Despite what Todd Griffin considered a rainy summer, he said the family’s business did well this season. Between May and early October for the last five years, Son and Daughters Italian Ice has been sharing their fruit flavored sweetened frozen dessert with customers throughout the region.
Often found in front of Christyles Beauty and Barber Shop at 722 Penn Avenue in Wilkinsburg, Griffin said during the summer they also were at the AR3 Basket Ball League in East Liberty as well as YouthPlaces and Homewood.
“We like to sell at special events, which enables us to function all year round,” said Griffin. “We do birthday parties, graduations, baby showers and family reunions,” he said pointing out that they offer special packages from as small as five to as large as 200 people. Festivals are a favorite of the family. “We participated in the Color Festival this year,” said his wife Toni indicating that it is a national event.
A family business consisting of he and his wife, daughters India; 21, Taylor; 11 and his son Todd; 14 Son and Daughters operate four carts that sell more than 20 flavors of Italian Ice. “People love our product,” said Griffin as customers of all ages on a hot September day purchased Mango and Watermelon the flavors of the day.
Todd and Toni said the business was initiated by their oldest daughter India as a way for her to make extra money. Currently she has qualifications to work as a Dental Assistant and works with her parents in their other businesses.
An entrepreneurial family, Griffin said the Italian Ice business is teaching his children discipline and how to be self-sufficient. “They know and have to do everything in this enterprise from purchasing supplies, making orders, keeping the books, to cleaning the carts and setting up.
“I like the business,” said 14 year old Todd, a Plum High School student. “I like making my own money, enjoy talking to the customers and have learned a lot.” Though a little early to be focusing on college, he said right now he is thinking about majoring in business.
Both father and son have a goal to expand the business to help others. “This is a way to train other youth to be entrepreneurs. People my age want to work,” pointed out the 14 year old. Agreeing, his father says that he hopes the 2015 season will be the year for them to reach out. “We are looking for sponsors to help support what we are doing, but most importantly we know that the more special events we are involved in the more opportunities we will have for additional carts.”
Griffin, a former employee of the UPMC Rehabilitation Hospital began his entrepreneurial ventures at a young age as a paperboy while growing up in Homewood. “I had a morning, afternoon and Sunday paper route,” he said. Currently he and Toni own Changing Entertainment, a promotional company as well as operate an e-commerce site that sells headwear for people with dreadlocks.
A Braddock native, Toni once sold her hand made jewelry from a kiosk in Monroeville Mall and now is a traveling nail technician. The husband wife duo with a few partners, also once operated an Internet radio station with the hopes to fill the void the original WAMO radio station left when they signed off the air in 2009. “We were a little ahead of time,” they said reflecting on the difficulty they had convincing businesses to purchase advertising.
With years of experience of operating various types of businesses, Griffin said he is not trying to paint a picture of perfection. “Believe me there are many obstacles.” Major hurtles for Son and Daughters Italian Ice he identifies as receiving advance notice of events and festivals and the entry fees. “Participating in the Three Rivers Arts Festival and the Regatta are venues that would provide great opportunity for us,” he said. “The fees to participate are very expensive for a small business like ours.” His other concern is receiving a fair chance to participate in such events.
Organizations, the Griffin family are appreciative of for their support and resources are Cristyles, YouthPlaces and the Children’s Sickle Cell Foundation.
“Allowing us to set up in front of their establishment has been a great asset,” said Griffin referring to Cristyles. And he credits YouthPlaces as providing the opportunity for India, Taylor and Todd to strengthen their techniques and increase skills during their basketball games.
At the age of 11 Todd said he realized he had Sickle Cell Disease. Since then he said the CSCF has been there for him. “I love to swim and they provide a safe, healthy and warm environment for me to do so as well as many other resources and services I need to live well with Sickle Cell.”
With the main part of their season winding down Griffin said their focus now is for the family to concentrate on marketing efforts for 2015, to continuously keep their eyes and ears open for special events and to prepare for the festival season.
“As entrepreneurs we strive to do better than the season before,” explained Griffin. “Keeping our name, Son and Daughters Italian Ice and our number 412-352-7432 in front of the public all year round and gaining sponsorship to move forward has to be our focus.”
