Remember
when the ice cream man prowled suburban neighborhoods in his van and
kids longed for the sound of the bell as he rounded the corner onto
their street?
Bobbi Martinez has taken that concept to a new level with her new
business, Custard Caravan. Her mobile frozen custard parlor, which
opened in April 2002, employs eight workers who keep busy taking the
specially designed and outfitted vehicle to festivals, fairs, neighborhood
parties and parades.
Her novel concept has been so successful that she's currently considering
expanding the business to five mobile units. That's a lot of shakes,
concretes, sundaes and cones. But Bobbi is up to the task, says Aldis
Jakubovskis, her SBDC counselor with the St. Louis Regional SBDC.
"Bobbi definitely has what it takes to be successful," Aldis says.
"Even though she missed her start-up date slightly due to circumstances
beyond her control, she persevered, and the business is right on track
with projections."
Bobbi
found the SBDC when she visited the SBA One-Stop Capital Shop in St.
Louis to seek information on business planning. Her initial idea to
establish a permanent location for her frozen custard business didn't
cash flow to her satisfaction. That's when she decided to put the
business on wheels; she's never looked back. Some personal equity
investment and a modest bank loan put her on the road! And now her
family-owned firm will provide her and her husband a terrific retirement
income.
As her business grows, Bobbi plans to consult with Aldis for additional
guidance on expansion. She also plans to attend the St. Louis SBDC's
strategic business planning class for entrepreneurs.
"We could not have done this without Aldis," Bobbi states. "We were
able to write a successful business plan and realize what changes
we needed to make to have a successful business. This program helps
future small business owners such as us make educated and informed
decisions, thereby lowering the risk of business failure."
Look for Bobbi and the Custard Caravan on the road in eastern Missouri.
Or give her a call at 636/938-9930.
Manufacturer
- Billy Goat Industries of Lee's
Summit - manufacturer of outdoor power equipment
- Eyes of the World of Rolla - manufacturer of high-quality intraocular lenses for humans and animals
- ISW Group, Inc., of St. Louis - manufacturer of a skin-care product for
African Americans suffering with dermatological problems
- The Newberry Group of St. Louis - developer of computer security systems
- Patric Chocolate of Columbia - gourmet chocolate maker
- Pogue Label and Screen of St. Louis - a specialist in printing labels on plastic containers
- Renewable Alternatives of Columbia - specializing in the engineering of phase change materials
to ensure consistent temperatures
- Sigma Aldrich of St. Louis -
chemical manufacturer
- TechGuard Security of Chesterfield - provider of information network security products
- X-Com, Inc. of Warrensburg, - produces digital communications hardware and software for the Navy and other commercial applications and products
Professional, Scientific and Technical Service
- Aegis Business Solutions LLC of Kansas City -
offers solutions to business problems in information technology
- Brick City Custom Works of Mexico - custom motorcycle repair and service shop
- Gaskin, Hill, Norcross of
Springfield - developer of a text messaging system
- Global Solutions Group of Fenton - network solutions, IT telephone and
systems management firm
- H2O Technical Services, Inc., of Springfield, a provider of integrated water treatment services and applications
- Hammer Collections of Springfield - employs computer software and information technology to resolve and prevent payment delinquencies
- Language Solutions, Inc. of St. Louis - specializing in translation technology and multi-lingual communications services to assist other businesses reach a global market
- Logistical Resource Solutions of St. Louis - storage and inventory control
- Lytmos Group LLC of Lee's Summit - provides peer review and grants management support to organizations that sponsor high technology R&D
- Mobile Media Technologies, LLC of Kansas Ciy - wireless communications
- Nanova, Inc. of Columbia - researching biomaterials, materials, composites and medical devices to develop more reliable medical devices
- NEMS/MEMS Works LLC of Columbia - engineering researchers developing early-stage prototypes of nanotechnology delivery devices to target drug applications in patients with life-threatening conditions
- OsteoGeneX of Kansas City - drug research and biotech commercialization
- Paternity Testing Corporation of Columbia - forensic investigations, DNA profiling
and parental identification
- P/Strada, LLC, of Kansas City - a
consultant in bio-terrorism and homeland security
- Sign Designs of Joplin - designs and manufactures custom signs for large corporations and small businesses
- Technology and Networking of Cape Girardeau - computer technology and telecommunications sales and services
- The Vacation Channel of
Branson - independent TV station providing tourism info
- Westinn Kennels of St. Charles
- canine boarding and training facility
- Wren Associates, Ltd. of Jefferson
City - provider of retail fraud detection systems
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