We were lucky to catch up with Kyle Dallaire recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kyle, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Every idea I’ve brought to life has started the same way. I pay attention to supply and demand. Opportunity is everywhere if you slow down long enough to really look at how people move, what they buy, what’s missing, and what they wish existed. That mindset has shaped every business I’ve created in St. Augustine.

The inspiration originally came from watching how Walt Disney approached the world. He didn’t wait for perfect conditions or a guaranteed path. He paid attention to people, he studied behavior, and he built things that solved needs people didn’t even realize they had yet. That taught me to think differently. When I walk downtown, I’m not just looking at what’s in front of me. I’m studying patterns, gaps, and moments where the experience falls short. That’s where the ideas come from.

Mimi’s Famous Crepes started because I saw a demand for something warm, simple, and emotional that downtown didn’t have. Whips Waffle Company was born out of noticing how many families wanted quick, fun, high energy treats that felt different from the usual dessert options. Colorful Creations came from seeing thousands of tourists walk St. George Street with no place to buy themed stickers that felt modern, colorful, or collectible. The wedding carts came from couples constantly asking for unique food experiences at their receptions. None of these ideas came from luck. They came from watching supply and demand play out right in front of me.

For me, the excitement comes from recognizing a gap and filling it in a way that feels thoughtful. I love transforming something simple into an experience. I love creating the solution before someone else sees the problem. And the best part is watching the proof come full circle. Seeing a line form, seeing customers light up when they try something new, seeing stores reorder our stickers again and again. That tells me the demand was real, and I was right to trust that instinct.

At the end of the day, opportunity is everywhere. You just have to train your mind to see it. That has been the foundation behind every idea I’ve built.

Kyle, 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 Kyle Dallaire and at my core I’m someone who loves creating experiences that make people feel something. I’ve always believed that opportunity is everywhere if you train your eyes and heart to really see it. What drew me into entrepreneurship wasn’t a business plan or a textbook. It was emotion. It was instinct. It was this pull inside me that said “You can build something special here.”

Walt Disney had a huge influence on me growing up. Not because of the rides or the fireworks, but because of the feeling his work created. He understood the power of wonder and the magic in the small details. That shaped the way I look at business. I don’t build concepts just to sell a product. I build them to create moments.

Every one of my businesses carries a piece of my story.

Likit Soft Serve was the beginning of it all. It’s where we discovered our hero item, the Dole Whip from Hawaii. Watching families light up over something so simple taught me how powerful the right product can be. That shop showed me that joy can come from something as small as a cup of pineapple soft serve.

Ben’s Soft Pretzels brought a different kind of emotion. Everything is made from scratch with wholesome ingredients, and it reminded me of comfort, nostalgia, and the feeling of home. There’s something grounding about watching dough be rolled by hand and knowing the product you’re serving came from real work and real care.

Mimi’s Famous Crepes is my heart. It’s named after my grandmother, Mimi, who made French crepes for my brother and me when we were little. Opening that shop felt like honoring her. Every time I walk into the lobby or see a guest enjoying a crepe in our Secret Garden, I’m reminded of those mornings at her table. That shop carries family with it. It carries love.

Whips Waffle Company was born out of pure creative energy. I wanted to bring something modern, bold, and fun to St. Augustine. A place that feels alive. A place where people don’t just eat a waffle, they feel the atmosphere around them. That concept pushed me creatively more than any other and reminded me how much I love building experiences from scratch.

Colorful Creations Gifts came from studying thousands of tourists walking downtown without a single place to buy a modern, collectible sticker. So I created it. And what started as a small idea became something that now lives in multiple cities. Every design is hand-drawn by our team. Every sticker goes into a shop with intention. Seeing kids collect them, families trade them, and stores reorder them again and again makes me incredibly proud.

Cart and Company is one of my newest chapters. It’s a luxury wedding and event cart company built around the idea that couples want more than food. They want a moment. They want something people talk about. Seeing this idea come together reminded me once again that when you listen closely to people, they’ll tell you exactly what the market needs.

What sets me apart isn’t the number of businesses. It’s the heart behind them. I’m involved in every detail because those details matter. I care deeply about how people feel when they enter my shops. I care about the atmosphere, the energy, the design, the smallest touches that most people would overlook. My goal has always been the same. Create moments. Create connection. Create experiences people talk about long after they walk away.

What I’m most proud of is the journey. The people I’ve met. The supporters who’ve followed every new idea. The way these concepts have shaped not just my life, but the lives of my team and the guests we serve. Everything I’ve built comes from a place of gratitude, curiosity, and the belief that if you stay open to possibility, you can turn any small spark into something real.

Opportunity truly is everywhere. And I’m grateful every day that I get to chase it.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

The best advice I can give is this. Be involved with purpose. Your team can feel the difference between a present leader and an absent one. They can also feel the difference between someone who is simply “checking in” and someone who genuinely cares. Every business I run operates so much smoother when my team knows I’m connected to the mission, the environment, and the day-to-day realities they face.

I’ve learned that morale doesn’t come from speeches or rules. It comes from leadership that leads by example. When my team sees me cleaning, stocking, taking out trash, fixing a sign, or jumping behind the counter during a rush, it reminds them that we are in this together. It shows them that I’m not asking anything from them that I wouldn’t do myself.

Being intentionally involved gives me a clearer understanding of where my team struggles, where the pressure points are, and what they need from me to succeed. Sometimes it’s better training. Sometimes it’s better communication. Sometimes it’s reassurance. And sometimes it’s simply showing appreciation at the right time.

I believe morale is built through consistency and emotional presence. Your team needs to know you’re steady. They need to know you’re not going to crumble the moment things get chaotic. When you stay calm, they stay calm. When you stay positive, they stay hopeful. When you show respect, they follow that lead and treat your customers the same way.

The most important thing I’ve learned is this. People don’t work for you. They work with you. And if you want them to give their best, you have to give yours. Be involved with purpose, show them that their work matters, and celebrate the small wins. When your team feels valued, supported, and understood, morale takes care of itself.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Personal development has completely transformed my life. It changed the way I think, the way I lead, and the way I show up for my businesses. I learned that you can only grow your companies to the level you’re willing to grow yourself. Once I started investing in my mind and my habits, everything around me got better — my clarity, my leadership, my decision making, and the energy I brought into every shop I own. Three books in particular made a huge difference for me.

Atomic Habits by James Clear changed the way I approach growth on a personal level and as a business owner. James teaches that real transformation isn’t about dramatic changes but about the tiny, consistent habits you practice every day. That message hit me deeply. It made me realize that if I wanted my life and my businesses to grow, it had to start with my daily actions and routines. Applying those principles helped me move with more intention, stay focused, and show up consistently for the people who rely on me.

The Go Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann reshaped how I define success. The authors remind you that the most powerful businesses are built on giving, serving, and creating genuine value for others. That philosophy changed my heart. It taught me that when you lead with generosity, when you care about the customer experience, and when you pour into your team, everything else follows. This book reinforced the way I want to show up in the world and reminded me that impact matters more than ego.

Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell opened my eyes to the importance of protecting my energy and not carrying every responsibility alone. Dan teaches entrepreneurs how to build systems, delegate with trust, and free up mental space to focus on the work that truly moves the needle. That book was a breakthrough for me. It helped me understand that buying back my time isn’t selfish. It’s necessary. It allowed me to think bigger, lead better, and create space for the ideas that have pushed my businesses forward.

These books didn’t just give me strategies. They helped me grow into a better version of myself. They strengthened my mindset, shaped how I lead my teams, and gave me the emotional tools to handle the weight of entrepreneurship. Personal development has been one of the most important investments of my life, and it continues to inspire every decision I make.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Kyle_Dallaire