Rookie’s owners reflect on small business’s first year

Small business owners Jordan and Holly Nickerson did not know what to expect when launching their mobile dessert bar, Rookie’s (previously known as Mookie’s), but after reaching their one-year milestone, they are embracing all that they have learned thus far.

 

Holly Nickerson shared how amazed and humbled she is that Rookie’s has been doing so well, especially in its rookie year since opening in April 2017. Defining themselves as newbies in the business world is partly what inspired them to change their name from “Mookie’s” to “Rookie’s” — that, and the fact that there was already a brand by the name of “Mookie’s.” After being advised by a friend to change the name for trademark purposes, the couple came up with “Rookie’s.”

 

It took the Nickersons three months to come up with the new name, but once they did, they were excited about what it meant.

 

“It felt like we were almost married to (Mookie’s). (Changing the name) felt like a break up,” Holly Nickerson said. “But how fitting for it to be our rookie year, not really knowing what we’re doing (with) our first business together. The name defines us as a new business and it’s comical.”

 

Not only did the new name bring them joy, but it also gave them a story to tell.

 

“When you see the mission you set out to create come into fruition, you’re ecstatic. But when things go wrong, and you have a goal set in mind that doesn’t turn out the way you wanted it to, it’s harder than doing daily life,” Nickerson said.

 

Nickerson shared how the mobile dessert bar has some new things coming out over the next few months.

 

As mentioned before, the couple desires to trademark their business and begin to sell such merchandise as T-shirts, hats and even glass milk bottles with their design on them.

 

Rookie’s is also known to change its flavors monthly, so for the first two days of every month, people can expect a new flavor.

 

Holly Nickerson also stressed that staying involved in the community is very important to their business, as they desire to participate in more catering and fundraising opportunities.

Furthermore, Rookie’s will soon add another trailer to the operation. The couple recently purchased a 1969 Sprite Alpine vintage camper that they will be converting to attend events and weddings.

 

“We are hoping to ‘roll out’ the new camper early fall after renovations (pun intended),” Nickerson said in a text message.

 

The rapid completion of some rewarding goals that the Nickersons set out to accomplish through their first year of owning a business together caught them by surprise.

 

The couple got out of debt after about four months of owning Rookie’s, which was much faster than they expected after taking out a small business loan to get started.

 

Rookie’s is also proud to have been able to supply almost 20 people with part-time jobs.

 

Nickerson spoke of being humbled by the turnout and support that Lynchburg has shown Rookie’s over the past year.

 

“(There are) so many days that I’m just like ‘Wow, I can’t believe we’re going into our second year’ and we’re doing so well because people want us to stick around,” Nickerson said. “It’s just been really incredible, very humbling and very exciting to have the success that we have.”

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