Businesses are a key foundation in everyday life. New businesses sprout up every day, unfortunately, some can’t even get off the ground due to a lack of understanding of how they work. Abby Voelker, founder of Abby’s Acai Company, has visited students at Nixa High School for multiple years to discuss her business to help inspire and assist student entrepreneurs in creating and growing their businesses. 

   Abby’s Acai Company is a food truck and restaurant that has been based in the Christian County area since 2020. The idea for her business began on an out-of-state trip to California.

   “We went to California on a trip and had some acai at a little shop on the beach, Voelker said. “We knew that Springfield had nothing like it at the time, so we decided to bring acai back with us from Cali.”

   Since the company’s humble beginnings, there have been many difficult early steps, such as letting people know what Acai Bowls are. They are a healthy food bowl that includes a variety of fruits and nuts.   

  “It was tough getting people to understand what acai even is,” Voelker said. “We were the first acai restaurant or truck in Springfield, so many people were hesitant to try it. Getting the word out about how amazing acai is was a challenge.”

   Through this process of hard times, Voelker was able to build a strong company with a loyal customer base.

   “We’ve grown a lot,” Voelker said. “We even had our own restaurant at 14 Mill Market for a while. We have lots of loyal customers, and many of them have supported us for almost five years. Each year, we’ve grown in social media following and customer base.”

   Bringing business owners into classrooms to present their companies can offer students a firsthand look at what it is like; this is the case for business and marketing teacher Amber  Brantner’s marketing students.

   “Bringing in business owners gives students a real-world perspective that they can’t get from a textbook,” Brantner said. “It shows them that success is possible for people just like them and helps them see the practical application of what they’re learning in class. Hearing firsthand about the challenges and successes of running a business helps them think creatively and motivates them to consider how they could turn their own ideas into reality.

   Brantner said she organized an activity after hearing Voelker present her business, which will help her inspire students.

    “After Abby’s presentation, students will work on creating a business concept for their own food truck,” Brantner said. “They’ll outline their mission, target market, and unique selling proposition, just like Abby did when she launched her business. The goal is for them to apply the marketing and business principles we’ve been learning to their own creative ideas.”

   Voelker said that if one wants to start a business, they should go at it and seek advice from people who are experienced.

   “I would tell them to jump in and get started—they can figure the rest out as they go,” Voelker said. “If you know you have a great idea, you can make it happen. You should start it, even if it’s not something you want to do forever. Talk to a few people who know about business and go for it.”