A type of soft-serve ice cream unique to other parts of the world exists in Eastern Europe. They offer toasted cones with a variety of toppings, and Crispy Cones brought the concept to the United States. Jeremy Carlson and Kaitlyn Carlson pitched their product on “Shark Tank” and landed a deal with Barbara Corcoran. Today, the crispy cone is worth an estimated $2 million.
Founder
The couple lives in Rexburg, Idaho, and both attended Brigham Young University. Jeremy later transferred to Utah State University where he completed his studies.
These entrepreneurs are members of the Mormon church, for which Jeremy served as a missionary. Caitlin, on the other hand, spent her early career as a housekeeper, media relations specialist, and photographer.
Make crispy cones
During a two-year tour of duty in the Czech Republic, he fell in love with their traditional ice cream served in a crispy cone. He wanted to take this unique delicacy home.
After returning to the United States to continue his studies, he began planning his career in his dormitory. His girlfriend at the time, Caitlin, wanted to help with social media marketing. So, they became business partners.
The duo launched Crispy Cones and their ice cream truck in 2019. They struggled at first, selling gourmet pastries in addition to their main products. But eventually, their Czech-style frozen dessert became a crowd favorite in Rexburg.
On “Shark Tank”
In 2021, the entrepreneurs opened a second location in Logan, Utah. Local investors then shared their interest in the startup, which prompted Jeremy and Caitlin to start franchising.
After seeing the benefits of franchising, the founders decided to focus their business on franchising and planned to go international. This required funding, so the couple signed up for Shark Tank.
The entire application process took eight months, but Jeremy and Caitlin Carlson are glad they were able to make it. The Carlsons shared their Shark Tank application story on social media. Caitlin later recalled that “it felt surreal to be in front of famous people.”
After Shark Tank
The series aired in March 2023 and business has been booming ever since. Crispy Cones received a significant increase in franchise applications and the deal with Barbara was completed a few months after the show. As of February 2024, lifetime sales have now reached $2 million.
They already have a strong online following, doubling their Instagram following to over 20,000. Crispy Cones currently has 18 franchise stores and 2 corporate offices. The company is opening a headquarters and warehouse in Idaho. The company recently opened new stores in Orlando, Chandler and Arizona.
The initial fee to become a franchisee is $30,000, and if you open multiple locations, the cost drops to $25,000 per store. In addition, you pay a 5% royalty fee and 1% advertising fee. Other requirements include a net worth of $300,000 and liquid assets of $150,000.
If you want to try their special treats, you can visit their stores in Rexburg, ID, and Logan, UT. Crispy Cones has a 4.5-star rating from 53 users on Yelp. That's why this product is quickly becoming a local favorite! The business is estimated to be worth $2 million. In personal news, Caitlin gave birth to a baby girl in April 2023!
Categories: Shark Tank
Source: svlsf.edu.vn