Many business owners think about their products and services from the perspective of a provider or…read morevendor. Not the customer. Here's some advice: Walk through your business the way a customer would. How do they enter your space or navigate your website? How easily can they identify what they need? How smoothly is their order fulfilled? Where are the natural opportunities to upsell or add value? What does the payment experience feel like? Every step shapes their perception of your brand. If customers sense high effort, confusion, or indifference from staff, they will look elsewhere. Of the four customers I saw during the visit to your location: 1) the first one was frustrated because the ingredients advertised weren't available, so instead of being guided to an alternative she had to make that choice, 2) The second customer was frustrated because there was only one person working, and while this individual was making his order, the soul worker did not acknowledge any of the other customers, so he was frustrated when the customers pulled his attention away from crafting his order, leaving him with a negative experience, 3) the third. Customer was clearly frustrated because she was purchasing premade juices, but still had to wait an under amount of time before even being acknowledged by staff, 4) the fourth customer (myself) after waiting in line and have to ask a new employee who just came on shift if I could be helped was immediately informed by the staff regarding what they were out of and what they didn't have. Here's a tip: Instead of delivering a flat "we're out," train your team to offer alternatives that keep the experience positive. If you're out of vanilla on a hot day, guide the customer toward other refreshing options. They came to you to solve a problem--thirst, hunger, comfort--and your job is to preserve that momentum. When your marketing has already done the work of getting someone to your door or onto your site, honor that investment. Even if you can't provide the exact product they wanted, create a smooth transition so you don't lose the sale, the relationship, or the goodwill. Your brand, values, and reputation are being formed in real time. Inconsistency, poor service, indifference, or discourtesy can undermine your business before it gains traction. A customer‑centered process is your competitive advantage. For customers who are trying to support your business, especially as a black owned business, you are making it hard for customers to give you their money. Please fix this.

Hey friends! I…read moredecided to stop in here after a Barre class one day and I've been hooked since! Consistently great smoothies and customer service. My usual order is a Green Warrior($11). It's so good! I really appreciate that fresh fruits rather than concentrates are used in their smoothies. And no added sugar is a super plus! Customer service is consistently friendly. Parking is free and ample. Their rewards system is one of the best systems I've signed up for. I acquire rewards often. Hope you enjoy! With love, The Picky Pescatarian

Black owned business! Great family, great smoothies! They…read moreare grateful for all of the support they have received and you can feel the love in each smoothie

From the owner: Our specialties include fresh egg white omelette's, breakfast sandwiches & our organic all natural…read moreprotein shakes/smoothies....And don't forget "We Meal Prep For You!"

I love this cafe. When I am in town from New Jersey I make a point to stop here with my teen…read moredaughter (who request to come here as well ).5 stars all around

This dope black female owned coffee cafe spot is definitely a great vibe with the walks decorated…read morein great black art. Its located on an adjacent portion of the Laurel shopping center. The impressive menu of interesting enthused caffienated or non options are many. The staff was very much attentive busy at work preparing the selections of the patrons. I chose the regular acai bowl and the 16oz Camp fire Night iced latte w/oatmilk(its a seasonal favor). I absolutely enjoyed my purchase. This place offers a very relaxed and quiet atmosphere with abundance of seating. The environment is conducive to sitting with the dazzling sun enjoying the moment at the high top or seating low chairs, doing a little reading or work on your computer. The options are up to you but the vibe and setting is everything. While sitting here enjoying my acai bowl and latte, I watched the lady come in with more beautiful black art pieces. Not that I looked specifically to seek out a female owned cafe during National female month; it was my pleasure to have patronized a dope black female owned business. I highly recommend anyone to come and visit this uplifting cafe. It definitely lives up to its name " LOVE LIFE CAFE"/ LOVE LIFE COFFEE.

I had a fairly decent experience here. When I arrived, no one was actually manning this space,…read morewhich is more-or-less a kiosk under an escalator in this mall. I was intent on getting a smoothie so I stuck around a minute or so until someone returned, but I could have gotten fed up and left. There was no BRB sign posted anywhere I could find. That accounts for the one star off. The employee finally returned with no apologies about her absence, but quickly took my order and rang me up. I paid and she set about making my smoothie. There was no convo but I was ok with that because A. I'm not friendly and B. Who's tryna have convos with strangers when we're all out here wearing masks??? I needed her to keep her mouth shut while she was making my drink! She handed me the smoothie and I dug in. It was delicious! I can't recall exactly what I had offhand anymore (2 days is killer on my memory) but it had kale, strawberries, mangos, and another fruit. Super good, pretty filling. I'd go back here.

This is my 3rd time coming here. This one staff member is so rude.... Faithfully! It's extremely…read moreoffensive and unprofessional.

Fueling up for an adventure with a healthy on-the-go lunch from @riseup_nutrition…read more Definitely a pricy option but I'll treat myself every now and then!! @@jus2blkgirlseating #PeanutButterCup #onthego #travel #photography #ontheroad #breakfast #healthy #healthylifestyle #coffee #foodie #vegan #healthyfood #adventure #follow #love #fitness #food #lifestyle #summer #instagood #roadtrip #mealprep #lunch #yummy #explore #delicious #momlife #fashion #happy #glutenfree

I had a minute to stop on my way in to the barbershop. I have been wanting to try Rise Up for some…read moretime now, so I stopped in. Upon entering, I received a warm and delightful greeting from Kristin and Grace. They explained their menu concept and services they offered. It just also happened to be Wednesday and on every Wednesday, they offer waffles and each waffle with any topping of your choice. Each waffle has up to 22 grams of protein. RISE UP offers a healthy snack/meal choice for shakes, teas, and snacks. Shakes have around 24g of protein, 24 vitamins and Minerals, with up to 350 calories based on the shake option. On my first visit, I ordered the Salted Caramel Mocha. Yes, it taste as good as it sounds. On my second visit, I ordered the waffles with bananas and strawberries. It is equally as good as the shake I had. Gluten free options are available. Stop in and give Rise UP a try. They also offer fitness programs and they support those living healthier lifestyles.

Loveee the acai and pitaya bowls!! My go to is the mixed berry açaí and the pure pitaya, but all…read morethe other bowls were delicious as well. Will need to try other things on their menu next time!

I love eating at this facility! They have a drink called the blue banana with blue spirulina (I…read moreprobably spelled that wrong), but you get it. The prices are good for the quality of smoothies that you get, out of all of my favorite smoothie spots. I would say this one is the best, you can customize your drinks. The customer service is good. the place is really clean, and there's a really cool vibe about it, like there's a swinging chair that you can literally sit on and just like chilling and it's never really crowded. I would highly recommend coming in here if you want to try something besides smoothie king that is also really good for you with natural ingredients. The owner is very proud of her store and everybody there seems happy which makes me really happy too.

Great place with wonderful customer service and the owners are the staff. They want you to return…read moreand are very accommodating. The food is great and they have veggie/vegan options. It is a great location to hang for any old reason. I try to get stop by as often as I can.

More than Java Cafe is a hidden gem. At least they were to me. I visited for a friend's birthday…read moregathering, and didn't quite know what to expect outside of the glowing reviews that my friend gave about the brunch items. I had the Jerk Chicken & Egg, potatoes, and drip coffee. Everything was delicious, and I had plenty of food leftover for later. The owners were hilarious when they joked with me about my tolerance for spicy food. The Jerk Chicken Sandwich (wrapped in coco bread) is advertised as spicy, but it wasn't overwhelming to me. The service was timely, and everyone was kind. There's plenty of seating to choose from, and you can explore the other small businesses while you wait for your food. If you're looking for a small Black owned business to support, I highly recommend More than Java Cafe. The food is delicious and the service is on point. I will definitely return when I'm in the area.

This is a small place nestled in a shopping center. We have been going here for years. The service…read moreis always great. The frozen custard is always good, we normally get the turtle Sunday. The price is getting a little steep. The average cost is $10 for an item. It was a great way to celebrate national ice cream day

I like the service! Very nice yörünge Lady with smiling face! Thank your!…read more I can't see the custards! Normally they put the glass display to show! This part made a bit upset but it's ok! Taste was good too! Ambience was ok.

An absolutely fantastic experience from start to finish! Toastique is exactly the kind of fresh,…read morehealthy, and vibrant spot that Columbia has been waiting for. The space is bright, impeccably clean, and welcoming, and the staff is incredibly friendly and efficient, even when they are busy. The food is simply next level, balancing beautiful presentation with outstanding flavors: * Gourmet Toasts: The Avocado Smash and the PB Crunch toasts are absolute must-tries. You can taste the high quality of the ingredients, and the thick-cut artisan bread provides the perfect crispy-yet-chewy base for the generous toppings. * Smoothie Bowls & Juices: The açaí bowls are refreshing, perfectly textured, and loaded with fresh fruit and crunchy granola. Their cold-pressed juices are crisp, vibrant, and perfect for a quick energy boost. * Coffee & Vibe: Their coffee and espresso drinks are fantastic, making this the ideal spot for a quick morning pick-me-up, a post-workout refuel, or a relaxed weekend brunch with friends. Everything on the menu feels crafted with care and premium ingredients. It is absolutely worth every penny for the quality you get. I cannot recommend this place enough!

magnificent price is too much…read morei'm frugal love how everything compliments each other on the plate.

12/26/22 Upon walking in the store, the lights were on, but…read moreit looked like nobody was home two more customers entered the store and still no one appeared. It wasn't until I said "Hello" out loud then Kevin found his way home The kids came out to play and both staff members got down to business getting my wife her smoothie. The staff members did not look happy. The seemed bored. Still, the bit of service my wife received was good enough for her. The place looked very clean and this is a plus. Good show. .

Yeah, it's official, Burtonsville location WORST Tropical Smoothie I've been to. I had a water…read morebottle which I left at home by mistake, but just as well as this ended up being a test as I already had a negative experience here in December 2023. DENIED WATER: First thing I asked before ordering our food and smoothie was for 2 courtesy water cups. I saw she was charging $1.35 or $2.70 for two. I said free water cups with our food we will order. She was snotty and said we don't give that here. I told her straight up we are walking out & losing our business. My girlfriend said any other Trop Smoothie will give the water with your food, and I agreed the Columbia location did & the cashier was nice. It's inhumane of Burtonsville. But we ended up trying Isaac's across the street, which will get a 5-star review eventually.