ChinaTalk Rise and Fall of a Suzhou Soft Serve Baron
Sep 2, 2020
Turner Sparks, a former English teacher turned ice cream mogul, shares his wild journey of launching Mister Softee in Suzhou, China. With quirky flavors and a catchy jingle, he initially found success but faced a series of challenges, including regulatory hurdles and sabotage. Athena Cao, a savvy investor, and guest host, dives into the complexities of the local business landscape. From backstabbing competitors to lessons in cultural dynamism, this conversation reveals how entrepreneurial dreams can quickly melt under pressure.
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Inspiration for Mr. Softee China
- Turner Sparks's inspiration for Mr. Softee in China came from observing long lines at McDonald's ice cream windows.
- He saw an untapped market for higher quality, more diverse ice cream options.
Connecting with Mr. Softee
- Turner's connection with Mr. Softee came through his college friend Alex Conway, whose family started the company.
- Initially, they naively assumed getting the business going would be simple.
Navigating Regulations
- Getting government approval involved explaining the ice cream truck concept to officials unfamiliar with it.
- Suzhou Industrial Park regulations required Mr. Softee to operate from fixed store locations, complicating their mobile business model.