Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah & Annie Park
Hi Sarah & Annie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream was created by a DMV local mother-daughter duo. Their story began in the early ’90s in South Korea, when Sarah started making ice cream for her young daughter, Annie. After immigrating to Bethesda, MD in 2000, it wasn’t until Sarah retired in 2018 that she found the time to fully dive back into her old hobby. Experimenting with original recipes and the highest-quality, all-natural ingredients, she soon found herself receiving calls and orders from strangers eager to try her ice cream.
Sarah called upon Annie to help turn her hobby into a business; a Harvard graduate with a passion for entrepreneurship, Annie had been focused on her career as an educator and researcher. What started as a temporary project quickly became a full-time commitment as Annie saw the potential for growth. Under her leadership, Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream rapidly expanded.
Each of the 3 Maryland scoop shops features 40 daily site-made flavors that Sarah is ‘proud to serve her own family.’ From nostalgic classics and seasonal creations to vegan options and even doggie ice cream, Sarah’s Handmade has something for everyone in the family. What truly sets Sarah’s Handmade apart is its strong focus on employee mentorship and growth, along with a deep commitment to giving back to the community. The company has won numerous awards and has been featured by CNBC, NBC, FOX, ABC, The Washington Post, Eater DC, Harvard Magazine, and many more. Beyond its popularity, Sarah’s Handmade has gained recognition for its positive impact on the community.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
1. Scaling Without Sacrificing Quality
Turning a homemade ice cream recipe into a full-fledged business was one of our biggest challenges. When making ice cream at home, every batch is personal—you control every step, every ingredient, and every mix-in. But when we launched Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream, we had to figure out how to scale up production without losing the artisanal quality that made our ice cream special.
We refused to take shortcuts—no artificial flavors, no chemicals, no mass production methods—which meant we had to learn how to balance efficiency with craftsmanship. Every decision, from sourcing high-quality dairy to perfecting our mix-ins, had to be made with both flavor and business sustainability in mind.
2. Balancing Family and Business
Starting a business with family is rewarding, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. In the beginning, it was easy to let work consume us—we’d talk about business at the dinner table, on weekends, and late into the night. We had to set boundaries to protect our family time while still making strategic decisions for growth.
We learned that communication and delegation were key. Instead of trying to do everything ourselves, we built a strong team that shares our vision. That allowed us to step back when needed and enjoy being a family outside of work.
3. Navigating the Learning Curve of Running a Business
We had to quickly pick up business operations, inventory management, hiring, customer service, marketing, and finances—all while ensuring the ice cream stayed top-notch.
We faced unexpected challenges, from figuring out how to work with contractors and architects to keeping up with demand during peak seasons. Mistakes were made along the way, but every challenge taught us something valuable.
4. Growing and Expanding Sustainably
As demand grew, we faced another challenge: expanding while maintaining our core values. Our community loved us for our small-batch, handmade approach, so we had to ensure that opening new locations and offering catering didn’t dilute the personal touch that made Sarah’s special.
We carefully planned every expansion, making sure we stayed true to our commitment to quality, community, and customer experience. We also listened to our customers, making adjustments and improvements based on their feedback.
Every obstacle taught us resilience, adaptability, and the importance of staying true to our vision. Today, Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream is not just a business—it’s a passion-driven company built on family, quality, and community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sarahshandmadeicecream.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahshandmadeicecream
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahsHandmadeIceCream/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEBRI0lMMrE
