The Smoothie Shop and Supplements has been a fixture in Lee’s Summit for the past decade, but under the management of downtown Lee’s Summit business leaders Tim Denker and Kevin Oldham, it’s expanding and growing into a franchise company.
Back in 2017 the original owner of the business desired to see it succeed but needed to step away, and he discussed the opportunity with Tim. Already acquainted with Kevin from other business endeavors, Tim believed they would make a good business team for this venture. The pair approached their wives about mortgaging their homes to buy the business. Once the women were on board, they officially bought the business.
In this endeavor, Tim, who runs Denker Law Firm, and Kevin, who runs marketing company Diffactory, combine their legal, business and marketing skills to grow the business throughout the Kansas City area and beyond in a franchise business model.
“The two of us and our partnership, our skills and the way we work together is unique to find,” Kevin says.
With locations already established in Lee’s Summit, Belton, and Kansas City, they are looking to add more. They would especially like to add locations on the Kansas side as well as north of the river. They also have plans to renovate the Lee’s Summit location and develop it into a prototype for future franchises.
“We are looking for well-capitalized entrepreneurs who believe in what we believe in and want to open their own business,” Kevin says.
Ultimately, the success of the business comes back to the product. Kevin says both his family and Tim’s family care deeply about what they put in their bodies and want to offer something that helps others improve their health.
“Every smoothie we serve has 20 grams of protein,” Kevin says. “It can serve as an alternative to a fast-food selection.”
He says they have cleaned up the offerings by eliminating all unnecessary ingredients in the smoothies and supplements, and they offer products not found elsewhere in Kansas City.
Kevin says walking into other supplement stores can often be intimidating because the packaging on the products and feel of the stores appear to cater to those who have achieved a certain level in their health journey. In contrast, he says they want to partner with people at all stages of their health and wellness journey.
“We are a welcoming place for everyone on their journey,” Kevin says.
In addition, Kevin says their staff takes the time to get to know customers personally and learn their favorite products.
In the future, they would like to be more accessible throughout the community and are looking into other distribution points that don’t require a full storefront. Kevin says he also hopes to open franchises in other parts of the country.
“We are that fast, easy solution that has been a part of the Lee’s Summit fabric for the last decade,” Kevin says.