Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Roberts.
Shannon, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
We started our business in the winter of 2015 by building our first trailer. We registered and were a part of several festivals in Ohio during the season of 2016. We had a vision of wanting a concession trailer that was a simple process but offered an experience to each customer. My husband built a very eye catching saloon style trailer, we designed a souvenir mug that customers carried around with them – that essentially became our walking marketing. Our trailer and model was able to tap into an all encompassing sensory experience. From the look, to the taste of our product, to our copper top bar and holding your very own mug, to filling your own cup and hearing our country music as you walk by our trailer.
We had intentions from the beginning that we wanted more Shannon’s Southern Style Sweet Tea trailers around – wanting to become a household name and a staple at a lot of events and festivals. During 2017 a family came along and wanted their own trailer, so we built them one, and in 2018 the same thing happened and so it began.
Here we are in 2025 – we have three trailers in the festival circuit – each year we have ventured into new events and territories expanding our brand name.
During 2024 we became a legal franchise. Thus far we have built a total of 6 trailers. Our very first model is no longer in existence – due to us discovering more efficient ways to build work in and transport the trailer. The sixth trailer is still in the construction phase. The fifth trailer (fingers crossed) may have a buyer, yet this year.
We have named each of our trailers – to give them their own personality. All names begin with the letter “T” – Sweet Tina, Tank, Tammy, Tucker, Tilly and Toby are what we have thus far.
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?
Trials and tribulations of owning your own business and following your vision…. My version of a smooth road and someone else’s “smooth road” could be vastly different. That question is similar to the question when customers come up and ask, “How sweet is your tea”. That is a question that can’t be answered easily as we all view things and taste things very differently.
Over the last ten years my husband and I have ran our concession business as a secondary income to our day to day full-time jobs. Often times working 7 days a week for several weeks in a row, during prime festival season. Running a business like this is much like a season for a farmer. We can be as busy as we want from the months of May-October as that is the festival season here in Ohio. As we continue to grow our business and hope to have our trailers owned and operated in other states, including southern states therefore our seasons of operation will grow.
I wouldn’t say we have had anything come our way in this time that we couldn’t handle. Of course owning your own business is some what of a struggle because it’s all on YOU to make it work. My husband and I are very driven and loyal individuals and don’t give up easily. So we will continue to move forward and face whatever comes our way in this journey.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Our day to day jobs and how we operate. I am a production manager at a distribution center in Springfield. I have been in this line of work/atmosphere for over ten years. Organization, planning and processes are what I thrive in most. This in turn is what my role is in our concession business. Running our marketing, finances, and the planning for the next year as well as the front end running of one of our trailers.
We are the research and development team in our business, this is how the other families that have joined our business really enter in and purchase a turn-key operation. We develop a route – finding events that are profitable and in a specific territory and in turn how we have met the families that are involved. Once they purchase a trailer, they in turn run those events as their own from there forward. If we meet someone that wants to come on board in an area we have never ventured, we help them develop their route.
My husband has 20+ years in a construction, mechanical and logistics career. He is the one that has built our trailers from the ground up. He knows these trailers inside and out and is the one that has enhanced each one to be more efficient and user friendly. Looking at what he built as our first model to what it is now is incredibly different and so much more efficient.
Neither of us shy away from a challenge – which is what sets apart from the rest.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Loyalty and honesty is what matters most. Without these traits in a person/business nothing else really matters. If you don’t stand by your word and what you believe in – then what are you really doing? The word loyalty when running your own business is a commitment to not only your customers but it is a trust your customers grow to have in you. The repeat engagement that is built on a brand, consistency and honesty every time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shannonssweettea.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannonssweettea
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shannonsweettea
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el6Z1m1zWJM
