Today we’d like to introduce you to Skye Gillispie and Fiona Fitzgibbon.
Hi Skye and Fiona, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
We both own Bootstrap Branding, a branding agency we’ve run remotely since late 2019. Over the years, we grew increasingly disillusioned with spending 8 hours daily behind screens, isolated and missing the tactile satisfaction of working with our hands and connecting with our community in person.
We started brainstorming ways to build a side hustle that brought us joy and got us into the community. After exploring many ideas, Belly’s Ice Cream Bike was born. We leveraged our branding expertise to design the bike while perfecting cookie and ice cream recipes in our spare time. We launched officially in October, debuting at local farmers markets in Flagler Beach, Palm Coast, St. Augustine and beyond. Since then, we’ve partnered with local groups to host celebrations and have served our community at markets nearly every week.
The response has been incredible, not just to our handcrafted frozen treats, but to the bike itself, which radiates brightness and positivity. We’re excited to keep growing, whether through franchising, a brick-and-mortar location or new creative directions.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been smooth sailing every step of the way. Coming from marketing and consulting, neither of us had worked in a commercial kitchen since our early twenties. Mastering commercial stand mixers and ovens took time, as did testing hundreds of cookie and ice cream recipes to get them just right. We also navigated the complexities of food permitting, working closely with the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. Fortunately, they were incredibly supportive, guiding us through every step.
The biggest ongoing challenge is balancing Belly’s with our 40-hour-a-week branding agency work. Nights and weekends are now dedicated to the bike. Luckily, Belly’s brings us so much fulfillment that we find joy in the chaos (most of the time!).
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Belly’s Ice Cream Bike?
Belly’s Ice Cream Bike offers scratch-made ice cream and cookie ice cream sandwiches at local pop-ups and private events, served from our vintage-style cooler bike that’s overflowing with charm and nostalgia. We create experiences that turn heads and make events unforgettable through both exceptional flavors and our bike’s unique factor.
While the area has plenty of ice cream trucks and shops, none offer the mobility and distinctive appeal of an ice cream bike.
We’re proud of our dedication to our craft. We designed our bike to feel fun and nostalgic yet modern and approachable to all ages. From our vintage umbrella to our signage, every detail feels classy and exciting. On the product side, we’re proud of our commitment to sourcing premium ingredients and constantly developing new flavors to keep customers delighted and coming back.
If you’re looking to bring something delicious and one-of-a-kind to your private event or celebration, we offer dessert catering that comes to you, rolling up with our bike and a custom menu of frozen treats. If you’d like to try us out first you can find our public event pop-up schedule on our website at bellysbike.com.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
We’ve been fortunate to have friends and family who enthusiastically support Belly’s (and all of our entrepreneurial venture). Jimmy Kelling, Market Manager at the Flagler Beach Farmers Market, has been an invaluable advocate and mentor since launch. His advice and belief in our vision have been instrumental.
Beyond that, our fellow market vendors and loyal customers have welcomed us with open arms, giving us the confidence and momentum to keep growing and evolving.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bellysbike.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellysbike
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bellysbike
