September 30, 2004
lucky’s juice joint
There are a lot of great marketing books and blogs out there. That being said, I still think the best marketing stories come from personal, first-hand experience.
Here’s a favorite one of mine:
Back when I lived in New York there was this fabulous, crazy-ass juice bar on West Houston called Lucky’s Juice Joint. I think it’s no longer there. I hear it’s moved.
It was the most out-of-place business south of 14th Street. Hard to descibe, except as a “hardcore hippie haven”. Just had this weird, crazy, psychedelic-rainforest vibe.
But damn, it had the best juice in town. It was amazing stuff. Tasted like the fruits and vegetables were picked that morning. Fresher than anything else I found in New York. And yes, I had searched high and low for even better alternatives, but never found one. In New York, this was really it.
The boss was this crazy looking tie-dye wearing guy who looked and talked like he had done too many drugs back in the ‘sixties. A big ol’ middle aged, acid-head teddy bear.
One day we struck up a brief conversation. I complimented the hell out of his product.
“Wow,” I quietly gushed, “Your stuff is the best. It really is…”
“Sure it is,” said the guy. “That’s because we make it with reverence.”
You don’t have to get a job with a famous company or hot-shot industry in order to have a spectacular career. You just have to do what you do with reverence.
[UPDATE:] Tom from True Talk Blog makes a TERRIFIC point: “Authenticity and reverence are two sides of the same coin.”
Yes! Exactly!
I love this. How many people out there can say that? Honestly. When you are driven by a self-defined purpose, in his case, making healthy, natural products, there’s a passion that is contagious. The problem is, so many people work on a product or project that they had nothing to do with in the creative stages, and therefore they have no passion or connection to that which they are selling. It’s the difference between someone who loves and loathes their career path.
Dont worry if you miss the boat, get on the Hughtrain ra ra!!
I worked there for a couple months in the late 80s. The owner, Tofu, was referring to a bathtub gin he made in the basement he called ‘Reverence’. And I agree that they are yummy.
Just kidding — great story. Love your site.
Gloop! Man, where did he spring from. That card must be pretty yellow with age. (I assume that’s age…)
Heh.
Thanks, Hugh…appreciate the comment.