Here's our presentation from this year's NICRA convention, titled "The First-Year Challenges - Advice from New Store Owners". For this presentation we interviewed four store owners and asked questions such as: * "What’s the best advice you could give to someone opening an ice cream/ gelato store?" * "What was the least anticipated thing that happened over the past year?" * "What Appeared to be the Scariest Moment but did not turn out so?" * "What Was the Biggest Challenge?" * "Can you give some advice regarding hiring employees?" Visit our website for more information about how we can help with your ice cream or gelato shop / business: http://www.advancedgourmet.com/

1. The First-Year Challenges
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2. About Advanced Gourmet
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3. Owners Interviewed for this
Presentation
Pam Smith
Remington, Virginia
Kyle Reagan
Greensboro, NC
Jim Marmion
Summerfield, NC
Selim Oztalay
Greensboro, NC

4. What’s the best advice you could give
to someone opening an ice cream/
gelato store?
• Knowledge is POWER
• Attend as many hands-on events as possible
• Find support groups
• Align yourself with professionals with experience
to help

5. What was the least anticipated thing
that happened over the past year?
• 57,000 ice cream cones sold from June to October
• The AC system was not enough to handle all the
heat from the freezers
• The huge success of fundraisers with schools
and other organizations

6. What Appeared to be the Scariest
Moment but did not turn out so?
• 1st Day, almost had a nervous breakdown, but was
quite rewarding
• Opening the doors, once you open you cannot
close, all went really well
• 1st Day, anticipation, did we remember everything

7. What Was the Biggest Challenge?
• Finding a manager
• Understanding everything from bookkeeping to marketing
• How to get through the first summer in a college-
dominated location
• Establishing a solid schedule and staffing that is the right
amount and not too much

8. Can you give some advice
regarding hiring employees?
• Find a mix of adult and youth
• Do not be afraid to go with your gut
• Hire people you can trust, but check references
• Make sure they can multitask and have the ability to learn
and do everything

9. Can you give some advice
regarding hours of operation?
• Stay open late in the summer
• Know your location and demographics; for
instance in a College location, ask yourself, when are
the students around, before and after class?
• Be flexible not stagnant

10. Did you have to make menu
changes/modifications?
• Yes! Try many flavors and combinations
• Start with a limited menu and grow it as your
clientele grows
• Do a lot of sampling; if successful add to menu
and replace something not popular

11. Did you have to make/ or would you
like to make changes in store layout,
financing, location?
• The flow layout is key
• NO! We worked with a trustworthy team for the
design, financing, legal, and equipment
• We would like more space and seating. The
business is beginning to outgrow the space.

12. What advice would you give in regards
to choosing a partner?
• Make sure you get a signed operating agreement
before you start
• Make sure you are on the same page; define jobs;
agree on the main things
• Make sure you all know your strengths and
weaknesses and how this makes your company and
partnership stronger

13. Would you do it again?
• It has been most rewarding. I would definitely do it again
• YES! Get into it for the right reasons. You must have
PASSION and must love people. The smiles are my drug of
choice
• Absolutely…I’m building a business for my family today and
tomorrow
• This is the best people-business to be in; It’s fun!

14. What has been the most rewarding
thing?
• Knowing that so many people love it and cannot wait to
come back for more and really appreciate that you are there
• Working with Happy People every day!
• Happy customers, good-quality products, good service, and
a great working environment
• The SMILES; the response from our customers

15. Owners Interviewed for this
Presentation
Pam Smith
Remington, Virginia
Kyle Reagan
Greensboro, NC
Jim Marmion
Summerfield, NC
Selim Oztalay
Greensboro, NC

16. Our Team
Here to Serve the frozen-
dessert industry and all the
members of NICRA
Jim Hall Jim Marmion Wally Becker

17. Moo Thru - Remington, VA

19. Gnam Gnam Owner, Selim Oztalay