Ice cream sandwiches are a common treat, especially when it is hot. They taste good, they are affordable, and now they have a little competition. Rice Creams are an ice cream sandwich with a twist. Rather than the traditional cake-like exterior, Rice Creams uses 2 crispy rice treats instead.
Born in the early 1980’s, the treat was originally created by a mom who wanted something unique to give her children. Nearly 20 years later that very same treat is now available to the public.
The Rice Creams ice cream sandwiches are currently sold locally in New Jersey and through their website.
Would you mind telling us a little bit about your business?
Rice Creams. Inc. is a private, family-owned business located in Hawthorne, New Jersey. We currently manufacture a new, single-serve ice cream novelty appropriately dubbed a “Rice Cream” which are sold locally and online at the company’s web site: http://www.ricecreams.com/. This new ice cream sandwich combines the crunchy texture of a marshmallow and crisped rice wafer with the creamy, cool richness of ice cream in a variety of flavorful combinations.
Do you know what inspired your mom to come up with this unique treat?
My mom is a great cook, and an artist to boot. One day the proverbial “light bulb” went off and her head and she decided to combine two of her son’s favorite treats together in one offering. She’s a very creative individual and always acts to design and improve; always thinking.
How has the original Rice Cream evolved since it was first created?
We’ve tried various recipes, shapes, sizes, and flavors according to public’s reaction. It used to be bigger and square to name a couple of different variables that we’ve evolved from. Although the product has been honed, we’re still evolving, and will continue to do so. We’re always experimenting with different flavor combinations, shapes, and sizes. We hope to offer many derivatives of the product in the near-future according to the public’s needs and desires. This includes lactose-free, low fat, multi-packs, and some other yet-to-be-announced items.
At what point did you realize you should start selling them?
We starting bringing them to family, friends and co-workers. Then we kept hearing and seeing the reactions from the folks. People love them. And when they started to ask “Where can I buy them?” after sampling them, it became apparent to us that this was a “no-brainer”. It prompted us to craft a business plan to get them into people’s hands.
So far, what has the consumer reaction been like?
Positive, positive, positive. What’s great about this product is that we receive feedback almost immediately after the package is opened. The accolades come streaming out. Some of the adjectives and descriptive statements we’ve heard lately are: “What a great idea!”, “delicious”, “clever”, “different”, “amazing” to name a few.
What growth has your business seen since it launched and what goals would you still like to reach?
We’re not millionaires yet, not by a long shot. Our number one goal is to obviously get our product into consumer’s hands. We’re looking to local distribution first, as well as Internet sales. We’re also in talks with various vendors throughout NJ. Although one day we hope to be a household name, we’re taking it one step and one day at a time. It’s a learning process. I do set out to do something every day to push the business forward, seven days a week no matter what.
Did you have any previous experience or knowledge that aided you in building this business?
I have a business degree and worked in the restaurant business for a number of years. I also dabbled on Wall Street after college. Although they both paid the bills, it was quite unrewarding. When I was presented with taking this concept to market I jumped at the chance.
What has your business taught you?
It’s taught me to live on barely any sleep! Just kidding (well, maybe not). But it certainly has taught me to do something everyday; to move the business forward and to try to stay positive even in the face of seemingly constant adversity. There are many facets involved in taking a food product to market. I learned to pretty much do it all to some degree. I play researcher, attorney, accountant, marketer, merchandiser, product developer, packaging designer, manufacturer, PR representative, salesman, webmaster, and last but not least…taste tester! The rewards so far have been amazing and I hope the trend continues. The flow of accolades and the recognition we receive from those that have tried our product is the ultimate litmus test however. The product works, we just need to get it out there and eventually scale our production accordingly.
Do you have any bits of advice that you’d like to share with any aspiring entrepreneurs that might be reading this?
It’s never too late to break out on your own and follow your dream of being your own boss. You need conviction, drive, determination, and patience. Expect to make mistakes along the way, and don’t expect to make a lot of money in the beginning. Underestimate your ability to earn, overestimate your ability to learn.