Local resident starts two businesses with help from Salve Regina seniors

Olivia Jones, a Newport resident who works at Jazzman Cafe in Salve Regina’s O’Hare Academic Building, always had a great love for animals. Growing up, she had a variety of pets, including snakes, hamsters and dogs. Her affection for animals remains today, as she currently has four French bulldogs as pets.

During the spring 2023 semester, Jones pitched an idea to breed French bulldogs to senior business students who were working on their capstone project. Through the project, Trey Cruz ’23, George Dellaleh ’23, Ryan Gaumond ’23, Robert Gomes ’23 and Justin Klemanchuck ’23 helped Jones launch her successful venture.

Jones returned to the capstone class this spring to pitch another idea – an ice cream cart that caters to locals and tourists alike. Royal Sweets and Treats will feature packaged ice cream, two flavors of scooped ice cream, candy bags, water bottles and pup cups – tying in both of her businesses.

Growing up in Newport, Jones remembers only having one ice cream truck around in the summertime, and she thought it would be a great idea to start another business. “When you’re walking in Newport, you can get a bottle of water or ice cream and a pup cup treat for your dog,” she said. “People go crazy for ice cream, and they love their dogs.”

The students that helped Jones pitch her ice cream business this semester are Jack Antone, Samantha Curcio, Jacob Dubois, Grace Flynn, Mia Pastorok and Logan Plowinske.

“The senior project makes us develop a good business plan and marketing strategies – including business operations, how to hire people and finances – so we can be successful after graduating from Salve Regina when we work or start a business of our own,” Pastorok said. “It’s exciting that our specific project is something that can be used in the Newport community.”

Plowinske added that Jones already had the basic idea for her ice cream business, and the students enhanced her idea with business strategy, marketing ideas and more. “[She] steered us in the right direction,” Plowinske said.

Jones is working to get certificates from the Rhode Island Department of Health so she can be fully operational by summer. When the students presented on May 3, Jones showcased her e-bike that will roam the streets of Newport to accompany their vision of the business.

“It’s cool that a local wants to start a business, and it would be great to continue this with another local and Salve students in the future,” Plowinske said.

Class of 2024 business students present their vision for Jones’ ice cream cart business.