DeSario Turner had a flourishing career at Harley-Davidson, managing online ecommerce operations across the U.S. and Canada. Despite being in a leadership position, she had a larger vision for long-term financial independence and as part of this objective, she was engaged in several side hustles while doing her corporate job, from rental properties to vending machines, she told Entrepreneur.com.
Bent on doing something meaningful for her hometown of Racine, Wisconsin, she turned her attention to Smoothie King because she felt the business concept was in line with her values. Turner believed in the brand’s aim to combine health and wellness through its products, fueling the journey of a healthy lifestyle.
So, without wasting any time, Turmer started a franchise application process in late 2021 while still working full-time at Harley-Davidson.
RELATED STORIES
Finally, in 2023, she opened a Smoothie King franchise and has since not looked back. “I knew that if I wanted the freedom and the life that I desire, just a paycheck wasn’t enough for me,” she said.
Turner’s Smoothie King location in Racine performed wonders right after its opening in 2023 as it broke the franchise’s record for first-week sales. The store made over $38,000 in its opening week and soon attracted many community members who were conscious about their health.
What is more, by the end of Turner’s first year, her store had already crossed $1 million in net sales. This amazing feat put her location in the top 50 out of over 1,200 locations in the system.
“She believed in herself, did the work and chose a location that gave her business the best chance to thrive,” said Katherine Meariman, VP of training and education at Smoothie King. “She understood from the start that there’s no better way to introduce Smoothie King to a new community than through authentic connection.”
Today, Turner has allowed her 19-year-old daughter to manage operations at the store to enable her to grasp all the business skills and knowledge she would need for the future. It is Turner’s hope that her daughter would one day take over ownership of her business and ultimately build generational wealth.
“Ultimately, this is her business. I’m showing her everything now so she understands what it takes — because it’s for her future,” said Turner, who is already looking at expanding her business by opening a second location soon.
While building her business, Turner doesn’t forget to give back, and she does this through partnerships with local schools and gyms, donating smoothies for events and supporting fundraisers.
