Fantastic Flavours Media Mentions 2019

(continued, ‘Woman Entrepreneur Oksana Shadrina Recognized’, from previous page)
From 30-Year Hobby To Finalist in Ireland’s “2017 Dessert Outlet
of The Year”, Hear Miceal’s Empowering Business Story and
Success Principles
Q: Tell me a little bit about your background and how you ended up choosing artisan ice cream making.
In my youth I was an Airborne Ranger. Afterwards, I served as Counsel in the United States Congress. My wife, Oksana Shadrina,
was a senior HR Manager and Trainer with Vodafone Ukraine before Russia invaded a few years ago and wreaked havoc on the
country and its people. Fantastic Flavours Ice Cream Parlour grew out of my hobby making ice cream and Oksana’s background in
human relations and customer service. We put our corporate and professional background to work making what we enjoy doing a
success.
Q: What made you take the leap into entrepreneurship?
I left the States in 2008 and moved to Ireland. With the collapse of Wall Street,
pension funds and the Irish economy in austerity mode – approaching 50 years of
age – I needed to be creative to survive. Turning my 30-year hobby into a business
was not only a necessity – but a logical step.
Q: What were the biggest initial hurdles to building your business and how
did you overcome them?
We started Fantastic Flavours Ice Cream Parlour with only 500 Euros. I bought a
second-hand ice cream freezer and cash register, a few days supplies and opened
our doors. With the banking collapse in Europe, financing wasn’t available. We had
to watch every penny and re-invest it daily to buy inventory. We decorated the ice
cream parlour item-by-item, progressively. Hanging my old baseball glove and
lacrosse stick, an Irish hurley stick and local historic posters donated by the local printer got us going. It costs far more to do
business this way – financially and in terms of image – but there were no options.
Q: How do you personally define success? What does it mean to you?
Since we opened in 2013, we have named ‘One of Ireland’s Best Ice Cream Parlours’ by the Irish Independent, Taste Magazine,
The Irish Sun, Get Out/Find Out and other food critics. We were just shortlisted for ‘Dessert Outlet of the Year’ for the Food Awards
Ireland – 2017.
These are great accomplishments for a new business and we are justly proud of them. However, they mean nothing if tomorrow we
open the doors and rest on our laurels. Success is measured on consistency-over-time. Delivering a superior ice cream, food and
drinks with great service is what defined success means to us.
Q: How do you differentiate yourself from others in the ice cream industry?
We make more than 42 flavours of ice cream, by hand, on-site, fresh daily. We use local producers so we can even trace our milk
to its source. We buy from local shops and providers – even when wholesalers can give us a marginally better price – because
keeping our community strong is not only a good ethic – its critical to our success. We focus on customer service and engage with
our customers. Fantastic Flavours Ice Cream Parlour isn’t just a café – its an
experience to remember. We create memories that hopefully children will
recall with their children who will then visit us for years to come.
Q: What would you say to someone who came to you for advice about
taking the ‘leap of faith’ into entrepreneurship?
Be prepared to embrace the oft-told mantras, “Edison tried unsuccessfully
with the lightbulb 1,000 times – but 1,001 was magic!”. Entrepreneurship is
about matching excellence, delivery and perseverance. A little humility is
always helpful – no matter how many times a food critics writes that my ice
cream is “one of the best in Ireland’ – at closing time – I still have to mop the
floor, wash the dishes and clean the toilets.
Q: We are entering an era where everyone is interested in multiple
income streams. How does one decide on a business
to pursue?
Find a match between doing something viable that you love and something you are good at doing. One without the other only
serves to undermine your chances for success.
Thanks you so much for sharing your entrepreneurial story with our readers. If I’m ever in Ireland I’ll be sure to stop by
your yummy ice cream parlor. Learn more about Fantastic Flavours Icecream Parlour by visiting their website at
www.fantasticflavours.ie
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/5a03a370e4b0c7511e1b39c3