Meet Jennifer Sigmon of Clean Juice

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Sigmon.  

Hi Jennifer, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Clean Juice in Levis Commons (under the original owner) opened their doors in December of 2019, and when my husband and I first discovered this, we were elated! We live 5 minutes away from Levis Commons, and organic, gluten-free, dairy-free food is our way of eating. There was, at the time, and still today, no other certified organic restaurants in our area. We became one of their most frequent customers because the food and drinks were delicious, one of kind, and HEALTHY! It is nearly impossible to find a meal that fits our way of eating, let alone find it at a restaurant, so we visited/ordered Clean Juice very frequently! 

I am an integrative nutrition health coach, as well as a certified yoga teacher, and since I earned those certifications, I had been doing freelance work and furthering my education while at the same time searching for a career destination in the health and wellness field. My husband has a full-time job in the IT field, is the smartest man I know, and also just happens to be a yoga teacher like me. 

Last August, while preparing for a weekend road trip, I stopped into Clean Juice to stock up on wellness shots for the next few days, but I did not succeed in that mission. When I arrived at Clean Juice, they informed me that not only were they out of wellness shots, but were going to be closing their doors that afternoon and likely not reopening them. I was deeply saddened by this news, so I asked a lot of questions before leaving. I found out they were trying to sell the business, and though I had never dreamed of being an entrepreneur, I was intrigued. Nutrition is my passion, and my life goal is to teach my community (and the world) what real healthy living looks like. This business aligned perfectly with those goals. So, I went home and talked to my husband about it, and we decided to investigate what it would take to buy/run Clean Juice. One thing led to another, and in a couple short months, we were the proud new owners of Clean Juice in Levis Commons! 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Is there such thing as a smooth road when describing the journey of becoming a small business owner??? I may have thought so before I became one. I admit I may have been a little naïve when I decided to embark on this journey, but what I may have been lacking in skills, I made up for in passion and determination. Nothing about our journey was smooth. It was an immense amount of hard work and endless hours of effort. Getting a loan is not easy. Filling out endless paperwork is not easy. Two people trying to make crucial decisions together is not easy. Sacrificing family time is not easy. The hardest part of all would still prove to be diving into a business in which you know very little about. 

We lacked experience in both the restaurant world and small business management, so every tiny step along the way was a grueling learning process. We didn’t know what we didn’t know. Now we do, and we do better. But every day is still a struggle. We still learn something new every day, and I cannot see that ending any time soon, if ever. On one hand, I am thankful because my husband and I share a common goal that we never want to stop learning. At this point in our journey, however, our lessons come with an abundance of stress. Stress is hard on the body physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. We are both blessed with an education that taught us the tools to help us cope, but it still takes a toll on us. I fought my own battle with my physical health before this journey, and the stress of taking on Clean Juice has definitely not helped my situation, but I march on. I persevere, even when I feel defeated, because my passion outweighs my fear, and I know what I am doing is making a difference, one ripple at a time. All the knowledge I have gained in the holistic health world has been LIFE-CHANGING, and I feel it is my duty to share that knowledge with the world. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Clean Juice?
Clean Juice is the only USDA-certified organic juice bar franchise in the United States. That is a huge honor I couldn’t be more proud of. We sell organic cold-pressed juices, smoothies, acai bowls, salads, sandwiches, wraps, and more. You cannot go any other place and find healthier food. This warms my heart and lights my soul! This is the way humans were designed to eat. Organic isn’t a trend; it’s a return to tradition. Food is information. It tells our cells how to function and determines whether we are going to have a vibrant, healthy body or be plagued with misery and disease. I have been blessed to experience both health and disease and because of my journey, I know first-hand how every choice we make, every single day, impacts our livelihood. I want to be the influence this country desperately needs. 

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I am a turtle. I am very shy and like to hide in my shell. I do not like attention or being put in the spotlight. I prefer to be camouflaged. The corner is my favorite seat. I am an observer and prefer to listen over speak anytime, anywhere. The biggest hurdle in this journey of becoming a small business owner was putting myself out there for the world to see and judge. I do not wish to be famous. However, my life goal is to make a huge impact on the health and happiness of the world around me, and I know that in order to accomplish that dream, I have to come out of my shell. I have to have a voice for those who can’t have one themselves. I have to help educate those who haven’t had the same education and experiences as myself. I have to learn be a tiger, to be the change I want to see in this world. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cleanjuice.com

Image Credits
Brittany Ann Photography