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

Stephanie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s something crazy on unexpected that’s happened to you or your business

One of the most unexpected things that happened to me was getting a call one day from the grandson of the founder of a national hotel chain. I don’t want to say the name, but it’s a brand we all know and recognize. He said he was rooting for me because his grandfather – like mine – had sold their business to a large corporation. It made their family very wealthy, but the brand lost what made them special. The hotel chain became more about making money than creating a unique experience for their guests. It’s rare that a family loses their business and then gets it back. I feel incredibly blessed – despite all the challenges that I’ve faced financially – to have the chance of reviving my grandfather’s legacy. Getting the unexpected “Atta Boy” (or “Atta Girl”) from a total stranger really meant a lot to me. While we may not hear it every day, there are lots of folks out there rooting for us as entrepreneurs to make it. That call reminded me that I’m not alone in this crazy comeback journey I’m on.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I’m the CEO of Stuckey’s, a chain of stores on the interstate highway known for their pecan log rolls, souvenirs, and roadside fun. The Company was founded by my grandfather in 1937 as a humble pecan stand and grew to – at its peak – over 350 stores in 40 states in the 1970’s. But my grandfather sold the company, and there were a series of outside owners who trashed the brand. Stuckey’s was 6-figures in debt when I was approached about buying the Company in November of 2019. With no business experience, I invested my life’s savings at age 53 into buying Stuckey’s and reviving it. Three years later, I have two business partners who’ve joined me in purchasing a pecan shelling and candy plant. We’ve made a comeback by making the products that made us famous ourselves again – and selling them in almost 5,000 retail outlets across the country. We still have 65 licensed locations on the interstate, but the real growth of the brand is coming from the Stuckey’s pecan snacks and candies. We had over $13M in sales last week and hope to hit at least $15M this year, so the future looks bright for our 85-year old startup.

Can you talk to us about your experience with buying businesses?

Yes, in January of 2021, my business partner and I purchased a candy plant in Wrens, Georgia with the help of an SBA loan. We bought it because we needed to make a big audacious move in order to revive the Stuckey’s brand. As our Company was known for our pecan candies, we figured getting back into the candy making business – instead of outsourcing the 3rd parties as we’d been doing – was the ticket to profitability. By owning our own manufacturing facility, we could guarantee the quality of our product as well as get better margins. The process took over a year to put together the financing and negotiate the terms of the deal. We couldn’t afford outside consultants to broker the deal, so my partner and I both bought a copy of the Harvard Business School guide to buying a business. My copy was filled with hand written notes and highlighted sections by the end of the year. I can’t stress enough how important it is to learn how to do stuff yourself as an entrepreneur. It’s the only way to survive on a limited budget when you’re first growing your business. The strategy worked – almost two years later, we’re profitable and expanding the facility to add more staff and machinery. It’s been a lot of work integrating the systems, processes and cultures of the businesses, but it’s been well worth the effort. I’d do it all over again if given the chance.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

The initial capital to start reviving Stuckey’s came from my life’s savings. That’s one of the benefits of being an older entrepreneur. I had savings and good credit earned up from a lifetime of working as an attorney. Really the only way I could have funded the acquisition and the initial startup costs was with my own funds. The Company’s income statement was reporting 6-figures debt, and our EBIDTA was negative. No bank or investor – other than someone crazy like me – would have done it. But I saw what wasn’t on the balance sheet, and that was the value of the brand. I knew that my grandfather had built a company that created a decades of good will for our brand. That good will was still there, even if you couldn’t see it on a listing of assets. Fortunately, it worked out, and the Company is now on the road to revival.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.stuckeys.com
• Instagram: @stuckeystop
• Facebook: Stephanie Stuckey
• Linkedin: Stephanie Stuckey
• Twitter: @stuckeystop
• Youtube: Stephanie Stuckey
• Yelp: Stuckey’s
• Other: Tik Tok: @stuckeystop

Image Credits
Image Credit: Stephanie Stuckey (selfie w/ my iPhone)