We recently connected with Jazmine Escoto and have shared our conversation below.

Jazmine, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

Before diving into the ice cream biz, I spent a fabulous 12 years in the beauty industry, painting faces and sharing beauty tips as a makeup artist and educator for a big-name beauty company. But in 2023, I was on a mission to find something that truly lit me up inside, as I was pretty unhappy in my career at the time.

Then, on December 28th, 2023, it hit me like a scoop of double fudge: why not sell handmade ice cream sandwiches from a cute little cart? Within just one week of that light bulb moment, I had everything lined up: a business plan, a logo, brand colors, the works! It was like the universe was saying, “Go for it, Jazzy!”

Fast forward to February 2024, I traded my makeup brushes for scoops of ice cream, diving headfirst into my new gig as a full-time ice cream dealer. I took the risk to start this new business, and every day I am thankful for trusting my heart and not letting fear talk me out of it.

I entered this business with zero experience in ice cream but I used other skills that I’ve developed over the years like branding, marketing, content creation, writing, and so on. Having a corporate background and being a part of many large events made me confident to lean into those skillsets.

From the very start, I knew my product needed to be delicious and a sweet treat that would have customers coming back for more. When we shop brands, we tend to gravitate towards companies that represent us and what we believe in. So when it came to the branding, product, and services, I wanted the focus to be on creating an emotional experience. Capturing attention with my cart and sealing the deal with the first bite was my goal.

It took me months to perfect my recipe. Every single ice cream sandwich is handmade with love. The cookies are measured by hand and perfectly baked to have golden brown edges and a soft chewy center. The brand of ice cream I use is Thrifty’s—tried and true, nostalgic, and delicious.

Serving ice cream to my community brings me great joy. I love seeing customers enjoying ice cream sandwiches and knowing I have a small part in brightening a stranger’s day makes me happy. I take great pride in producing my product, ensuring every sandwich is fresh and simply delicious. It may look easy to make an ice cream sandwich, but it’s pretty time-consuming and a delicate product to work with.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi there! My name is Jazzy, and I’m the proud owner and founder of Frosted and Happy! My company specializes in fresh, handcrafted ice cream sandwiches. I’m a one-woman show, so every flavor I offer is produced by me—baking the cookies, assembling the ice cream sandwiches, and labeling/packaging each one with love.

I do get a little help from my sister, who’s an incredible baker, but for the most part, it’s just ME. Starting this business was a surprising twist for both me and my inner circle since I had never expressed any desire to open a dessert business before. But I wanted to find something that brought me joy and a venture where I could shatter glass ceilings.

Frosted and Happy is a mobile catering ice cream cart that brings sweet treats to all kinds of events and celebrations. I try to attend weekly farmers markets at Victoria Gardens on Wednesdays and in Downtown Upland on Saturdays. The rest of the week, I’m busy booking gigs for pop-up events or making home deliveries to my clients.

I offer five delicious flavors—classic vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and mint chip. I believe in keeping ice cream simple and not overly complicated. My ice cream sandwiches strike the perfect balance of sweetness without being too sugary, making them an ideal treat for everyone.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Starting a mobile ice cream business is surprisingly affordable compared to other startups. I needed about $10k to cover supplies, product, marketing, permits, licenses, and other miscellaneous expenses. To make this dream a reality, I asked my brother-in-law, Chris, for a loan and his mentorship.

My BIL is a successful business owner of a piping company, has years of experience running a business. To get his buy-in, I had to present a comprehensive business plan with a promising ROI. And, let’s be honest, I wasn’t going to take no for an answer!

I opened my business account in January 2024, and I still haven’t used up all of the $10k loan. The first five months were all about preparation: wrapping my ice cream cart, wrapping the windows of my Jeep, creating labels, getting my health permit approved, perfecting the sandwiches, organizing a product photo shoot, finalizing my catering services, building the website, setting up social media channels, curating content for the launch, and so much more.

I realize not everyone has a person like Chris in their corner. Entering this business with zero experience in the food industry presented many challenges, but I tackled each one head-on and learned a lot along the way.

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

For the past six months, I’ve been completely immersed in books, podcasts, and YouTube videos about building a brand and business. Every day, I make it a point to listen to something that will help me grow. If you’re interested in building your brand, I highly recommend reading “Brand Flip” by Marty Neumeier. This book dives into how customers shop today and what truly matters when it comes to branding.

I’m also a big fan of Chris Do on YouTube. He offers fantastic advice on marketing strategies and emphasizes the use of AI in business. Incorporating AI has been a game-changer for me, helping with everything from creating schedules to building my business avatar.

And if you can handle Gary Vaynerchuk’s direct style, you’ve got to watch his content! Gary V. is incredibly insightful about social media and how to succeed in that space. His advice has been instrumental in growing my following and encouraging me to post consistently on social media channels, even though my business is just over a month old.

Lastly, Seth Godin’s audiobook “This Is Marketing” was a real eye-opener. It gets deep into understanding your target audience, including their beliefs, demographics, psychographics, and the problems you’re solving for them.

Spending the past six months learning from these inspiring leaders has been incredibly beneficial. Sometimes, I don’t fully grasp their teachings right away, but as I encounter real-life situations that relate to their advice, it all starts to click. It’s been a fun and enlightening experience, learning as I go and seeing how these lessons apply directly to my business, brand, and most importantly, my customers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.frostedandhappy.com
• Instagram: @frostedandhappy.com

Image Credits

Photos taken by Frosted & Happy