We recently connected with Arianna Cannon and have shared our conversation below.

Arianna, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

The story behind my mission is to provide local tired moms a coffee and snack delivery service that can cut them a break. Before I started my business I was a stay at home mom of two. I was actually recovering from a c section while caring for my 2 year old and newborn finishing online school while my husband was working 14+ hours a day.
Lines are long and drinks are overpriced and normally are made wrong. Who wants to waste gas and listen to screaming kids for that?
So with my small business, moms in my area can order themselves a fresh made handcrafted drink and some snacks for their little ones and just have to open their front door to get it.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I actually started out as a candle business. I would sell them at pop up shops and even did one weekly for a bit. As temperatures were starting to rise in Phoenix, I needed to start selling something that would bring more consistent income. And I didn’t want it to be another product for someone to just spend their money on. I wanted to help people, wanted to serve people but be able to help support my family while doing it. Well, with much prayer and meditation my cold brew business was born. I was already making my own and just had to make some tweaks to make it in larger quantities. Next issue was how the heck will I deliver the drinks? I didn’t want to make them all at home and then deliver them. They wouldn’t be good anymore and be a ton gas. So Cherry the Coffee Car was born. She was already our family car and I turned her into my mobile coffee car. I pack up my trunk every morning and make the drinks fresh right out of the trunk! I think that’s something that helps me stand out as a business. I make your cold brew right from my trunk and place it with a mint chocolate right at your door.
My business name has the phrase “homemade goods” in it so I try to stay true that as much as possible. I brew the cold brew myself. I make the creamer and some of the syrups for my drinks too. I’ve added snacks recently so moms can feed their littles and enjoy their coffee. I’m starting to incorporate lunch items too!
After delivering a drink and getting a text from a mom that it’s JUST what she needed because her newborn was up all night and her toddler chose violence that day, I just take a moment to thank the Lord for blessing me with something I can help others with and enjoy doing. I may not be a revolutionary or a saint but I do know moms get left behind in our society and I want them to know someone has their back. Even if it’s just with a coffee.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

So like I mentioned before I started out as a candle business. MamaCita’s started in December of 2020. I had obtained my Medical Administrative Assisting Certification in June that year but never got a job in the field and instead I worked at a dog camp which was my first window to a small business. After leaving there I was dreading getting a job working for someone else. I learned to make candles and these cute cactus shaped air freshies for your car and made a website and sold them at pop up shops. I even got the opportunity to work with other hard working moms weekly at a pop up they held at a park by my apartment. These ladies even went to amazing lengths and opened a store front and even asked me to rent a spot there. By 2022 things were getting rocky for us financially. My business was bringing in profit but with inflation and our bills basically doubling, we had to make the choice and move in with my in-laws. Which was on the opposite side of town where we grew up. I had to make the hard business decision to decline the offer for the spot in the store. It was literally what I had been working for. My goal. But the way of life I chose does not have a straight path and I trust God where He takes me.
With the move I had to adjust my delivery range and lost some customers, but I was blessed and business doubled. I utilized Facebook groups and joined some mom groups for my area. This has helped grow my business and bring other opportunities for me. I’ve catered for some schools and served coffee to deserving teachers. I’ve done a grand opening for a midwifery too.
Sometimes as small business owners we have to change course and it may seem like the death of the business but with determination and self discipline you can get there.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think what’s helped me stand out is the way I serve my customers. From customer service to how I make their drinks. I work from my trunk so I’m limited on drink choices but with that said I try to accommodate the best I can for everyone. I provide tracking for your order so can get a good idea of when I’ll be there and I always snap a picture of where I left your drink too. Sometimes I have brain farts and forget to make more cold foam or just straight up forget the whipped cream at home and always make sure the customer still is satisfied with what I have.
I think too that since I’m a mom I can connect with my customers more. I know how hard it is. That yes, it can be hard to just pack the kids up for a cup of coffee. That maybe you know someone who just had a baby and you send me to them. I love doing that by the way. Just letting them know I’m here to serve because I am a delivery SERVICE.

Contact Info:

• Website: mamacitashomemadegoods.com
• Instagram: @mamacitashomemadegoods

Image Credits
Ericka Moore