Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Bradley.
Hi Sarah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
After being a stay at home mom for 18 years my 3 daughters are grown up and moved out, I’m the guardian of my 24 year old Autistic son. Remarried, and the kids grown, life looks different then it used to and I saw a world of new possibilities. I entered back into the workforce part time delivering for a local auto parts store. All of the mechanics rolled their eyes when I came because I was “too chipper” Every single day! I used to say “maybe I should be delivering cookies or cupcakes but y’all would miss me when I’m not here to tell you are someone’s hero today,” I love to wear fun colors in my hair and I have been for years. One hot summer day I walked into one of the shops I was delivering to and one of the mechanics said my hair looked like a snow cone! I thought that was it! My husband and I love snow cones we used to go buy them several days per week last year and we still eat them daily now lol! My husband and I started talking about the snow cone stand idea, then we started casually looking online at stands and looking at the different shaver machines in the stands when we would go buy a snow cone! In January this year, we stepped out in faith, and I went and got the DBA in the Welcome Home Denton name… in February we bought a fixer-upper stand. Little did we know so much love would have to go into it lol! But we built it into what I had in my “girl boss” dream. This is my business, but I really couldn’t have done it without my husband’s support and literal blood and sweat. I wanted it to have that vintage farmhouse home feel. It makes you feel welcome and comfortable. That’s the way I want people to feel when they come to my stand. It’s really an outreach to the community of Denton just to promote small businesses being kind and excepting throughout the city one snow cone at a time. People need to feel special and noticed. Literally, a look you right in the eyes and smile is sometimes all it takes.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It is a hard thing to find a place to set your stand and leave it. You would think with all of the small businesses here in town that have a large parking lot that the majority of them don’t even use would be excited to have someone paying for a spot in their unused parking lot. But that’s not true. I don’t know if they’re afraid it will distract their customers. Maybe they are afraid of a liability (Which I am required to carry ins for my stand and business) I am sure I heard 50 no’s before Scott Brown said yes. It was discouraging at times… also, there are a lot more things that you need for a snow cone stand than you would think, as I’m sure there are with all business startups. Everything takes longer than you think!!! Lol! It’s hard to get people you need for example, someone to build an independent water system for a trailer like this that actually knows what they’re doing or aren’t going to charge you $3000.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I make fancy-flavored snow. Aka, Snow cones. I love fun toppings; what sets me apart from others? I’m not sure maybe I just love doing what I’m doing, and I love the people that come to my stand. I want them to leave feeling like they have a new friend. Like they see me in public, and they know they can come right up to me for a much-needed hug. I do have almost neon pink hair right now which puts awe on people’s faces… Like I am a snow cone fairy! Lol
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Well, I did reach out to a couple of local people who were doing what I was setting up to do. Some people didn’t want to share their business because of “its competition,” but my loyal precious mentor Becky Copeland (she owns and operates Sassy Sno) has been awesome! She let me work with her; she let me massage her personal phone about anything I needed to know; we still talk almost daily and encourage each other! She is a good person! I’ve followed lots of especially women-owned businesses on Facebook, and there is a real sweet community of us that share events with each other and support each other’s businesses; it’s awesome
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Welcome_home_denton
- Facebook: Welcome Home Denton SnowCones
- Other: WelcomeHomeDenton TikTok
