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

Nikki Jones, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

Flexibility is most important. I also work in labor and delivery dept at UNC so I’ll compare to a woman and her birth plan. You may have the best plan in mind for your child’s birth but you have to be willing to alter that plan bc, in the end of it all, that baby is in control! This business is our baby and she is in control! We have to be willing to roll with the punches and adjust to the whims of the industry, the economy, and our customers. If you can’t do that you won’t be successful.

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

Our bio. Can also check another version on our website too:

Cristhian and Nikki, a passionate husband and wife duo dedicated to crafting artisanal gourmet popsicles from the freshest fruits, are the proud owners of Raleigh Popsicle Co. Cristhian, from Colombia, South America and Nikki, a Raleigh Native. have decided to start this adventure together and offer delicious popsicle treats to put smiles on everyone’s faces while bringing all cultures and backgrounds together.
By combining our culinary creativity, we bring a burst of natural flavors to your taste buds. Our popsicles are handmade with fresh ingredients including fruit and fruit puree. There may be a few options that are chock full of cookies, cereals and sweet goodness, too! There are over 18 flavors to choose from so everyone can find something to fit their tastes and desires!
We have 2 locations; one at Crabtree Valley Mall and One in Downtown Raleigh on E. Hargett St. where our kitchen is also located. We are often at outdoor pop-up and farmer’s markets, venues and small events throughout the year including NC Seafood Festival and Mumfest, Phillips Farm of Cary as well as offering wholesale pops to several shops around the Triangle area.
Join us on a delicious journey of pure goodness and handmade frozen delight!

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

We’ve only been together for about 4 years. We met through online dating. Our first date was breakfast at The Flying Biscuit in Raleigh after I had worked three night shifts at the hospital in a row. I was DEAD TIRED! Cristhian has another business that he had when we met; Rocuts Pressure Washing. He did gutter cleaning, too, and used a blower from the roof to do it. We had just been dating a month or so at this point. During a job he slipped on some wet leaves and fell from the 2nd floor roof. He was rushed to the ER and, amazingly, only had a shoulder injury and a gash in his butt cheek from the ladder catching him on the way down; probably kept him from greater injuries too. Well, he called me from the ER. I say with him, held his hand while he got stitched up and told him he was coming home with me to stay on my couch bc there was no one at his place to help bandage his butt every day and he was too hurt otherwise to do it himself. He subsequently met my daughters rather quickly, stayed with us for 10 days and quickened the pace of our relationship tremendously!

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

Cristhian and I greatly believe in things happening for a reason and what’s meant for you will not have to be forced. We had been talking about this popsicle business idea of his for a couple months while he was still busy with pressure washing jobs and I was working full time at one hospital and part time at another as a surgical technologist. He got a message on FB asking him to do a pressure washing deal for a neighborhood in Apex. He ended up doing 20 houses in 2 weeks time and making enough money to buy our bicycle cart to start the business on weekends at the Raleigh flea market at the fairgrounds. It was meant to be!

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.raleighpopsicleco.com
• Instagram: @raleighpopco
• Facebook: Raleigh Popsicle co