Today we’d like to introduce you to Mickel Wright.
Hi Mickel, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi, I’m Mickel Wright, founder of Fresh Fuel. I’m from Greenville, SC, and after graduating from Winthrop University, I taught 3rd grade before shifting into entrepreneurship and IT.
During my second year of teaching, I became a weekday vegetarian and started making smoothies—but eventually switched to juicing for convenience. I shared recipes on TikTok, and when people started asking to buy them, I prayed on it, took a leap of faith, and Fresh Fuel was born.
I spent months testing recipes, sharing them with family and friends for feedback. In April 2024, I launched with eight official flavors and a mission to support healthier lifestyles while pointing people to God through care cards and Bible verses on every bottle.
Later, I revamped the business by offering frozen juices to retain nutrients and updated my website to reflect the new direction—leading to more business, support, and motivation to grow Fresh Fuel into something truly impactful.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road—like most entrepreneurs, I’ve faced my share of challenges. While sales were steady at markets in 2024, I was completely burnt out. I worked a full-time job during the week and spent my weekends juicing late into the night to prepare for Saturday markets.
Online orders were slow, so I relied heavily on in-person sales. Once market season ended, so did most of my business—and I started to lose my passion. On top of that, I struggled to figure out what made financial sense, especially when it came to pricing my juices.
When I was laid off at the end of 2024, it gave me something I hadn’t had in a long time: time to rest, reflect, and reconnect with why I started Fresh Fuel in the first place. That quiet season helped me find clarity, renew my passion, and refocus on my health, my family, and my purpose.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As I mentioned, I worked in IT for about two years—from 2023 until the end of 2024, when my contract ended. After that, I was laid off for about 2–3 months before transitioning into my current role as a Business Analyst.
What I’m most proud of is my willingness to keep moving forward, no matter what. Even at just 26, I’ve taken on a variety of roles that have given me valuable experience and shaped me both professionally and personally.
I truly believe that when God opens a door, you should walk through it—even if it feels scary or uncomfortable at first. Every opportunity I’ve taken, even the uncertain ones, has been worth it in the end.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I’ve been blessed with so much support from family and friends, but my biggest supporter by far has been my fiancé.
What means the most is how he shows up. From helping me set up at markets to staying up late juicing with me, he’s always there. Even when he has to work, he’ll still arrive early at the markets to help me set up before heading to work— just to make sure I’m not doing it alone.
People often think he’s the co-owner because he’s so hands-on. He knows the juices, promotes them confidently, and gives me thoughtful feedback on ideas. I truly couldn’t do this without him—his support has meant everything on this journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yourfreshfuel.com
- Instagram: @yourfreshfuel
