Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheryl And Christian Alles.
Hi Cheryl and Christian, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Our vision began years ago on the shores of Lake Michigan. I grew up spending weekends in the summer at Holland State Park and each drive back home was spent stopping at the Yum Yum Ice Cream Shop for a scoop of blue moon.
After moving to North Carolina, and closing in on retirement from Duke University, and purchasing our beloved Percheron horse, Louie, I began the quest of making my dream of a horse drawn ice cream wagon a reality. Living in an equestrian friendly community such as Portofino, located in Clayton, NC, my vision of adding this service to the neighborhood seemed fitting.
In 2020, our son Christian, being a foodie himself, decided to partner with me to form Louie & Co. His business school background is a valuable asset to the business.
While Louie is still the inspiration to our business, we retired him this past year. He’s enjoying his days chilling out in the pastures with his buddy but we’re confident that he misses the fanfare.
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?
Starting our business has been exciting but one of our biggest challenges is the weather. Our sales are impacted during the cold rainy days and forecasts are often difficult to navigate, which is why we are closed during the winter months (November- February).
As you know, we’re big fans of Louie & Co Ice Cream. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We serve hand dipped super premium ice cream and Italian ice. We offer a range of frozen selections, from sundaes, floats and shakes to ice cream nachos. We also offer frozen treats for your four legged friends.
We pride ourselves in providing excellent customer service but what sets us apart from the rest is our location. Unless we are booked at an event you can find us at the front of Portofino Equestrian Center, a horse stable and community. Where you can find our customers parked, some families perched on their tailgates enjoying the relaxing and picturesque setting of the pond and horses grazing. Dogs are welcome as well.
We also offer catering. Whether you’re planning a wedding, birthday or corporate event, We have a range of price points available to fit any budget.
If we are booked for an event, our social media pages along with street food finder and google reflect our daily schedule. Our regular business season and hours are March 1-October 31, Wednesday -Sunday 4-8PM @ Portofino Dr. Clayton, NC 27527.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Many worthwhile things in this life require taking risks. Taking risks builds confidence and self growth however, when it comes to building a business, one should do their homework. Market research is a key first step. Creating a solid business plan and understanding your finances also are vital.
I think our biggest and most profound risk that we’ve experienced is building a business as a Mother/Son team. Building a business with a family member carries unique risks that don’t necessarily show up on a spreadsheet. Hard conversations can easily be avoided however, it’s imperative for our success to communicate any differences in opinions, however hard those conversations might be. We have learned what each of our strengths are and base our roles in the business on those strengths.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Louie-co.com
- Instagram: louieco.icecream
- Facebook: Louie & Co Ice Cream
