Fulfilling a Childhood Dream

There are a few things that opening your own Shaved Ice Business can offer you. It can be a source to supplement your income, and even replace your current income if you apply the proper dose of ambition. Another area that we do not often speak on, but is as crucial as money, is time. Just like any independent business, this business allows you to escape the corporate crunch and give yourself control over your own schedule. It is funny, we now live in a world where even the corporate structure has allowed us freedom to work from home, to shift our schedules, and to gain some of that freedom. But the reality is that you are never truly free until what you do is yours, and yours alone. Even in the world of shaved ice, there are opportunities that can ultimately choke your progression. At Snowie, we are not a franchise. We do not stifle your growth by trying to take a portion of the profits that you labored for. We simply sell you the best shaved ice equipment the industry has to offer and get you on your way.

To illustrate some of these points, we wanted to share a story that was done on Alexx and Rhonda Nanez (http://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/restaurants-bars/article/Sno-ball-s-chance-at-cooling-off-6414950.php?t=53596c489b). One of the biggest things that stood out to me in this article was Alexx’s quest and desire for time. So many of us are searching for ways to make more money, and don’t get me wrong, money itself has the ability to give you time, but it also has the tendency to consume excess, valuable time. Sometimes it is easy to forget how valuable our own time really is. Even at the cost of a financial loss, the value of our time can often fill that void. I love that this was a strong focus of Alexx and Rhonda when starting their Snowie Shaved Ice Business.

Finding that Nostalgia in something that you do for a business is important as well. Alexx mentions memories from when he was a boy of eight years old and shaving ice by hand for kids in the neighborhood in order to make enough money for the movies. At the time, I am sure all they could think about was how the work was hard, but the reward of the Movie was worth every scrape. But look how powerful that memory and experience really was to Alexx when he became an adult. Because of those early feelings and memories, Alexx has been getting called back to that part of his life.

What is even more impressive in this article (http://cw39.com/2015/07/30/former-oil-gas-worker-strikes-it-rich-with-shaved-ice/) is his wife, Rhonda. In most Entrepreneurial experiences you will find an insanely supportive spouse, and Rhonda completely filled that role. Can you imagine your spouse coming home from a hard day at work and saying, “Honey, I shaved ice when I was a little boy and I want to get back to that.” Of course, all of us who have done shaved ice for the majority of our lives would say, “Oh Yeah! Go kill it Alexx!” but I can’t imagine what my first thoughts would be. “Uhm… ok? Can we maybe talk about this in a few years?” But she didn’t. She has a huge belief in chasing dreams which says a lot about Alexx as well. If you are a dreamer, but you never actually chase or bring them to fruition, then I can’t imagine there would be a lot of support there. But Rhonda knew that if he had the opportunity, he would work it, he would chase it, and that is exactly what he did. They have now gone from one stand to five. All five of them are nearly open every weekend. Because they are in Texas, they are open 11 months out of the year. Contrast that to our 4 months here in Salt Lake City and much of the country. As a side note, when we say that the average stand will do $30,000 – $50,000 in a summer, this is based off of a four month season. In his quest for more time with his kids, he not only sees them but employs all of them.

One thing this industry does well is give back to its communities. Selling shaved ice puts you at every event and cause you can imagine and whether those donations on your part are the percentage paid to participate or in addition to that, you get to choose what you would like to contribute. To take that a step further, Snowie gives back not only to the community, but also to the business owner. Where other franchise owners would normally have to shell out thousands of dollars each year to the corporate entity, Snowie collects exactly $0.00. It is amazing what that figure alone does for a community.

Alexx and Rhonda have chosen to give back to their community by donating their services to Friends of North Richmond and others like them that offer adult education, after school programs, and home repairs for families that are in the grips of poverty. They want to make sure they take care of their local environment, to nourish their roots because it was this community that made their dream come true.

Their community is proud of them. They want them to succeed and they often receive encouraging words from their community telling them to keep their dream alive and keep going. Rhonda says, “We wanna be that encouragement, that light for somebody.” We want them to think, “‘If they can do it, we can do it.’ That kind of thing.”

Congratulations to Alexx and Rhonda for their success. We look forward to hearing about their growth for many years to come. If you are interested in doing what they have done, speak with a Snowie Representative today!

9 thoughts on “Fulfilling a Childhood Dream

  1. rod.rojas says:

    Hi Snowie,
    Thank you for sharing this inspiring story. Although I’m not in the shave ice business yet, it’s pleasant to know that there are companies such as Snowie that are willing to share their knowledge on this industry and provide business support. I’ve been doing a lot of research to open a shave ice business in 2016 and all the free tools your company provides on your website and YouTube webinars have enable me to attain a better understanding of this industry.

  2. Franky says:

    Yes my name’s Frankie I live in Arkansas I have always till this day wanted to run a snow cone stand seeing this snowie bus just make me weak in the knees but also sad because I have no money. I would do anything I am a hard worker. I need to get a loan? I’ll get one. But all the help I can get would be great back to my work ethic. I’m confident I would succeed. Just please see what you can do for me whenever you can and get a chance please thank you. Have a blessed day!

  3. Franky says:

    Snowie
    0
    Fulfilling a Childhood Dream
    Posted on October 20, 2015 by Aaron Rupp
    blog-fulfilling_a_childhood_dream
    20
    OCT
    There are a few things that opening your own Shaved Ice Business can offer you. It can be a source to supplement your income, and even replace your current income if you apply the proper dose of ambition. Another area that we do not often speak on, but is as crucial as money, is time. Just like any independent business, this business allows you to escape the corporate crunch and give yourself control over your own schedule. It is funny, we now live in a world where even the corporate structure has allowed us freedom to work from home, to shift our schedules, and to gain some of that freedom. But the reality is that you are never truly free until what you do is yours, and yours alone. Even in the world of shaved ice, there are opportunities that can ultimately choke your progression. At Snowie, we are not a franchise. We do not stifle your growth by trying to take a portion of the profits that you labored for. We simply sell you the best shaved ice equipment the industry has to offer and get you on your way.

    To illustrate some of these points, we wanted to share a story that was done on Alexx and Rhonda Nanez (http://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/restaurants-bars/article/Sno-ball-s-chance-at-cooling-off-6414950.php?t=53596c489b). One of the biggest things that stood out to me in this article was Alexx’s quest and desire for time. So many of us are searching for ways to make more money, and don’t get me wrong, money itself has the ability to give you time, but it also has the tendency to consume excess, valuable time. Sometimes it is easy to forget how valuable our own time really is. Even at the cost of a financial loss, the value of our time can often fill that void. I love that this was a strong focus of Alexx and Rhonda when starting their Snowie Shaved Ice Business.

    Finding that Nostalgia in something that you do for a business is important as well. Alexx mentions memories from when he was a boy of eight years old and shaving ice by hand for kids in the neighborhood in order to make enough money for the movies. At the time, I am sure all they could think about was how the work was hard, but the reward of the Movie was worth every scrape. But look how powerful that memory and experience really was to Alexx when he became an adult. Because of those early feelings and memories, Alexx has been getting called back to that part of his life.

    What is even more impressive in this article (http://cw39.com/2015/07/30/former-oil-gas-worker-strikes-it-rich-with-shaved-ice/) is his wife, Rhonda. In most Entrepreneurial experiences you will find an insanely supportive spouse, and Rhonda completely filled that role. Can you imagine your spouse coming home from a hard day at work and saying, “Honey, I shaved ice when I was a little boy and I want to get back to that.” Of course, all of us who have done shaved ice for the majority of our lives would say, “Oh Yeah! Go kill it Alexx!” but I can’t imagine what my first thoughts would be. “Uhm… ok? Can we maybe talk about this in a few years?” But she didn’t. She has a huge belief in chasing dreams which says a lot about Alexx as well. If you are a dreamer, but you never actually chase or bring them to fruition, then I can’t imagine there would be a lot of support there. But Rhonda knew that if he had the opportunity, he would work it, he would chase it, and that is exactly what he did. They have now gone from one stand to five. All five of them are nearly open every weekend. Because they are in Texas, they are open 11 months out of the year. Contrast that to our 4 months here in Salt Lake City and much of the country. As a side note, when we say that the average stand will do $30,000 – $50,000 in a summer, this is based off of a four month season. In his quest for more time with his kids, he not only sees them but employs all of them.

    One thing this industry does well is give back to its communities. Selling shaved ice puts you at every event and cause you can imagine and whether those donations on your part are the percentage paid to participate or in addition to that, you get to choose what you would like to contribute. To take that a step further, Snowie gives back not only to the community, but also to the business owner. Where other franchise owners would normally have to shell out thousands of dollars each year to the corporate entity, Snowie collects exactly $0.00. It is amazing what that figure alone does for a community.

    Alexx and Rhonda have chosen to give back to their community by donating their services to Friends of North Richmond and others like them that offer adult education, after school programs, and home repairs for families that are in the grips of poverty. They want to make sure they take care of their local environment, to nourish their roots because it was this community that made their dream come true.

    Their community is proud of them. They want them to succeed and they often receive encouraging words from their community telling them to keep their dream alive and keep going. Rhonda says, “We wanna be that encouragement, that light for somebody.” We want them to think, “‘If they can do it, we can do it.’ That kind of thing.”

    Congratulations to Alexx and Rhonda for their success. We look forward to hearing about their growth for many years to come. If you are interested in doing what they have done, speak with a Snowie Representative today!

    This entry was posted in Snowie Spotlight. Bookmark the permalink.
    Aaron Rupp
    AARON RUPP
    Aaron is the Marketing Director here at Snowie and has been involved in the Shaved Ice industry almost all his life. He’s an expert on all things Snowie and getting your Shaved Ice business up and running successfully.

    Snowie Summit 2016 Announced!
    It looks, feels, and kind of acts like a bus, but what is it?
    ONE THOUGHT ON “FULFILLING A CHILDHOOD DREAM”

    rod.rojas
    Hi Snowie,
    Thank you for sharing this inspiring story. Although I’m not in the shave ice business yet, it’s pleasant to know that there are companies such as Snowie that are willing to share their knowledge on this industry and provide business support. I’ve been doing a lot of research to open a shave ice business in 2016 and all the free tools your company provides on your website and YouTube webinars have enable me to attain a better understanding of this industry.

    OCTOBER 21, 2015 AT 12:25 PM REPLY

    Franky Your comment is awaiting moderation.
    Yes my name’s Frankie I live in Arkansas I have always till this day wanted to run a snow cone stand seeing this snowie bus just make me weak in the knees but also sad because I have no money. I would do anything I am a hard worker. I need to get a loan? I’ll get one. But all the help I can get would be great back to my work ethic. I’m confident I would succeed. Just please see what you can do for me whenever you can and get a chance please thank you. Have a blessed day!

        • Aaron Rupp says:

          I cannot get you a discount right now. However, if you attend the Summit that I mentioned in my last response, you can get a good discount at that show.

  4. Snow days says:

    I live in Delaware and I’m opening up a snow cone business in February this is my first Venture of this type and I’m really motivated and I have an awesome plan for my design of the location

    • Aaron Rupp says:

      Snow Days,

      We would be happy to help you by sharing with you our experiences and providing you with whatever equipment you need for the type of business you wish to start. I know you are starting your business in February, but you may want to consider attending the Snowie Summit. It will be held in Salt Lake City on February 16th-17th. Here is a page with more details: https://snowie.com/event/snowie-summit-2017/

      Please let me know if you have any questions,

      – Aaron