February 22, 2018

Meet John Portugal of Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees and Smoothies

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to John Portugal.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My wife Shannon and I began as Maui Wowi franchisees in the summer of 2013 with a mobile Ka’anapali Cart. Since then, we have done all kinds of events from catering high school dances to serving at major sporting events. We have found that the key to our success is to do the events that work best for us and our lifestyle.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There are many obstacles in an event-based business, whether it is bad weather, difficult locations, or unmet expectations. However, Shannon and I have learned that every obstacle/challenge is an opportunity for us to learn from and grow our business.

We really enjoy working in Scottsdale and have found the city to be very welcoming to us. Our customers recognize the quality of the product we serve and they really appreciate that. We’re also so lucky to get to enjoy the beautiful Arizona weather from the baseball field or raceway. Our mobile event business allows us to go to work at an office with a view. There really are no dislikes. We never see things this way, we see things as learning opportunities to make that best customer experience possible.

Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees and Smoothies – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We sell premium Hawaiian coffee, delicious fruit smoothies and frozen cocktails. Our business is most known for our smoothies, which are freshly blended using fruit puree, yogurt with active cultures, and a fresh banana. Then we top it off with a little umbrella and serve with the Aloha Spirit. We are proud to provide each and every customer that we serve with a little taste of Hawaii and give them a “vacation in a cup!”

Contact Info:

Website: http://www.mauiwowi.com/
Phone: (619)651-5046
Email: jsmr98@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Maui-Wowi-Banana-Lagoon-579618498757073/?fref=nf

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