Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Robert Harrell, CEO of Minnesota Ice, located in Saint Paul, MN, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Minnesota Ice is the nation's largest manufacturer of sculpture-grade ice and is the Midwest leader in artisan ice cube production. We offer three core products: ice sculptures, Pure & Clear™ cocktail ice, and packaged ice. Minnesota Ice services a large client base ranging from major corporations to individual customers.
Tell us about yourself
While in college, I had the opportunity to work for an ice sculpture company. Seeing a need to automate sculpture production, I created an ice-carving machine that lowered labor costs and increased production efficiency, bringing premium ice sculptures to a much wider market than ever before. Minnesota Ice started out as a small ice sculpture business in the garage of my Saint Paul home. It is now leading the nation in the manufacturing of sculpture-grade ice.
My daily motivation is often found in the team that works for Minnesota Ice. From the production crew to the managers that keep the company running smoothly, I know that each and every person on our team plays a crucial role in building a successful business, and that's incredibly inspirational to me.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
The pandemic affected our customers substantially. In turn, it put a stop to the manufacturing of our products. Like many companies, we needed to develop a plan to retain employees and keep the business sustainable. Through a lot of ingenuity and adaptability, we were able to shift roles and responsibilities to create new services and still grow our customer base by 50%. This was a major accomplishment for our team and for Minnesota Ice.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner, especially in the ice industry, is balancing the day-to-day operations while also maintaining a long-term vision for growth and success. In Minnesota, the weather can be very unpredictable, making it difficult to ensure that we consistently meet the demands for ice, particularly during the winter months. Additionally, managing the finances and adhering to a budget while keeping up with ever-evolving technologies and industry regulations can be a significant challenge.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- My most important tip or advice would be to look at mistakes and failures as important lessons for building a successful business. They keep you humble and close the gap on future failures because you're reminded of what did and didn't work in the past.
- Keep your goals attainable and set a new one after each goal has been achieved. Growing a business is a step-by-step process. There's no need to set goals so high that you cannot reach them.
- Surround yourself with a dedicated crew of team members that share a vision for success. You simply cannot do it alone.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://minnesota-ice.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minnesotaice
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mn.ice/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/minnesotaice/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/minnesota-ice/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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