We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Deana Saadawi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Deana below.

Deana, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

This question is a simple one but yet an interesting one. As a business owner, I find immense pride and happiness in what I do and while I wouldn’t trade it for anything, I’ve come to understand the sacrifices that come with entrepreneurship. I started my shaved ice business while in college when I was just 20 and to be honest, when I started I didn’t know what it would be come. My brother gave me the idea and told me if I saved up the $$ he would help me get started within a few months I was ready and eager!

The first year in business was slow but either way I was determined and fortunate enough to find a mentor who has also been in the industry for 20+ years, Lyle Rupp. Over the last 6 years my business has grown from 1 stand to now 4 and with that, took at lot of sacrifices. Being in my early 20’s that was/is still kind of hard!! Being a predominately summer season business – I cannot travel on vacation during the summer months, I miss out on pool days, family events, and I have (choose) to put in a lot of extra hours to ensure everything gets done that the business needs to operate and grow.

Reflecting on whether I’d ever consider a regular job, it was probably a time when the pressure of running a seasonal business was at its peak but I’ve noticed a mindset shift within myself over the years and I have a better understanding of what I signed up for when I committed to starting a business. And im willing to put in the work to make it successful and grow and mean something within the community.

I heard a quote that says you can work 40 hours a week for someone else or 80 hours week for yourself which I think for a business owner is true. I think you become obsessed with your business and the passion you light is so exciting to where you are excited to “go to work.” but at the same time comes this pressure to succeed and knowing that the success of your business in on you. There becomes a balancing act of overworking and having a social life and maintaining those friendships. I don’t want for this to come off as a negative because while there are a lot of hours that go into the business behind the scenes, it is well worth it. For me, owning a business gives me security, passion, and genuine excitement for the future.

Deana, 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?

I’m Deana Saadawi, my shaved ice journey started 6 years ago when I was just 20 years old. I told my brother I really wanted to start a business and work for myself but I didn’t know what (I had a glorified entrepreneurial dream). I was still in college (studying business and marketing at UC Lindner College of Business – graduated in 2019) and eventually the idea of Shaved Ice and more specifically Snowie came up. I knew the product and I was so excited.

I took the plunge, my brother helped me acquire an old truck to tow equipment and then I gradually built up from there. I now own 4 stand including a Snowie Bus which I just purchased this year (my first official “food truck”)!

One of the key milestones of my journey has been joining forces with Lyle Rupp, a seasoned distributor of Snowie Shaved Ice products with over two decades of industry experience. Through his mentorship turned partnership over the last six years, Snowie Cincinnati has thrived, benefiting from invaluable resources and guidance.

What sets Snowie Cincinnati apart is our unwavering commitment to providing not just refreshing shaved ice treats, but also crafting memorable experiences for our customers and community. We strive to offer a wide variety of flavors, including sugar-free options, to cater to diverse preferences and always sourcing the highest quality ingredients.

Im extremely grateful for those who have helped me succeed along the way, from my family and friends to Lyle and our loyal customers. I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know that Snowie Cincinnati isn’t just about shaved ice; for me, it’s a passion project and about creating memorable experiences for families and communities

Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?

Last year I accidentally signed up for an event in Connecticut that I thought was in Ohio. haha seriously…. I thought I signed up for an event in middletown Ohio but it turns out it was Middletown Connecticut and I did not realize it until a few weeks later when they sent out additional event details.

I had already paid the vendor fee for the event and was accepted for the event so I was quite embarrassed when I had to reach out and let them know I would not be in attendance since they were 11 hours and 20 minutes away from us. LOL Thankfully they were kind enough to return the fee.

I think it is important to remember businesses are “human” too – as in they make mistakes. Behind every business are people running it. It is easy to be hard on yourself over silly mistakes, especially as the business owner but I think as long as you learn something and try to correct it moving forward there is no reason to dwell in it.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

The journey of funding my business was one of resourcefulness and determination. Starting with just a small shaved ice cart and the support of my brother, who helped me purchase a truck, I pieced together the initial capital needed to kickstart my venture. Working at a hair salon and utilizing leftover money from a college scholarship, I scraped together the funds to invest in my business.

Despite the humble beginnings and the occasional skepticism due to my young age, I was fueled by a relentless drive to succeed. Each year, I reinvested profits into upgrading equipment and expanding operations, often sacrificing personal income to fuel the growth of my business.

Sometimes people ask me if my parents own the business or if someone else is coming to pick up the trailer, and I am young but you would be surprised what you can make happen with determination, dedication, and the right business opportunity.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.snowiecincinnati.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snowiecincinnati/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SnowieCincinnati
• Other: TikTok: @SnowieCincinnati