When life gives Lekenda Chavers (10) lemons, she builds her lemonade empire. From juicing lemons to creating her own branding to selling bottles in stores, Chavers has improved her lemonade business, Lekenda’s Rockin Lemonade, from a simple stand to a certified business. 

Chavers began her venture into lemonade at 8 years old using only Country Time Powdered lemonade. She has since evolved to produce all-natural, handmade flavored lemonade which she sells in stores, online and in her father’s food truck, Grill Grabz.

“It was really just a regular lemonade stand, so I could make some quick cash to buy Barbie dolls,” Chavers said. “However, the pandemic pushed me into the branding part of it. I was on Tiktok and Instagram seeing other young entrepreneurs like me, and I wanted to brand myself too. That’s how it started, and now it’s Lekenda’s Rockin Lemonade.”

At age 13, Chavers launched her product in stores such as Kirby Wines and Liquor and has now expanded to restaurants such as Meals For You. 

“When I started telling people it was all-natural lemonade, and they started tasting it, it started to blow up from there,” Chavers said.
Growing up, Chavers witnessed her mother’s success as a hairstylist and makeup artist and her father’s journey to establish his own food truck. Chavers was inspired by their entrepreneurship and desired to generate her own income. Now, she works alongside her parents as they aid in publicizing her product.

“It was really all my mom,” Chavers said. “She really got me to where I’m at. She got all the brands and did all the business deals. [My parents] impacted me because I wanted to make money like my mom. I am very independent when it comes to making my own cash.”

When building a successful business, owners must have a combination of technical and social skills to connect with customers. For Chavers, Lekenda’s Rockin Lemonade helped her improve her communication abilities.  

“I’ve learned how to talk to customers and meet new people,” Chavers said. “I used to be too scared to socialize and too shy, but my lemonade [business] boosted my [confidence].”

In the early stages of Lekenda’s Rockin Lemonade, Chavers faced challenges with other young entrepreneurs with lemonade businesses in Memphis.  To set herself apart, Chavers strived to enhance her branding and color scheme. However, apart from the creative names for her lemonade, extravagant branding and diligent work ethic, there are many other factors that make Chavers unique.

“I go out and get what I want,” Chavers said. “I’m the type of entrepreneur to go out and get it and not wait for something to fall into my hands. Someone told me once that no matter the struggle, there’s always peace at the end.”

For young business owners, long work days can make it difficult to balance a steady schedule. Chavers normally works seven hours per day on top of a busy school schedule. 

“After school, I always do my homework and whatever needs to be done, and then I go into my business work, whether that’s making the lemonade or production or sending out brand deals and advertisements,” Chavers said. 

There is no doubt that running a business can be stressful and demanding at times, but even through hardships, Chavers has discovered success and joy in sharing her product. With her progress, Chavers has prospered monetarily. 

“When you have a business, you have to buy the product and keep spending and spending,” Chavers said. “So the first time I got to see what I was making and how much I had made through the month, that was an impactful experience.”

Holding herself to high standards, Chavers pushes herself to achieve accomplishments many can only dream about. After high school, Chavers intends to continue working and expanding her business.

“I want to become a millionaire, and I’m on the road to do that,” Chavers said. “How am I going to do that? Well, after high school, I’m going harder on my business because I’ll have more time on my hands.”