Remember
when the ice cream man prowled suburban neighborhoods in his van and
kids longed for the sound of the bell as he rounded the corner onto
their street?
Bobbi Martinez has taken that concept to a new level with her new
business, Custard Caravan. Her mobile frozen custard parlor, which
opened in April 2002, employs eight workers who keep busy taking the
specially designed and outfitted vehicle to festivals, fairs, neighborhood
parties and parades.
Her novel concept has been so successful that she's currently considering
expanding the business to five mobile units. That's a lot of shakes,
concretes, sundaes and cones. But Bobbi is up to the task, says Aldis
Jakubovskis, her SBDC counselor with the St. Louis Regional SBDC.
"Bobbi definitely has what it takes to be successful," Aldis says.
"Even though she missed her start-up date slightly due to circumstances
beyond her control, she persevered, and the business is right on track
with projections."
Bobbi
found the SBDC when she visited the SBA One-Stop Capital Shop in St.
Louis to seek information on business planning. Her initial idea to
establish a permanent location for her frozen custard business didn't
cash flow to her satisfaction. That's when she decided to put the
business on wheels; she's never looked back. Some personal equity
investment and a modest bank loan put her on the road! And now her
family-owned firm will provide her and her husband a terrific retirement
income.
As her business grows, Bobbi plans to consult with Aldis for additional
guidance on expansion. She also plans to attend the St. Louis SBDC's
strategic business planning class for entrepreneurs.
"We could not have done this without Aldis," Bobbi states. "We were
able to write a successful business plan and realize what changes
we needed to make to have a successful business. This program helps
future small business owners such as us make educated and informed
decisions, thereby lowering the risk of business failure."
Look for Bobbi and the Custard Caravan on the road in eastern Missouri.
Or give her a call at 636/938-9930.

Manufacturer
- Able Products of Joplin - furniture
manufacturer

- Billy Goat Industries of Lee's
Summit - manufacturer of outdoor power equipment
- Dynamic Industrial Services of St. Joseph - rebuilder of electric motors
- Eyes of the World of Rolla - manufacturer of high-quality intraocular lenses for humans and animals
- Eygon Enterprises of Lee's
Summit - manufacturer of a special tool for truckers
- Feather Light Lamp Manufacturing of Kennett - maker of high-quality lighting

- H2OVER Beverage Company of Columbia - canned drinking water distributor

- ISW Group, Inc., of St. Louis - manufacturer of a skin-care product for
African Americans suffering with dermatological problems

- Mo-Sci Corporation of Rolla - specialized glass manufacturer
- The Newberry Group of St. Louis - developer of computer security systems

- Paper Petals of Fenton - printing and custom design of note cards and invitations
- Patric Chocolate of Columbia - gourmet chocolate maker

- Pogue Label and Screen of St. Louis - a specialist in printing labels on plastic containers

- Premier Foods of Milan - poultry processing plant

- Renewable Alternatives of Columbia - specializing in the engineering of phase change materials
to ensure consistent temperatures

- sComm, Inc., of Kansas City - developer of devices to assist the deaf
and hearing impaired

- Sigma Aldrich of St. Louis -
chemical manufacturer

- TechGuard Security of Chesterfield - provider of information network security products

- ValRich Foods of Jefferson City - produces and distributes La Casita salsas

- X-Com, Inc. of Warrensburg, - produces digital communications hardware and software for the Navy and other commercial applications and products
Professional, Scientific and Technical Service
- Aegis Business Solutions LLC of Kansas City -
offers solutions to business problems in information technology 
- Big Vision Design, LLC of Platte
Woods - web site designer/developer

- Brick City Custom Works of Mexico - custom motorcycle repair and service shop
- Flexible Staffing of Chillicothe - provider of temporary workers

- Fundraiser Software of West Plains -
a developer of donor management computer programs

- Gaskin, Hill, Norcross of
Springfield - developer of a text messaging system

- Global Solutions Group of Fenton - network solutions, IT telephone and
systems management firm

- H2O Technical Services, Inc., of Springfield, a provider of integrated water treatment services and applications

- Lee Marketing Group of Joplin
- marketing firm
- Logistical Resource Solutions of St. Louis - storage and inventory control
- Lytmos Group LLC of Lee's Summit - provides peer review and grants management support to organizations that sponsor high technology R&D

- Mail Boxes Etc of Leawood, KS - mailing/shipping services franchise
- Mobile Media Technologies, LLC of Kansas Ciy - wireless communications
- Moresource, Inc. of Columbia - professional employer organization
- NEMS/MEMS Works LLC of Columbia - engineering researchers developing early-stage prototypes of nanotechnology delivery devices to target drug
applications in patients with life-threatening conditions
- OsteoGeneX of Kansas City - drug research and biotech commercialization
- Paragon Business Solutions of Nixa - consulting firm specializing in building performance driven business systems
- Paternity Testing Corporation of Columbia - forensic investigations, DNA profiling
and parental identification

- P/Strada, LLC, of Kansas City - a
consultant in bio-terrorism and homeland security

- Technology and Networking of Cape Girardeau - computer technology and telecommunications sales and services

- The Vacation Channel of
Branson - independent TV station providing tourism info

- Westinn Kennels of St. Charles
- canine boarding and training facility
- Wren Associates, Ltd. of Jefferson
City - provider of retail fraud detection systems

Starred clients were a part of the 2008 Client Showcase [more]
Starred clients were a part of the 2006 Client Showcase [more]
Starred clients were a part of the 2005 Client Showcase [more]
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Accommodation & Food Services
Retail Trade
Educational Services
Health & Social Services
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Agriculture
- Oswald Ag of Tarkio - custom agricultural spraying service
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