Wayne Magazine Back to School 2019 | Page 20

Submit your ideas for neighbors neighbors to [email protected] 6 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT Lisa Emeric The scoop on the owner of Sweet Ice Queen WRITTEN BY STEPHANIE NODA C 18 lad in a pink tiara and pink heels, Lisa Emeric, the self-proclaimed Sweet Queen, aims to make the world sweeter, one bar of ice cream at a time. The Wayne mom began her ice cream truck business, Sweet Ice Queen, in 2015. Standing out in a sea of plain, white trucks, she aims to turn heads with her vibrant pink ones. The two trucks even have names: Joey and Pinky. She wants to not just serve ice cream, churros and pretzels, but to make a lasting memory. Here are six things you should know about her. businesses embraced her vision. “I had steady bookings almost from the beginning,” she says. “By the second year, I added [my] second truck.” SHE LEFT THE CORPORATE WORLD TO DO SOMETHING MORE UNUSUAL. Before starting Sweet Ice Queen, Emeric worked as a human resources executive. She spent 14 years out of the workforce to raise her two sons. She worked freelance on the side, planning business events and per- sonal parties, but when her youngest son entered middle school, she felt the time was right to re-enter the workforce full time. Emeric says she wanted to create a business that would allow people to escape for a bit. The answer soon became clear: a specialty ice cream truck business. “Who doesn’t get excited when they see or hear an ice cream truck?” says Emeric. “If you’re a kid, it’s instant happiness. Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, seeing the ice cream truck makes the experience even better.” EMERIC TAILORS HER TREATS TO SUIT THE OCCASION. Whether she’s visiting a wedding, bar mitzvah, school event, nursing home or daycare center, Emeric and her staff customize the ice cream flavors and food based on the customers’ preferences. BACK TO SCHOOL 2019 WAYNE MAGAZINE STARTING HER OWN BUSINESS HAD ITS CHALLENGES, BUT ITS BENEFITS, TOO. Starting a new business is always hard work, as Emeric found out when she created a business plan, secured the ice cream truck, searched for the right suppliers, built a website and launched a marketing campaign. The most challenging part of the day-to-day operations is keeping up with demand, and having to work sometimes 15 to 20 consecutive days due to the seasonality of the business. For Emeric, however, these are “good challenges to have.” SHE WAS SURPRISED BY HOW QUICKLY THE BUSINESS TOOK OFF. Emeric says that she’s been thrilled by how the community and local SHE HOPES TO EXPAND HER OFFERINGS. Going forward, Emeric is hoping to add another truck to her fleet. She’d also like to add a wider variety of items so that she can keep her trucks on the road all year long, not just when the weather gets warm. “We [will be able to] keep the truck on the road year-round with treats that warm you up in the win- ter, and delight customers as much as ice cream does in the summer months,” she says. ■ SHE WANTS TO HELP OTHERS THROUGH HER BUSINESS. Emeric likes to give back to the community herself, working with local non-profits and aiming to help those with special needs. “If a visit from the Sweet Ice Queen Truck can brighten the day of a child who is suffering or someone who is struggling, we work to accommodate those requests as often as we can,” says Emeric.