Little Dipper Coffee and Ice Cream

103 N Main St, Sylvania, GA 30467

What inspired you to start your own business? 
I have always wanted to own my own business. As the director of the Screven Co. Chamber and Sylvania DOA I saw a great need for a business like mine in our downtown. God started opening doors and I was able to make my dream a reality earlier than expected. 
What inspires your work and what sets you apart from everyone else? 
Being able to have small talk, serious conversations or prayer requests with my customers makes me happy. I love being a part of our customer's lives and I love our community. Seeing the smiles on the faces that visit us is so enjoyable. I want God to be the center of my business and customers know they can always come to us for prayer. So maybe that's what makes us a little different from other businesses. 
What is your background and how did you develop the skills to start your business? 
Being a director at the Screven Co. Chamber definitely gave me a boost of knowledge about starting a business. I did a bunch of research on businesses similar to mine. Youtube and Google were my go-to. I also talked with local business owners to learn from their experiences. Heather Weaver at QNBT in Sylvania was phenomenal at helping me get a business loan and educating me on the financial side. 
What has been your biggest success to date? 
We recently extended our hours and added lunch to the menu. That was a big step of faith for us because we had to pay two employees for the extended hours as well as purchase more inventory and equipment for lunch. But it has been a huge success for us and the community really enjoys it which makes me extremely happy. 
What has been your biggest challenge? 
Inventory! It took me a while to learn when and how much to order. In the beginning I was always running out of a product or overstocked on it. I'm starting to get the hang of it now. 
Which small businesses are you inspired by? 
I have been inspired by bits and pieces from quite a few small businesses in Sylvania that I couldn't just pick one. It has been amazing to see other business owners support my business by giving me tips, helping promote Little Dipper and encouraging me when I'm overwhelmed. That's why I love our town so much! 
If you could go back to the beginning knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently? 
If I could have changed anything it would have been to not get so stressed out and realize that we were a new business and everything couldn't run perfectly and smoothly from the start. It would have also been a good idea to gain more knowledge on how to manage staff more efficiently. There will always be times I look back on and wish I would have done things differently but all you can do is the best you know how to at the time and learn from past mistakes and wisdom from others who have already been there. 

Grace Waits - Owner