Ice-cream found it’s new home
Most entrepreneurs had to upskill over the last eighteen months. Happy Apples is a new ice-cream business in Artane, Dublin. Happy Apples spoke to Northsides People about how the business was established “I was struggling to pay rent I had to come up with some ideas and I had a caravan in my garden I decided to renovate it at the start of 2021” it’s hard to buy good ice-cream in Artane considering most people love to eat a treat “I was going to do the usual coffee and cakes but my daughter said to me that there is nowhere that does good ice-cream in the area that’s local” happy Apples received lots of support from family and friends “my family have ice-cream parlours named after my brother in Scotland I got great advice off my brothers in Scotland” As it been a new business Happy Apples wasn’t sure in how well the business would go “it’s not an industry that I’m used to because I’m a barber it was just to cover the costs for setting up the business the target is to clear the cost of overall setup in six months” most important thing when opening up a new business you rely on local support “I was overwhelmed as all the local people were very supportive people loved it it’s somewhere for families to go without bringing your car” most business’s promote themselves both online and in public “the usual social media avenues such as Facebook & Instagram I try my best to update our social media channels I sponsored a local newsletter in the estate I work on word of mouth as well when it comes to local trade” most people have returned to shopping to more locally over the last eighteen months “yes without a doubt a lot of the time everyone gets busy with life and we look further a field when it comes to shopping local trade is a big factor for me everybody has come to terms in how much they need to support local businesses” Happy Apples been a bit quieter this month “it’s quieter in July with everything opening back up and with everyone going away but we except to be more busy in August” in Winter it becomes very cold for ice-cream “yes I will have different options in Winter we won’t be open as much but I have a couple of ideas a few nicer warmer dishes to keep our customers warm in Winter” it’s tough trying to set up a new business especially with it not been the only business that you manage “I’m back full time working in the barbers I opened my van the same week Irish Government announced that barbers would be open this was crazy times for me with my old business back functioning and trying to setup a new business this month was the most stressful month in my life” it’s important to keep the economy surviving in Ireland especially after the last eighteen months and it’s crucial for local business’s provide jobs “I have been able to give more jobs to people that were unemployed and I employed local people” it’s a nice environment in an existing business that you know the neighbours from the area that your business is located “yes of course without a doubt it’s a nice environment when you know the local neighbours and I wanted everyone to be friendly and to be one family in both of my business’s” most entrepreneurs have targets and ambitions for their business “at the moment we will sustain the business this year we might look at another Happy Apples down the line and I aim to be in more local areas” with more people getting vaccined and going to keep supporting local business’s in your area “I hate to hear so many closing it’s heartbraking to see people build their businesses over years and gone overnight it’s important to try spend money to save these businesses which would be fantastic” it’s important to relax and treat yourself at the weekend “I think whoever goes for ice-cream will go for ice-cream it’s not a huge treat and it won’t cost much” get out there and buy a 99
https://dublinpeople.com/news/northsideeast/articles/2021/08/13/how-do-you-like-them-apples/?amp=1
