Today we’d like to introduce you to Nate Mekhaeil.
Hi Nate, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started the ice cream trailer because I wanted to try something on my own and see if I could actually make it work. I didn’t really have a full plan; I was working at UPS, helping on the farm, and just decided to go for it.
At the beginning, I was kind of figuring everything out on the fly. Getting into events, learning what I actually needed in the trailer, and trying to keep up when it got busy. Some events were great, some honestly weren’t worth it, but that’s how I learned.
As I kept doing it, I started to get a better feel for things…what events to go after, how to set up so we could move faster, and how to run it without it feeling chaotic. I brought on multiple people to help, and that made a big difference too.
Now I’ve got it to where it runs pretty smooth. We do rodeos, games, fairs & all sorts of events all over Northern Utah & Southern Idaho.
I still work at UPS and stay involved with farming, but this is something I built on my own from scratch, and I’m just trying to keep getting better at it and grow it the right way.
Like the saying goes, you bite off more than you can chew, and then you figure out how to chew it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been smooth. Starting out, I didn’t really know what I was doing, so a lot of it was trial and error. I’ve done events where I thought they’d be great and ended up barely making anything, and others where I wasn’t prepared enough for how busy they got.
Balancing everything has probably been one of the biggest challenges. Working at UPS, helping on the farm, and then trying to run the trailer on top of that can get pretty stretched, especially during the busy season.
Staffing has been another one. Finding people that actually show up, work hard, and can keep up when it’s busy isn’t easy, and I’ve had to learn how to manage that better over time.
There’s also just the unpredictability of it….weather, turnout, other vendors….there’s a lot you can’t control. I’ve had days where everything lines up and it goes great, and other days where it doesn’t.
As you know, we’re big fans of Cloud Ninth Trailer. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Cloud Ninth Trailer is a mobile ice cream business that goes to rodeos, ball games, fairs, and events around Northern Utah. We focus on serving high-quality, super-premium ice cream and keeping things simple and fast, especially when it gets busy.
What sets us apart is how we operate. We’re built to handle crowds without slowing down, and we keep the menu straightforward so people aren’t waiting forever. It’s a better experience for customers, especially at events where everything moves quick.
I’m most proud of the fact that I built it from nothing and turned it into something that runs consistently. It’s not just showing up and scooping ice cream…there’s a lot that goes into picking the right events, managing a team, and making sure it actually makes sense financially.
At the end of the day, we’re not trying to be everything. We just focus on doing a few things really well. Good product, fast service, and a setup that works.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that not every opportunity is a good one. Early on, I said yes to almost every event thinking more was better, but that’s not always the case. Some events look great on paper and end up not being worth the time or money.
Over time, I’ve learned to be more selective and pay attention to what actually works. Picking the right events, being prepared, and keeping things simple has made a much bigger difference than just trying to do everything.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @cloudninthtrailer
