Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mariana McWilliams. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Mariana, thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I’ve always gone to farmers or vendors markets which I’ve found fun. Seeing all the items people sell and interacting with people with different cultural background have always been an interest of mine. So of course I told my parents I wanted to start my own business. I wanted my business to be named after a flower so I went to google, looked up flowers, and there it was. The Marigold flower. It was perfect, it was a beautiful flower and the real prize was it had my name in it but we changed it to Mari’s Gold to make it a little more original. Mari’s Gold started off as an idea of buying toys and selling them for a cheaper price making it affordable fun. We also wanted to have sensory buckets that had prizes and a spin the wheel option. Our slogan was, “One toy at a time”. With a clock in the O in toy. Then we realized we needed something that had people buying from us multiple times. So with the factors of repeated customers, the extreme hot of Phoenix Arizona, and my love and passion for ice, we thought of snow cones. It seemed perfect, who wouldn’t want a cold burst of flavor in the middle of our hot summers? It was also a small enough treat so we could also make it more affordable for people and could make it more customized and personal. Then, considering my love of writing I’ve had since before school, I decided to write a book about my journey of being my own business owner titled “Mari’s Big Idea”. That book went very well and even got best seller on amazon for a few weeks. Next, I decided that since this snow cone idea was mostly for kids, I decided to make a kid’s book to get more interaction with my audience. Now, Mari’s gold is a franchise that promotes youth entrepreneurship.

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 started Mari’s Gold to show that kids are capable of more than people often think. We offer over 20 flavors of snow cones, and for private events, we provide a custom menu, cups, and themed menus to match your celebration.

From birthday parties, school events to sports games and summer camps — we can handle it all.

Beyond our treats, I’ve also created two children’s books and a word-tracing and coloring book. Most recently, we’ve added popcorn for movie nights — another fun way to bring people together.

Mari’s Gold was built as a solution for families who want high-quality treats and party experiences without breaking the bank. We believe everyone deserves the best, no matter what your budget is.

If you have an upcoming event, we’d love to bring the chill! Reach out to book Mari’s Gold for your next celebration.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I built my audience on social media by consistently posting and collaborating with the people I work with. My biggest advice? If you don’t have much content from your actual business yet, focus on getting your name out there and clearly showing what you offer. Create a plan and stick to it. Keep posting — even if you get no likes at first. Growth takes time. And most importantly, remember: social media does not define who you are

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

What really helped build my reputation was meeting new people and actively networking. Getting my name out there through social media and word of mouth played a crucial role as well. But more than anything, it was about defining what my business stands for — and staying true to that.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shopmarisgold.com
• Instagram: marisgold_snowcones (https://www.instagram.com/marisgold_snowcones?igsh=MTc5ajRyY2liZHQ1dQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr)
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ED68SSRCd/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianamcwilliams8
• Youtube: marisgold8
• Other: Tiktok: marisgold_snowcones (https://www.tiktok.com/@marisgold_snowcones?_t=ZP-8xPJ2axBVqp&_r=1)