Rabia Kamara of Ruby Scoops on Getting Media Coverage — Restaurant Influencers (RI007)

Ruby Scoops Ice Cream & Sweets Owner Rabia Kamara grew her successful brand by staying true to herself. Watch this interview to learn about winning Ben and Jerry’s Clash of the Cones on the Food Network, building a successful brand with smartphone storytelling, and how to get more media coverage by staying true to yourself.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN on this episode of the Restaurant Influencers podcast, sponsored by @ToastTab? Let us know by leaving a YouTube comment below!

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CHAPTERS:

[00:58] - The Ruby Scoops Story

[02:58] - Getting on Food Network

[06:38] - Using Smartphone Storytelling

[08:39] - Being Authentic on Social Media

[19:00] - Engaging Online Communities

Rabia Kamara is a Restaurant Influencer —

After winning the Food Network competition Ben and Jerry’s Clash of the Cones, Rabia Kamara saw her social media reach drastically increase with thousands of new fans following @RubyScoopsIC on Instagram. Such is the power of media coverage and storytelling to grow a brand.

“There was an unlock in me where I realized that people didn't just want to know about my business, they wanted to know about me as well,” said Ruby Scoops owner Rabia Kamara on the Restaurant Influencers podcast with host Shawn P. Walchef of Cali BBQ Media

“I just decided to let people know who I am and what's important to me. And really started to invest in causes that meant a lot to me.”

• FOLLOW Ruby Scoops on Social Media @RubyScoopsIC

Ice Cream is a Blank Canvas:

Rabia Kamara has a deep-rooted love for desserts that she can’t keep to herself.

The heart and mind behind Ruby Scoops in Richmond, VA, Rabia’s cultured taste palette and love that spans generations of the past, present and future has her sharing warm stories and celebrated traditions through the cold canvas that is ice cream.

“I'm a person who absolutely loves food and sharing,” the business owner said. “It is my love language. So, being able to turn my passion into something profitable and making a bit of myself by doing the thing I wanted to do my whole life means a lot to me.”

In Fall 2021 Rabia Kamara won Ben and Jerry’s Clash of the Cones on the Food Network. Her winning flavor was called Bia’s Black Joy Sundae, which included Salted Malted Dulce de Leche Ice Cream, Vanilla Ice Cream with Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownie Chunks, Blondie Brownie Chunks, and Seafood Seasoning Caramel.

A Maryland native, Rabia returned to Richmond after attending college in Virginia. Now more than a decade in the food industry, she’s spent the past years spreading joy and altering opinions in the media through her creative approach to craft ice cream.

“Ice cream is such a blank medium, you can do whatever you want with it as long as it scoops,” believes Rabia. “I'm allowed to introduce people to flavors in a way that they're comfortable with.”

WHAT DID YOU LEARN from this interview? Let us know in the comments!

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EPISODE LINKS:

• Follow @RubyScoopsIC on Social Media

• Ruby Scoops Online

• Clash of the Cones on Food Network

NOMINATE A RESTAURANT INFLUENCER — Do you know someone who is killing it on social media? Let us know by emailing influencers@calibbq.media or sending the @calibbqmedia team a DM on social media.

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ABOUT RUBY SCOOPS:

Ruby Scoops Ice Cream & Sweets creates premium small batch ice creams, sorbets, sherbets, and desserts, all handcrafted made from scratch by Chef and Owner Rabia Kamara, co-owner Emmett Wright, and the Scoops Squad. It is located in Richmond, Virginia.

ABOUT RESTAURANT INFLUENCERS:

Welcome to the Restaurant Influencers podcast series, sponsored by Toast POS (@toasttab). Every week host Shawn P. Walchef (@shawnpwalchef) talks with leaders in restaurant and hospitality about their secrets to Smartphone Storytelling and how to show up and engage where customers are spending time online.

The weekly digital series (audio, video, writing, images) is hosted by Cali BBQ Media Founder Shawn P. Walchef and presented by Entrepreneur Media (@entrepreneur), Yelp for Business (@yelp), and Cali BBQ Media (@calibbqmedia).

• Entrepreneur Media

• Yelp for Business

• Cali BBQ Media

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SPONSORED BY TOAST:

Restaurant Influencers is brought to you by Toast, the powerful restaurant point of sale and management system that helps restaurants improve operations, increase sales and create a better guest experience.

Toast — Powering Successful RestaurantsLearn more at pos.toasttab.com