Blazing new trails: Black Enterprise's Small Business Award recipients continue to break new ground in entrepreneurship

Black Enterprise, Oct, 2004 by Nkechi I. Olisemeka

Rideau is proud of her success but isn't making plans to mass-produce "What creates growth are the people who come to the tasting room and want to be part of our seller club." Viognier is one of Rideau's favorite wines, which members may receive every other month. Viognier is made from white grapes, and its tropical essence comes through in a delicious pineapple and apricot flavor.

Rideau instructs entrepreneurs to have a five-year business plan (seven years for the winery business) and five years' worth of cash flow before starting a business Above all, Rideau admits that her tenacity and willingness to work hard and stay focused make her successful.

TEENPRENEUR AWARD CAMILLE WINBUSH

Camille Winbush turned her appetite for a sweet-flavored frozen treat into a profitable business that has earned her the BE Teenpreneur Award. This award identifies entrepreneurs under the age of 18 who are role models and are committed to advancing the rich tradition of black business achievement. With plans to open another ice cream shop, it is clear that Winbush is not taking her prosperity as a sign to slow down.

The 14-year-old co-star of The Bernie Mac Show decided to open Baked Ice, a Pasadena, California-based ice cream shop over a year ago "I wanted to try something new that no other kid that I know of has done before Usually they'll start something with fashion, but ice cream was different." Winbush used the money generated from her career as a professional actress to start Baked Ice.

Baked Ice provides 16 different ice cream flavors amid smooth jazz and occasional poetry readings In addition to being a budding actress. Winbush is a hands-on businesswoman. She was directly involved with finding the location of her business, determining its hours of operation and creating recipes. In 2003, Baked Ice grossed $120,000, which is 530,000 more than she anticipated Winbush's company is destined to grow as she garners patrons by way of ice cream socials and various promotional events.

Winbush wants to attend college to study archeology or forensic science. The country may be amazed by Winbush's business sense; however, she is not surprised about her insight. Winbush says, "It's just in my blood to have that entrepreneurial spirit."