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Thanks to a unique licensing agreement, Ramona Fantini and Pino Gelato are scooping up some serious success.
These days, Hilton Head Island seems something of a breeding ground for successful food franchises. Wild Wing Café began with a single location in Coligny Plaza; it now boasts 32 locations. Giuseppi’s Pizza and Pasta, with four locations in South Carolina and Georgia and a side business in throw dough used for training pizza chefs, started here. And now there’s Pino Gelato, a homegrown success story that can largely be traced to one woman.
Since 2007, Ramona Fantini has been the sole owner of Pino Gelato in Wexford. What started as a boutique selling a littleknown Italian variation on ice cream has grown into a strong national brand with a presence in six states.
It began early. Shortly after taking full ownership, Fantini began developing the brand’s unique business model, offering licensing opportunities as opposed to franchises. In the words of their marketing material, Pino Gelato offers “Our name, our product, your business.”
“Our licensees have minimal requirements,” Fantini said. “One is the use of the Pino Gelato name and brand. The second is they must sell my product. It is a flexible agreement that (lets) licensees be creative with their own ideas.”
The idea came from skills Fantini gained from her years in the pharmaceutical industry. “I held positions in manufacturing, customer service, logistics, IT and quality control,” Fantini said. “Then I met my husband, a true entrepreneur who was a huge influence in making the decision to leave the ‘security’ of a corporate position to invest in a business I truly believe in.”
There’s also been some old-fashioned ingenuity in the “pizza cone,” the product that brought the Food Network to Pino Gelato’s doorstep. After hearing of this unique new foodstuff from contacts up north, Fantini tracked down the owners of the concept, an Italian company called Conoitaliano. Happy customers, and a television appearance, soon followed.
“It’s important to continually update your business, whether it be new flavors, new concepts or new products,” said Fantini. “This year I’m working with a company in Charleston that makes crepes.”
What advice does the architect of this success have for other entrepreneurs? “Find something that you are passionate about; believe in yourself, surround yourself with a great team and never look back,” she said. “Take the time to celebrate your success and never forget to give thanks.”
Pino across america
Currently, Pino Gelato locations can be found in Dublin, Oh.; Pittsburgh; Concord, N.C.; the Charlotte Douglas International Airport; Knoxville; Chattanooga and Roanoke, Va.
