Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikita Seal.
Hi Nikita, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always had the entrepreneur spirit for as long as I can remember. I can recall a time back in high school where the Mayor took all the vending machines out of schools across the entire state. I saw it as an opportunity to fulfill a need. Although there were no snacks being sold in school didn’t mean that people where no longer going to eat them. So, I started selling candy bars for $2, our teachers would even shop with me, on the low of course. It was a nice little hustle at that age for a teenager. I also sold belly button rings back then, around Valentine’s Day. I knew that all the boys would buy them to impress whomever they were dating at the moment.
Creating ZZ’s Ice Cream Puffs really started off the same way. It was an idea I had nearly two years ago. I felt that Dallas was missing something new, fun and just exciting in the desert area. I’ve always been a really big fan of food trucks, I enjoy that whole culture that comes with it. So when Covid happened and my job laid me off, it expedited my dreams. I took my entire life savings to buy a food trailer so that I could operate as a mobile food kitchen all over DFW. I thought the concept of having Blue Bell ice cream nestled between a warm donut then topped with cereal was just dope. So to do that type of treat on a food truck just added to the excitement in my opinion. On Nov 2nd, my 32nd birthday, ZZ’s Ice Cream Puffs was officially birthed to the world. ZZ’s is named after my five-year-old twins, Ziah my daughter and Zion, my son. Everything means something to me. I try to be intentional with every single detail.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road by any means but I’m grateful for every bump in the road. The struggles make the reward that much sweeter. The biggest struggle has been and still is finding capital to help fund some of the ideas. My goal was to not go in to debt while building my business so I’ve funded everything out my own pocket, which is not easy considering I was laid off during covid.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I’m really proud of ZZ’s Ice Cream Puffs cause it’s nice to see something you once dreamed of in reality. I’m also a mental health awareness advocate so pushing that conversation is super important for me. Anxiety is a Mutha! is the mental health awareness clothing brand and it’s the official uniform at ZZ’s. I believe that spreading the message is my purpose and which I’m really passionate about. So it felt natural incorporating that movement into the restaurant. Customers come to ZZ’s to taste the magical treat and are intrigued by the movement behind it. We sell the shirts at the restaurant as well.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
It is so important that we find our purpose in life. We were not put here to live boring unfulfilled lives, always looking forward to the weekend. One of the reasons speaking on mental health is so important for me is because I was once living my wildest dreams or so I thought, making the money I always wanted, being a homeowner etc. but I was still depressed and miserable every day. Money and things will never fill that void and make you feel whole. Once I found my purpose and started walking in it, I woke up from that fairytale life I was chasing; life begin to have a new meaning.
Pricing:
- ZZ’s Ice Cream Puff $6
- Anxiety is a Mutha! shirts $25
- Anxiety is a Mutha! Hoodies $45
Contact Info:
- Email: zzsicecreampuffs@gmail.com
- Website: www.anxietyisamutha.com
- Instagram: @zzs_icecream_puffs
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZZsIceCreamPuffs
- Other: https://msha.ke/anxietyisamutha/
Image Credits
Dubbsgrubs
