The Secret Scoop for Small Business Success

When Lindsay MacPhee and Jenna Mooers were first approached in 2022 by Ditta Kasdan to purchase Dee Dee’s Ice Cream, they knew it was the perfect opportunity to continue Dee Dee’s legacy.

“We sat down together and decided how we wanted to split tasks,” explained Lindsay. “We are each responsible for certain things but it’s absolutely a seven-day-a-week gig.”

The previous owner started small and slow, and managed to build Dee Dee’s without taking on any debt. “Ditta bootstrapped the business, starting first in Peggy’s Cove as a seasonal business and then found a permanent location on Nora Bernard Street in 2010”.

When it came to banking for Dee Dee's, Lindsay thought of CUA as a financial partner first. “I love community-focused banking, and how the branch is local to us,” says Lindsay. “CUA was able to help us with their flexibility and ability to take on risks big banks wouldn’t ever consider.”

Lindsay and Jenna do not shy away from hard work, and both bring in-depth knowledge of running businesses. The two were able to recognize gaps in operations and how they could improve productivity and workflow.

“We both do it all,” says Lindsay. “From payroll, bookkeeping, grocery shopping to making and scooping ice-cream and rolling waffle cones.”

Although there are set staff to handle making Dee Dee's well-known ice cream, Lindsay sees the importance of understanding every part of the business.

“We learned how to make ice cream,” said Lindsay. “We wanted to make sure we knew the ins and outs of it all so we could step in if someone is out sick.”

One of the best parts of Lindsay’s job are the staff that work there, both owners knew they could learn from staff who had been working there for many years before, to help both owners learn the ropes.

“There are folks who are here now who have been working at Dee Dee's for over ten years,” says Lindsay. “They stayed on with us, trained myself and Jenna and showed us the Dee Dee’s ropes - very patiently. We are incredibly grateful for them.”

When asked about advice Lindsay might give to a new business starting out in Halifax she shared some insights:

“Entrepreneurship is a calculated leap of faith, you can plan and plan and plan but you don’t always know what the future holds,” shares Lindsay. “The real thing I’ve learned is the best solution for a problem, sometimes, is a little more hard work.”

“Don’t give up too easily, you have to do the work and the math but along the way trust the gut feelings. But do the work.”

Lindsay also advises creating a community with other local businesses, this is especially important in a small market like Halifax.

“Meeting other people is one of the most important things you can do,” says Lindsay. “There have been many times I’ve reached out to my network for support and it goes both ways. Keep those connections because they are really amazing and it’s great to learn from others.”

Even when things might be seeming a bit of a rocky road of a start, Lindsay and Jenna knew it would work.

“Our initial opening in 2022 was delayed by a week when the team came down with COVID,” says Lindsay. “Even though we shared updates widely, many people thought we had closed. It was a rough start to our new beginning but we pushed through feeling like we could tackle anything!”

When asked what her favourite part of owning Dee Dee's Ice Cream was, Lindsay shared that hiring local youth to work and gain skills in food and customer service is the most rewarding.

“Dee Dee's is an awesome place to work, we try to make it fun and fair,” Lindsay shares. “It’s a great place to get your feet wet in the service industry.”

“We scoop cones of joy and hand it to people. Even if it’s fast-paced, ice cream makes everyone happy.”

Continuing Dee Dee's Legacy

“Dee Dee's is not only very precious to us, but also to all of Halifax. It is a known business with a reputation," says Lindsay. "So, we want to ensure we are doing the Dee Dee's brand justice. Not much changed when we took over. The recipes we use today are the same ones created by Ditta and her family starting all the way back in 2004. It’s been an honour.”

Lindsay’s favourite flavour: Mint Chocolate Chip, currently.

Jenna’s favourite flavour: Black Sesame

June 2026