Fresh juice was very accessible before arriving in Uganda. We had grown accustomed to it during our three months in Jordan and Egypt, and found it odd to see it missing in Kampala. Located on the equator, the country is lush and green. Within the city, fruits are sold everywhere yet no fresh juice was seen.
When we brought this up, our friends quickly pointed out slushy-like machines that claimed to offer "juice." It was quite clear they were made from concentrate and not real fruit. After digging further, we realized that sugary juice made from concentrate was all the locals knew. A glass would cost 1,000 UGX (0.27 USD). Unless one were privileged enough to visit a restaurant where fresh juice was served, it came at a price out of reach for most Ugandans, up to 20,000 UGX (5.42 USD)
We were desperate for affordable, fresh juice and decided to solve the problem ourselves. Juicy B was born. Its goal? To provide 100% natural juice to the community at an affordable price, and act as a Bitcoin literacy hub for customers and other merchants - a model for others to replicate and feel comfortable using bitcoin in their business.
Fortunately, a small store near the main university gate was available for rent. With the space confirmed, we rolled our sleeves and got to work. There aren't any large retailers in Uganda (Home Depot, Rona, Walmart, etc). Imagine each aisle of these stores translating to a different street in Kampala. Paint is found in one neighborhood, lumber - across the city, tools - in another area, you get the point. Not having materials accessible in a central area did make it difficult but we managed thanks to our friends and partners (shout out to Brindon and Afan). We designed the logo and the interior, built custom furniture, painted, and stocked the basic supplies.
Even before we opened, our hypothesis was playing out. Two of our suppliers (clothing and plants) accepted a portion of their payment in bitcoin. The space felt like a superpower, showcasing the benefits of bitcoin. What used to be a 40-minute conversation with a merchant only needed 5 within the boundary of our store.
Within three weeks, from ideation, we had our soft launch! Man Like Kweks even dropped us a track, Juicy B! It's been 7 months so far and what a pleasant surprise. Approximately 20-25% of our revenue is received in bitcoin, our employee receives 50% of their salary in bitcoin and our loyalty program is bitcoin-based!
If you have an idea, go for it, you'll never know unless you take the first step. Next, the Rwanda you didn't know.