Today we’d like to introduce you to Arias Austin
Hi Arias, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
SlushyIcees, formerly known as SluttyIcees, is a family-owned business run by a dedicated mother-daughter team. The journey of this business is deeply personal, with my uncle playing an integral role in its foundation. Though he is no longer physically with us, his influence continues to guide us every day.
Our story began in 2020, during the pandemic, when my uncle found an all-black trailer in Orlando, which became the foundation of our business. My mother, with her entrepreneurial spirit, jumped on the road to bring our new venture home, and by the end of that summer, we were officially open for business.
I want to take a moment to give credit where it’s due—my mother is truly the driving force behind this business. Initially, when she approached me with the idea, I had no interest in getting involved. I wanted to be a silent investor, famously telling her, “I’m an engineer! I’m not slangin’ Icees.” But as fate would have it, here I am today, fully immersed in the business and turning “Slushy Dreams into Icee Realities”—and I absolutely love it.
What started as a side hustle with that small trailer has flourished into a full-fledged business, offering a lifetime of opportunities. Our beloved truck, once called the “SlutTruck,” now runs on weekends or whenever we get called for a special weekday event. What was once just a small idea has grown into something much bigger than we ever imagined.
To my forever “Sluts” I can’t thank you enough for all of your hardwork and dedication you have given “Sluttyicees” since day 1! The memories we’ve made throughout the years is unmatched and I/We wouldn’t be here today without you. To the ones who have allowed me to use their vehicles to pull the trailer Thank youuuuuu so so much ! Wouldn’t be here without you. To the ones who allowed me to borrow/invest in my business when things got extremely tight THANK YOUUUUUU! We have to give each and every one of you your flowers because this took a team effort. . Teamwork make the dream work!!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of the most persistent challenges has been the backlash we’ve received due to the name “SluttyIcees.” While the name is meant to be playful and bold, it has sometimes been misunderstood, leading to pushback from certain communities and organizations. Unfortunately, this has resulted in us being excluded from some family-oriented events, festivals, and other potential partnerships where organizers felt the name might not align with their values or audience. This has limited our ability to reach certain markets, even though we stand by our brand’s core values of fun, creativity, and inclusivity. Once again I would like to clarify we are all educated black women who understand our power in this world. We know sex sells and just wanted to have a little fun with the people. We are not promoting anything other than having fun but being a little flirty while doing so.
Opening our first brick-and-mortar location has been an exciting milestone, but it’s come with numerous challenges. One of the main issues has been hiring the right personnel. Due to a combination of inexperience and staffing shortages, finding and retaining qualified individuals who share our vision and can run daily operations effectively has been difficult. The lack of industry-specific knowledge and experience in our early hires has led to delays and missteps in the construction, setup, and opening phases of the store.
Additionally, managing the logistics of transitioning from a mobile business model to a brick-and-mortar setup has been more complex than anticipated. We’ve had to navigate legal hurdles, permits, and inspections, often encountering roadblocks due to our team’s initial lack of expertise in these areas. These delays and unforeseen obstacles have not only stretched our timeline but also strained our financial resources, making the process even more challenging. I’ve been so hands on I can open up 1000 locations with my eyes close, so I try to see the positive in all things because not many people would have been able to do what I’ve been doing and making it look easy.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about SlushyIcees (SluttyIcees)?
SlushyIcees (SluttyIcees) is a boutique icee business that will offer its patrons cold and flavorful tastes. It’s no secret that our Water Ice product is made from a secret recipe from Philadelphia with a creative Miami Vice. It has the fluffy, rich, creamy texture of ice cream and the light, fruity flavors of sorbet and refreshing like shaved ice. Our ambiance reflects the tropical backdrop of Miami, which is inviting and eclectic. We are known as the “Slutts” with the “Slutty Menu” and offer icees with a twist. We are fun and bold. We are educated women empowering other women to do the same. I’m most proud of the connections I’ve made thus far, the people I’ve met and the opportunities this business has granted me.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Whewwwww!!! Let’s start with Entrepreneurship isn’t easy and not always fun but what you put into it is what you will get out of it. Find your niche and put blood sweat and tears into it. No one is going to save you and they won’t understand and guess what that’s fine. God gave me/ you the vision so I don’t expect others to get it. He gave you the vision/dream for a reason, do your research, ask your questions, make it make sense and get it done. Listen I quit at least 5 times a week maybe even a day but I know he didn’t bring me this far to leave nor forsake me. I wish I knew a little more about business but that’s okay you learn as you go. I wish I had the blue print but what’s that these days. I wish I had more business minded people around me at the time of startup but now I have someone I can call for everything and I have to give a huge shout-out to Popos aka Qualiceeeeee for taking me under her wings and pushing me everyday to reach new heights. Shoutout to my other business/food truck friends “each one teach one” we are in this together! One day at a time. Moral of the story network, make those connections they can take you a longggggggg way.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slushyicees/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/siceesmia/
