My name is Chantae’ Fowler and I am the proud owner of Ice Cream Place. In 2003 while working in corporate america and being cursed out one too many times, I decided that I wanted a career that made people happy instead of angry.
Since I had never seen anyone eating ice cream that wasn’t happy, unless they dropped it of course, I decided this was the career for me. It couldn’t be any old ice cream shop I wanted my ice cream to be home made because I didn’t know of anyone that was actually making ice cream fresh on the spot. So from 2003 to 2008 I began experimenting and trying to perfect the perfect ice cream flavor and in 2008 I finally got it right.
After I got the flavors just right my next obstacle was how to get it out to the people and at the time the only way I could think of was to participate in vendor events that allowed food, so I signed up for as many as possible. This was all well and good and the people loved my ice cream, but wanted to know where they could buy it outside of the vendor events. The only way I could think of was to just deliver it to them, which people loved but it just wasn’t a really smart business move when people would order 4 pints and I had to drive 30 miles one way to deliver it.
While working at one of the vendor events I ran into a gentleman that knew someone who he said could help me and told me what I already knew, that driving all over Michigan to deliver ice cream was nuts, but what was I to do. He suggested I develope different distribution points where people could pick the ice cream up. I thought that is was an ingenious idea, but exactly who, what, where for these distribution points? Well the gentleman introduced me to several business owners and all I had to do was pitch to them that customers were going to come by and pick up my ice cream from them. It worked out well for a while, and then I was approached by a small local health food market and my ice cream was flying off the shelves. Next was my first full service grocery store and before I knew it I was in 12 full service grocery stores, and one tired Chica I might add considering I was still making everything on my own, packaging it as well as delivering it. Talk about determined huh!
Things were going well, but one thing still remained, people wanted to know where they could come and grab a cone or bowl of my ice cream and sit down with their families and enjoy a nice treat out.
Fast forward to today and here I am trying to raise funds to open up my very first sit down open year round scoop shop to personally serve my patrons.
What We Need & What You Get
I need $75,000 to open my building up and that includes all the commercial grade ice cream machines as well as a pastuerizer (which I need because I make my own ice cream mix), freezers, dipping cabinets, baking display cabinets, furniture and the build out. Some of the perks you can expect to receive if you donate depending on the amount you donate range from a shout out on Face Book to having your own ice cream named after you to an ice cream social for 100 of your closest friends and even receiving an acrylic plaque that you’ll be presented with on the day of the Grand Opening.
If I fail to reach my goal I will use the funds to continue towards my goal of opening the scoop shop.
The Impact
Your contribution will make a world of difference to me and my dream. Currently I am renting space at a commercial kitchen in Ferndale which is approximately 40 minutes one way from my home. The proposed facility is in Taylor which is 15 minutes from my home. I also pastuerize my mix in Chelsea and travel from there to the kitchen with it which is approximately an hour and a half, so being able to pastuerize and make my mix and ice cream all in the same place would save me invaluable time and not to mention gas.
Other Ways You Can Help
Some people just can’t contribute, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help, I ask folks that can’t contribute by donating money to please get the word out and make some noise about my campaign. Please use the Indiegogo share tools!
Click here to be introduced to The Ice Cream Place
Source: The Ice Cream Place
