Today we’d like to introduce you to Latarsha Blue.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was always taught that if I worked hard, completed college, and got a good job, I would have a good life. All of that has been true for me, but I wasn’t happy, and it took me a very long time to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I was a 21-year-old young Army wife married to the love of my life, Marvin-a then combat medic. We struggled for many years to start a family. Between the challenges of being a military family and trying to start a family, it was hard for me to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Fast forward 11 years later, Marvin is out of the Army, we adopted two beautiful girls, and about three years after that, we were pregnant and had our third girl. It became clear to me what I wanted to do with my life: make and sell ice cream! I knew that it sounded random and crazy, but I have ALWAYS been a fanatic for ice cream! But I am a vegetarian, bordering vegan, who doesn’t eat much dairy. I wanted more options than what I saw around me. So, I decided to start my own non-dairy ice cream company, and Ajae’s Scoops was born from there. I wanted to make ice cream for those who either could not or would not consume traditional dairy ice cream. I wanted something I could share with my daughters. Ajae’s (pronounced Ay-Jayz) isn’t just a name. It is actually an acronym for my daughters’ names: Aubrey, Jaden, Artemis, and the “E” stands for eternally. Because I struggled to have them all in my life, I knew that once they became a part of me, it would be for an Eternity.
For my 37th birthday (in December), I treated myself to actually giving my dreams a real shot. So, I took a week off from work and attended the vegan ice cream school offered by Sweet Ritual in Austin, TX. There, I learned all the essential things there is to know about non-dairy ice cream. I brought that knowledge back home, adapted my own recipes, quit my job, took out all my savings and used that money to start my business. I knew that what I was doing was a great risk, but it was more than worth it to me.
Today, I operate the Ajae’s Scoops Non-dairy Ice Cream Trailer, Dallas-Fort Worth’s first and only non-dairy ice cream trailer. I will also have a storefront one day. I am happier than I’ve ever been to! Since I am mobile, I get to travel to many cities across Dallas-Fort Worth and beyond. It gives me joy seeing people who haven’t been able to consume ice cream finally be able to and enjoy it! It also gives me the joy to see those who DO consume dairy enjoy my ice cream equally too!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No, it has not been an easy road, but because I have a desire, it gives me courage. Courage gives me hope, and that it was I use to get me through the challenges. Some struggles that I’ve had are trying to secure locations that I can go to set up and sell ice cream. I can’t just pull to the curb and sell. I have a truck and a trailer, and that requires A LOT of space. The city is also pretty strict on where food truck owners can go. So, the way that I combat those things is to try and network as much as I can with other food truck owners. They give me advice on where I can go.
Please tell us about Ajae’s Scoops.
My business is called Ajae’s Scoops. I can make all the traditional flavors, plus others, but in non-dairy form. I am most proud of as a company that we can provide ice cream options for those who cannot or will not consume dairy. Ajae’s Scoops provides different flavors of ice cream made from bases of almonds, cashews, coconut, soy, and sunflower seeds. We also offer nut free and gluten free options. We really want everyone to be able to enjoy a good scoop of ice cream!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Not a thing! I wouldn’t appreciate this as much as I do had it not been for all the struggles I’ve gone through over the years. God is good!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ajaesscoops.com
- Email: ajaesscoops@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ajaesscoops
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/theajaesscoops
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/ajaesscoops
Image Credit:
Marvin Blue Photography
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