Today we’d like to introduce you to Charles Vaughn.
Hi Charles, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Yes I purchased the business from the original owner and September 2024, at the time I was paying $300 a month rent shortly after purchasing the business I got a letter in November letting me know that the business had sold and that my rent will be going to 825 a month for the year of 2025. I called the new leaseholder and explain to them that I could not pay that much because we were going into our slow season. They let me pay 325 a month until March of 2025 then I started paying the $800 a month. While doing this I could not find another reasonable rent that I could afford to move to. My sales went pretty good through July then they started dropping in August. I had a meeting with my staff which included about 6 to 8 people and told them that we were moving the business to our property we had no choice. So now it sits on my property I’m waiting on my electrician to hook up my electricity then my air conditioning man can hook up the AC and heater. My wife and I and two other people are running my mobile trailer to festivals and other community events and the surrounding counties until we can get on our feet and open the store. I’m looking at another couple of thousand dollars to get open it has been a financial struggle for us due to all the cost that was not seen before we purchased a business the first thing that knocked us back was Hurricane Helene. A lot of jobs we had booked the end of 2024 got canceled because of the hurricane. Then they were rescheduled to the spring of 2025 but we couldn’t attend because we had already booked events for the same weekend the storm cost me over $12,000 due to damages and lost money from jobs we couldn’t do. We are hoping to have a profitable 2026 Lord willing we will my son likes to help out too with some of the work and my wife we are the backbone of this business
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Most definitely not been a smooth Road I’m always trying to figure out if I can afford next month bank note or not I had a buyer but the buyer backed out because I owe a little more than the business is worth and I wasn’t willing to let everything go all at once but now if I had the right offer it is a possibility I would let it go my wife and I are always having struggles financially and there are things we cannot afford to do that we used to do because all of our extra money is going into this business everyone tells me that the first year or two is rough. When you first purchase a business but I believe the previous owner knew that the land was for sale that we were on and in the state of Georgia you don’t have to divulge that information to the Future buyer. I feel like the bank the attorney that performed the paperwork and the previous owner were all in this together as a plot to find a buyer to buy it without telling them anything. The landlord that I was paying rent to didn’t even know I had bought the business until I went to pay him rent for the month. I wish I had talked to him first if I had I would not have bought it I have talked to several other people in the surrounding counties that were offered the business before I was. This was after I purchased it and they told me that they did not see the money adding up for the price they wanted for the business. The previous owner made double what she paid for the business if not triple when I bought it from her. I have become good friends with another person that does this kind of business in my same area
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In my personal life my career is with the Georgia Department of Transportation I have been there for a little over 27 years. I am known for a person who never quits or never gives up people always discount me and think that I cannot accomplish what I set my mind to there is nothing I have failed at yet in my life. I am a contract liaison for GDOT and I cover 25 counties in Southeast Georgia. What sets me apart from the others is I am not afraid to accept a challenge and I prove people wrong when they don’t think I can do it. What I specialize in is being professional and thorough uncovering every hidden lump under the rug. And turn it over every leaf until I get every detail I need. I am proactive versus reactive. In the business I bought we make snow cones and sell them to the public I’m working on getting my food handler license excuse me I’ve already attained those. My next goal is to get my food manager license then I can sell other food at my snow cone store.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I do not believe in luck there is no such thing I have only accomplished what I have done through God and praying and following him. And holding up my end of the bargain whenever I pray for something I’m faithful that it will happen I am now content where I’m at in my career and I’m hoping that he continues to help me help make my business successful.
Pricing:
- 5.00
- 6.00
- 7.00
- Parties 250 hr
Contact Info:
- Facebook: Southern Shaved Ice of Blackshear
