Carousel’s Takes On Toledo!

May 6, 2022

As the proud new owner of a Carousel’s Soft Serve Icery truck, our recent franchisee Maen Mansour now has the huge business advantage of a minimal-risk, high-return storefront-on-wheels. His truck is a low upfront cash investment in his very own personalized asset—meaning rather than renovating someone else’s investment, such as real estate, Maen is building his own commodity without past wear-and-tear, one that provides a rare ROI within the first year. Like many Carousel’s franchisees, Maen says he immediately recognized the unique value of this business model and that creative financing options were a big part of his decision to join the Carousel’s family.

Having a storefront-on-wheels also instantly multiplies Maen’s profit potential. While brick-and-mortar retail depends on one single neighborhood’s economic vitality to draw foot traffic, Maen is free to court the more than 650,000 permanent residents across the entire Toledo metro area. And in the surrounding suburbs, for the local families and couples who save their restaurant visits for special occasions, Carousel’s makes for an affordable, all-ages gourmet dessert, any day of the week. From public parks and pools to large shopping centers, there are surefire sales locations no matter where you live—you just have to know where to look.

Colleges provide huge Carousel’s business zones, and for Maen, events at the University of Toldeo are natural money-makers, including Division I football and basketball games, graduations, arts shows, and concerts from legends like Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Metallica, Elton John and Pearl Jam. To top it all off, pro sports teams like the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye, and the Toledo Mud Hens (AAA affiliate of MLB’s Detroit Tigers), play within miles of each other. For Carousel’s franchisees who position their trucks near events like these, every attendee makes for another effortless sale opportunity!

For Maen however, it wasn’t just easy access to crowds and the schedule flexibility of owning a truck that drew his interest, but also the character of our organization. Carousel’s seeks to engage and enrich the fabric of every community we serve, and not only are schools, small businesses and churches great lanes of commerce, they are the primary beneficiaries of our Carousel’s Cares philanthropy programs. Like all our franchisees, Maen shares similar community enrichment goals, saying “To me, contributing to the area we serve is so important. It makes others feel they are part of my business, like a family, and in return makes them feel the importance of family and friends “. After all, our cooperative mission is to not only bring smiles to faces of all ages with soft-serve ice done right, but to truly brighten peoples’ lives for the long-term by giving back generously.

While launching a business venture post-pandemic can be a stressful concept, Maen says that knowing from day one he could offer a time-proven treat that checks all the best boxes—tasty, refreshing and fun—eased any worries he may have had. To adapt an old saying, the proof is in the Soft-Serve! He also reports that from the moment he first reached out for details, the franchisee process was a smooth one. “Everyone has been so welcoming and professional. They all make you feel at home. And I was honestly shocked, meaning very impressed, by the immediate response from Corey.” Not only was exploring the possibilities a comfortable experience, Maen says it was easy to understand and participate in. “The clear organization of the process just made the decision a lot easier”.   

Though our trademark taste is usually enough to earn us a Carousel’s devotee, we often hear that both owners’ and customers’ favorite Carousel’s moments involve the enjoyment of life that surrounds our trucks. Maen says “It’s so eye catching and such a great idea to bring to the community—people are so attracted to it. I can tell they love having the Carousel’s experience around them.” As do many of our franchise partners, Maen felt a draw to serve his community by fostering such an environment, especially for his family, which includes two daughters and a son. Family means everything to us at Carousel’s, and we are extremely proud that Maen and his family have joined ours on the quest to deliver soft-serve ice done right!