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Woman Business Owner Overcomes Challenges, One Scoop At A Time Woman Business Owner Overcomes Challenges, One Scoop At A Time

By Michael Villegas

AMANDA HUGHES: We got a lot of soft serve and floats, shakes, flurries.
MICHAEL VILLEGAS: Amanda Hughes opened up The Ice Cream Stand seven years ago after getting her business degree along with marketing and design. But with both of her parents being in the food industry, family is the reason serving people through food has been at her core.
HUGHES: The Ice Cream Stand is a whole family vibe and we love that. Once people make their way and find their way to us, they usually come back and we’re so grateful for that.
VILLEGAS: But running a business is not all rainbows and sprinkles. Amanda claims that supplies like ice cream and paper products are still hard to get since covid. And this isn’t even her biggest obstacle.
HUGHES: It’s really hard to find people who want to work and that’s tough. That’s definitely the biggest challenge.
VILLEGAS: And even with these challenges, Amanda takes pride in being a woman business owner. And as for our customers, well, they share the same pride in supporting her.
CHERYL MELNYK: It’s awesome. I love supporting local businesses in general. Women owned businesses is even better, and I know Amanda personally, and she is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. So it’s always good to know that you’re supporting local like this. And it’s even better to know that you’re supporting, like, an amazing person like Amanda.
VILLEGAS: With her mother running a catering business and as she says “always cooking.” Amanda shares what it means to her to be a woman business owner.
HUGHES: It’s incredibly special. And it’s even more special knowing that my family and particularly the women in my family, have really paved the way.
VILLEGAS: And Amanda understands that she is paving the way for others as well.
HUGHES: I see young women and even little kids come in and just to see me here and to have their parents interact with me and say like, ‘oh, she’s the owner’ and have them witness that. It’s really so much bigger, you know, and it puts things into perspective. And I love having the opportunity to show people what’s possible.
VILLEGAS: And the cherry on top.
VILLEGAS: And the ice cream is good too.
KYLE MELNYK: And the ice cream is good too.
CHERYL MELNYK: The ice cream is delightful.
KYLE MELNYK: Yea you can’t go wrong. That too, can’t forget that.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. ( NCC News) – Running a business always has its challenges and obstacles, but for Amanda Hughes, she faces all of them one scoop at a time and always with a smile on her face.

Hughes opened up The Ice Cream Shop seven years ago after receiving a degree in business and marketing and design. With her father owning a restaurant, and her mother running a catering business, opening up an ice cream shop was an easy and somewhat natural decision for Hughes.

But it hasn’t always been easy running a seasonal business. Hughes explains that since COVID, getting much needed supplies to run her shop has been difficult.

“Right now, supplies, ice creams, paper products,” Hughes says. “Things like that are still really hard to get.”

Unfortunately, this isn’t even the most challenging hurdle Hughes faces as a business owner.

“It’s definitely harder and harder to find help, and to find competent help. I do feel lucky because over the years I’ve always had great teams and although my team is small this year, I’m really grateful for them and they’re doing a great job,” Hughes says. “But it’s really hard to find people who want to work and that’s that’s tough. That’s definitely the biggest challenge .”

This worker shortage has forced Hughes to alter her business hours, but what motivates Hughes to persevere is the example she sets as a female business owner. Hughes takes pride as a woman business owner and she recognizes she is a role model for the next generation.

“It’s incredibly special and it’s even more special knowing that my family and particularly the women in my family, have really paved the way and my mom is just such a rock,” says Hughes. “So I think it’s important and I see young women and even little kids come in and just to see me here and to have their parents interact with me and say like, ‘oh, she’s the owner’ and have them witness that. It’s really so much bigger, you know, and it puts things into perspective. And I love having the opportunity to show people what’s possible.”

And there is a high possibility that if you do step into The Ice Cream Stand, you’ll be welcomed by Hughes’ bright smile and the delightful aroma of freshly made waffle cones.

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