We were lucky to catch up with Shaday Hiraldo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Shaday , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

How did this idea come about? It all started a few years back during a family trip to my beautiful island, Puerto Rico. During that trip, my cousin introduced me to açaí, a fruit I had never heard of before. When I returned home, I couldn’t find a place that offered the same experience we had in Puerto Rico. So, when the opportunity arose, my family and I decided to include açaí bowls on our menu. While there are a few spots in St. Cloud that serve açaí, none were close to our area. That’s when we introduced açaí bowls, pitaya and coconut bowls, nitrogen-infused ice cream, and pizza to our menu. Our aim and vision are to create a welcoming environment where you feel like part of our family and at home.

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?

My journey has a touch of humor to it. Initially, I began as an employee here for two years until one day, someone dear to me mentioned that I had the potential to become an entrepreneur. Initially, I found it hard to believe as I used to joke about not being able to sell a bottle of water. However, when the previous owner mentioned retiring and selling the place, my family and I took a leap of faith by acquiring it and reshaping it with our vision. Transitioning from an employee to an employer was a significant shift. We had to focus on refining our branding, logistics, menus, and all the intricate details behind the scenes. While our ice cream menu was already established, we introduced a new açaí menu and explored additional offerings like milkshakes, frappes, fresh lemonades, pizza, and bowls with açaí, coconut, and pitaya bases. To add a creative touch, we included “Palette Abstracto,” inspiring guided classes on creating abstract art with fluid acrylic painting. The name “Palette” was inspired by this creative addition. Even though I was initially apprehensive, I clung to God’s promises. It is thanks to Him, my family, and the encouragement of my friends that we have experienced significant growth in just a year and a half. Açaí N7 Palette is crafted to offer families a delightful experience with food, desserts, and more. Witnessing our vision become a reality has been truly fulfilling!

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Delivering outstanding customer service to our clients is essential. When customers feel valued, they are more likely to return and become loyal. Working alongside both my mom and dad is a true privilege, and we have witnessed customers returning and even recommending us to others because they see the unity between us. Our main focus is to offer exceptional service and create a welcoming atmosphere consistently. Our goal is to surpass customer expectations by providing top-notch quality in our products, and we have received positive feedback regarding the quality of all our offering product.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Transitioning from an employee to an employer has posed a significant challenge for me, as it was a completely new role. Working alongside with my mom, we have formed a successful partnership in managing our team. Emphasizing leadership, we prioritize building trust and delegating tasks within our staff. The team consistently puts in dedicated efforts to deliver the best services and create exceptional experiences at Açaí N7 Palette. To have a strong team, I recommend prioritizing open communication, respect, trust, and collaboration.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acain7palette?igsh=a245NDhzYW5menQ0&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088743828444&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits

David Patiño