entrepreneurial journey in 2019, during her final year of university. She was inspired by her desire to become her own boss and make a positive impact on people’s lives.
She started the company by creating branded towels and later expanded her product line to include morning coats. The raw materials were initially sourced locally, but eventually, she started importing them from China and Turkey.
Juicy Joy faced many challenges while running the business, especially with finding reliable partners to work with. Despite this, the business was successful during special occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Christmas.
Juggling between managing the business and her studies was overwhelming, and her father wasn’t supportive of her entrepreneurial venture, as he believed it was taking away her focus from her studies. Nonetheless, she persisted and continued running the business during school breaks.
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Juicy Jo saw an opportunity to revive her business. The pandemic created a demand for branded products, and she increased her advertising budget to consistently promote her brand. She also expanded her product range to include bedding and linen products, such as pillows, banners, flasks, mugs, fans, and many more.
However, the customization requirements of these products presented a significant challenge, as each product type had unique branding and design needs, which required the use of different equipment and technology for each order.
Despite the challenges, Juicy Joy remained focused and determined to make the business a success. She faced pressure from her family, especially her dad, who was concerned about her not getting a stable income from a regular job after completing her Master’s degree. However, she persevered and continued to work hard.
In her advice to young people who are just starting out in their careers or pursuing their passions, Juicy Joy emphasized the importance of pursuing one’s passion, learning and acquiring skills, being open-minded, staying determined and persistent, and embracing failure. She shared her experience of overcoming initial hurdles, such as managing her studies and running the business, and expanding her product range while prioritizing embroidery as their flagship product.
Princess Juicy Joy Gans-Lartey believes that with divine providence, hard work, and determination, anyone can overcome challenges and achieve success. She is grateful for how far she has come and believes that she is headed in the right direction.
