From Stuck in Lockdown to Serving Again – NoMoo4U Case Study

How a Mobile Ice-cream Food business in Outback Australia was saved by simply Workshopping ideas with Marg Lange Change Agency

A problem shared is a problem solved don’t you think?

Here is another case study where I delivered a result which led to meaningful change from hopelessness of a business owner who felt she had lost everything due to lockdown to operational within days.

And also resulted in many kids being very happy!!!

Executive Summary

Last April I came across a mobile dairy-free ice-cream van business owner Nikki Simpson in a closed Facebook group who made a post seeking advice on how her business ‘No Moo 4 U’ could survive during the pandemic.

Upon reaching out, I found Nikki felt her business was doomed as she could no longer serve ice-cream in her van due to the restrictions and felt it may be time to shut up shop.

Consoling Nikki throughout the exchange, I thought that the idea of ice-cream home delivery would be the most effective avenue that she should take as an attempt to keep her business afloat.

Initially Nikki was resistant as to her there were just too many insurmountable obstacles that would prevent that.

However, after workshopping through those obstacles Nikki listened to my proposed solutions and took on-board the free advice that was given to her.

THE RESULT: Ice-cream home deliveries were booked out every single day to those who live in outback Queensland within hours implementation. With franchising of the business being on the horizon, the efforts of Marg and the Change Agency Team has allowed this dream to potentially come true.

Challenges

As previously mentioned, Nikki Simpson was running a successful a mobile ice-cream van business serving dairy-free ice-cream to those individuals who have allergies, are lactose intolerant or are vegan in outback Queensland before the COVID-19 outbreak began.

Like many business owners during the initial stages of lockdown Nikki was feeling lost, lonely, and unsure what to do.

Especially with having a business in outback Queensland, Nikki was confronted with the challenge of how to best serve ice-cream to her market given her business operated mainly by parking nearby to reserves and parks or attending events.

My challenge was not having worked in her industry how could I suggest the most effective idea on how to best serve ice cream to the No Moo 4 U client base to make it worthwhile for Nikki to continue trading?

The first short term goal we established together was that Nikki wanted to be able to bring joy to the elderly and children during this crisis whilst working in line with the restrictions in her state.

However, the main long-term overall goal was to find a way to ‘No Moo 4 U’ business could become a franchise.

So here, I was presented with the challenge of finding a business process and relaunch idea that could work both in and outside of the current crisis.

How products helped

Just the simplicity of Connecting on Facebook, then reaching out on Messenger, being of assistance, using my business knowledge and my knowledge of people made a positive change happen.

The skills I teach others to become Connectors like myself through my “Rise of the Superconnector” 4-week online course does work as demonstrated by:

1. Me showing up in the right way.
2. Building rapport which establishes the development of trust, showing that I was not in this for myself was the catalyst for Nikki trust me. That trust led to trialling my idea which resulted in Nikki finding a way and No Moo 4 U being booked out every day.
3. Not being “attached to the sale” when helping Nikki workshop her problems resulted in Nikki engaging my agency for other needs she had.

Connectors are equipped with understanding people – how they think feel, behave, react whether they are in a pandemic crisis or not people have needs.

From a perspective of understanding people’s needs I suggested to Nikki that ice-cream to kids is like alcohol in a crisis; something we turn to for comfort. This sparked the thought for Nikki that maybe, for kids, ice-cream would be their saviour and bring them much joy and happiness during this time.

I also knew Nikki’s business had needs.

As a Connector, my ability to understand, tap into the core desire, actively listen get context. liaise and provide effective solutions to business owners is what enables business owners I encounter from being pessimistic to optimistic about their business situation.

Another positive outcome was that Nikki then engaged my agency for additional services after a free consultation on how to revamp the No Moo 4 U website.

By connecting Nikki to my web designer, she purchased the recommended services of he suggested.

It was as simple as being connected to the right people at the right time which provided Nikki the ability to tap into my resources resulting in a fabulous looking website that looks more ready to franchise.

Results and Future Plans

Nikki Simpson has now been using my home delivery business relaunch idea and processes in her everyday operations where Nikki is continually focusing on making these operations better so she can improve sales and be ready to franchise.

This includes multiple elderly and children in outback Queensland are now repeat ordering her products as dairy-free ice cream or vegan options are hard to obtain in the country towns.

Nikki’s satisfaction was clear in this message to me:

“Hi Marg Just a quick update on your suggestion for home delivery service All I can say is WOW We are booked out every day. Best decision I ever made. Success! Just working out a better way of doing it now. It’s a bit of a confusing mess. With bookings, schedules and times but we will work it out. Here’s some photos..”

“We make kids happy. Some have never had soft serve due to allergies. We get lots of hugs… one little boy was so happy he ran back to us and gave us a glow sticks he bought with his own money. We bring happiness”

The Key Takeaways:

• Connectors create positive and impactful change
• People engage and buy from Connectors because they trust them
• The answer to your business problems lies in understanding people

HAPPY ENDING: Nikki has kept in contact with me where she would like to reengage with me down the track when they are ready to franchise.