We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Melissa Diedricks a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Melissa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Cup n’ Spoon really started with me just being a mom, looking for a place where I could take my kids and we’d all enjoy it. I’ve always been passionate about creating treats and experiences that bring people together. But the necessity came when I looked around my community and realized something was missing. There wasn’t a place where the whole family could truly enjoy themselves. I found myself bouncing between coffee shops that felt too grown-up for kids, and frozen yogurt spots that were fun for them but left me wishing I had a good latte in hand. I kept thinking, “Why isn’t there a place where both can happen together?”

That’s when the idea clicked: what if I combined the two? Kids light up when they get to swirl their own frozen yogurt and pile on toppings, while adults crave a great latte, a quiet corner, and a sense of atmosphere. Together, they create the perfect balance…a space where families don’t have to choose between kid-friendly or adult-friendly, because it’s both.

The more I thought about it, the more it just made sense. Logically, it filled a gap in the market…there were coffee shops, and there were dessert spots, but none that blended both in a way that was intentional, welcoming, and community-focused. Parents are always looking for somewhere welcoming, affordable, and fun to take their kids, but they also want a space that feels like it’s for them, too..

So really, Cup n’ Spoon was built on that vision: to create a place that isn’t just about a drink or a dessert, but about an experience, about great customer service, and to fill that gap. Not just another coffee shop, not just another yogurt bar, but a unique place designed for families to come together and have a memorable experience. The mom in me loved that it brought joy to kids, while the entrepreneur in me saw the unique concept that could really work. And that mix of heart and logic is what gave me the courage to bring it to life.

Melissa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Melissa and I’m the founder of Cup n’ Spoon, a place that was created out of both heart and practicality. I was a full time stay at home mom before I decided to take the leap of entrepreneurship. As a mom, I was always searching for a spot where I could take my three rambunctious boys and they could have fun, and where I could enjoy myself too. What I kept finding were bubble gum pink frozen yogurt shops geared toward kids or traditional coffee shops designed for adults, but never one place that truly brought both worlds together. That gap is what inspired Cup n’ Spoon: a self serve frozen yogurt bar and full coffee bar under one roof, designed to be an experience for the whole family. And we’ve also created an amazing unique menu that combines the two!

At Cup n’ Spoon, we serve self-serve frozen yogurt with all the toppings kids love, plant based energy drinks, açaí bowls, smoothies, milkshakes, frappes, alongside a craft coffee menu that parents crave. It’s a place where families can make memories without having to choose between “kid-friendly” or “adult-friendly.” Beyond the shop, we’ve also branched into wholesale and events, bringing our playful treats to schools, local businesses, and community celebrations!

What sets us apart is the intentional way we’ve combined two industries that usually don’t overlap, as well as our hyper focus on customer service and community involvement. I also do my best to promote the other local small businesses in our area to foster growth for our community. We’ve created a welcoming space for families to have fun, a space that gives adults a moment to exhale and relax, and a space to encourage study and work. All together, it creates something unique: a spot
that truly caters to everyone.

I think of our brand as more than food and drinks, it’s about creating joyful memorable experiences. We want to be the place families think of when they want something special, or the stop that makes an ordinary day brighter.

What I’m most proud of is the way Cup n’ Spoon has become part of the community. From watching kids run in with excitement to hearing parents say, “This is exactly what we needed here,” those moments remind me why I started.

If there’s one thing I’d want new people to know about us, it’s this: we’re here to make life a little sweeter, a little more fun, and a lot more connected. Whether you’re coming in for a coffee, swirling up some froyo, or meeting friends for both, Cup n’ Spoon is all about creating happiness in a cup (and a spoon)…pun totally intended.

How did you build your audience on social media?

When I first started Cup n’ Spoon, I didn’t have a marketing budget. What I did have was a phone, a love for storytelling, and a community I wanted to connect with. So social media quickly became my main way of building an audience. I also focused highly on what social media line was most popular in my area which is Facebook. I haven’t worried about “going viral” with people that aren’t local…I’ve focused on connecting with people who are my direct market in MY area so that I can equate those into IN STORE sales. So the 20K followers we have on Facebook are ACTIVE followers that are predominantly local to us and COME IN. Which, that should be what social media is all about…creating ROI where all the time you spend equals money to your bottom line.

I lean into being authentic and consistent. Instead of just posting polished product photos (which are incredibly important), I share the day-to-day, new flavors coming in, behind-the-scenes peeks, fun daily deals, and little moments that make our shop special. People respond because it feels personal, not corporate.

I also treat social media like a conversation, not a billboard. If someone comments, I reply. If customers tag us, I reshare it. If kids came in with big smiles and sprinkles all over their cones, I ask parents if I can share that joy with our community. These genuine connections have grown into a loyal following.

What I’ve learned is that people don’t just follow a business, they follow a story and a feeling. They want to know the person behind the brand, and they want to be part of something fun and engaging.

For anyone just starting out, my advice would be:
1. Show up consistently. Even simple posts matter if you keep at it.
2. Be real, don’t worry about being perfect, just be YOU.
3. Engage, respond, comment, and celebrate your followers.
4. Have fun with it! Your energy comes through even behind a screen.

Social media can feel overwhelming, but if you think of it as building relationships instead of chasing numbers and popularity , you’ll naturally grow the right audience for your brand!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn is that no matter how hard you try, you simply can’t make everyone happy all the time. In the early days of Cup n’ Spoon I would take it personally if every single item was absolutely perfect or if someone wasn’t quite happy with what they chose…like I had somehow failed.

But over time, I realized that chasing universal approval is impossible, and honestly, it can burn you out. What I could do, though, was focus on giving each person the best experience possible in the moment, whether that meant a warm greeting, taking notice that they needed a little cheering up, maybe giving a thoughtful recommendation, or just a space where their family could laugh and enjoy themselves. Even if not everything was absolutely perfect, people often left with a positive memory that mattered more than perfection.

Now, instead of striving to make everyone happy all the time, I’ve trained my team to focus on creating a welcoming environment, taking the time to engage and being present with each person in the moment. That shift has not only taken pressure off me and my staff, but it’s also made the experience more genuine for our customers. Because in the end, it’s not about perfection, it’s about connection.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @cupnspoon814
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/cupnspoonmeadville

Image Credits

Kelly Rhoades Photography for picture #1 of me all of the others (product pics etc) were taken by me