Newport local Olivia Jones starts two businesses with help from Salve business seniors

Olivia Jones, a Newport local who also works at Jazzman Café in O’Hare Academic Building, always had a great love for animals. When she was growing up, she had a variety of pets — ranging from snakes, hamsters and dogs. Jones’ affection for animals remains today, as she currently has four French Bulldogs as pets.

In the spring of 2023, Jones pitched an idea to breed French Bulldogs to Salve’s business Class of 2023 seniors who needed to complete a capstone business project to graduate. Through their business project, Trey Cruz ’23, George Dellaleh ’23, Ryan Gaumond ’23, Robert Gomes ’23, and Justin Klemanchuck ’23 helped Jones both begin and be successful in her business venture breeding French Bulldogs.

Olivia Jones was one of 12 locals awarded a Certificate of Recognition by the Newport City Council in honor of Black History Month at their February meeting.

Jones and business students in spring of 2023 with her French Bulldogs as they helped her with her dog breeding business. 

Jones returned to the capstone class in spring 2024 to pitch another idea – to invest the money she’s made in an ice cream cart, which will cater to tourists and locals alike throughout the summer. 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,” said Jones. “People go crazy for ice cream, and they love their dogs.”

The Class of 2024 students that helped Jones with her ice cream business this past spring semester are Jack Antone ’24, Samantha Curcio ’24, Jacob Dubois ’24, Grace Flynn ’24, Mia Pastorok ’24 and Logan Plowinske ’24.

Jones with Class of 2024 business students this spring with new ice cream cart.

Class of 2024 business students present about how they helped Jones with her ice cream cart business.

“The senior business 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,” said Pastorok. “It’s exciting that our specific project is something that can be used in the Newport community.”

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

Jones is working on her end to get certificates from the Rhode Island Department of Health and more so it can be fully operating by summer. When the students presented on May 3, Jones showcased her electronic bike that will roam the streets of Newport this summer 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 Newport local and Salve students in the future,” said Plowinske.