About Fluffys
The Fluffy’s Side Hustle was created by long time restaurant entrepreneur Hal Roback along with creative food designer, Zo Helms. Hal’s business acumen enabled him to build a highly lucrative side hustle model, perfect for people looking to supplement their income. And Zo’s cotton candy designs make this a winning proposition.
Hal is a veteran of the restaurant industry, owning numerous concepts over his 40 + year career. His last concept, Frankie Tomatto’s All You Can Eat Italian Feast, was a 26 year run success located in surburban Toronto. The 425 seat restaurant served over 11 million meals, and became an institution in the area. Unfortunately, it had to close due to Covid. Hal is now focused on growing the concept of Fluffy’s, and expanding the idea across North America. A graduate of both culinary school and Cornell School of Hotel & Restaurant Administration, Hal has been a frequent lecturer to trade associations and hospitality programs.
Zo opened the first Fluffy’s in Clearwater Florida. She has to date, trained all of the Fluffy spinners and decorators. Her artistic ability has allowed her to perfect the characters and develop cotton candy concepts. Prior to Fluffy’s Zo was a Spanish teacher and taught English speaking students. Located in Tampa Bay, Zo will train all franchisees and key personnel.
She will train you and one other in Tampa Bay for three days in the art of Cotton Candy characters, production, machine maintenance, and merchandising.
Why a Side Hustle?
Fluffy’s was created in Tampa Bay, Florida in 2020 during the Covid Pandemic, not the greatest time to start a brand new business. Hal saw this in Asia and had a good feeling North America would love the concept of creating cotton candy characters for children and the young at heart. Our pop-up in a mall attracted large lines and wait times up to 45 minutes. From this, we learned a great deal and Fluffy’s Sweet Side Hustle has evolved. Although a mall location was our start, our analysis concluded that this venture would be ideal as a Side Hustle verses a fixed location.
