Meet Shantal Guzman

We recently connected with Shantal Guzman and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Shantal with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

I most definitely got my work ethic from family influence and personal experience. I started working at the young age of eight in the asparagus fields of Eltopia, Washington doing seasonal farmwork. My parents were migrants who would travel during spring to find seasonal work to make extra income for our family of seven. To minimize sun exposure, we would wake up at 3 a.m. and work for a few hours. Afterward, we’d walk back to my dad’s truck, change into our school clothes, and head out to catch the bus. I’d spend the day at school, then come home and repeat the same routine the next day. My hardworking parents shaped my views on work and responsibility. The environment I grew up in, taught me to value hard work and inherit a strong work ethic.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

At Snow Bros Shave Ice, we’re serving up shave ice like you’ve never tasted before- crystal-clear ice, finely shaved to perfection, and drenched in a rainbow of bold, mouthwatering flavors. We celebrate the unique creations that are inspired by vibrant tastes and traditions of Mexico, carefully crafted to transport you straight to the heart of our culture. Our Texas Heat and Mango Tropical flavors capture the essence of Mexico’s rich culinary heritage and celebrate bold authentic flavors.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The market today is full of options, and consumers are constantly looking for something new, exciting, and different. To stand out from the competition, your product needs to offer something unique-whether it’s an innovative feature, a distinct value proposition, or a fresh perspective that sets it apart.

Many new products in the market filled a gap or offered something that no one else had. A unique product doesn’t just attract attention, it builds loyalty. If you product is unique to your brand consumers will look for you when they want their needs met and a way no one else does.

I would encourage a new entrepreneur to think critically about what makes their product special and emphasizes the importance of uniqueness in terms of market differentiation and customer appeal.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

Finding the right brick-and-mortar location for our business has been more challenging than we initially anticipated. We’ve explored several options but rent prices for commercial spaces have been increasing, and balancing the cost of leasing with our budget is major concern. It’s essential we find a location that fits within our financial plans, so we don’t overstretch our resources early on. In San Antonio we also face a problem with market saturation. In our area there’s a saturation of businesses offering similar products, making it harder for us to stand out. We want to ensure that wherever we land, there’s a clear demand for our product, and we’re not competing with too many others in the same niche.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @snowbrosshaveice
• Facebook: @snowbrosshaveice