Naticakes frozen yogurt shop was opened in Lexington, KY to honor the owner's niece Natalie who passed away from a heart attack at a young age. Profits support the Natalie Wynn Carter Foundation. The shop is located near the University of Kentucky campus where students enjoy coffee and sweets. The theme aims to feel nostalgic and like a vintage bake shop through soothing colors and antique decor to honor Natalie's memory. Customers are drawn to interacting and customizing their own frozen yogurt creation at self-serve stations which provides a unique experience compared to options with toppings applied by employees.

1. 1. What was the reason for opening this frozen yogurt shop?
"I started Naticakes out of the loss of my little niece, she died 5 years ago and was from
Lexingont, KY. she was a healthy little girl and lost of a heart attack.
Natalie Wynn Carter foundation
lots of money was raised to put a playground at a church
wanted to make money to continue to give to the foundation
people made candy for the family
Naticake was her nickname because she loved sweets
started a yogurt sweet shop--started as cupcakes and added frozen yogurt
a way to honor my niece and do something fun
2. Why is it located where it is?
a grad
love having sweet shop on my campus
students love coffee and sweets
continue her connection with UK
NWC foundation is headquartered in Lexington
3. What are the reasons for the theme of Naticakes?
wanted to go pink and brown because those were the colors we had in Natalie's room
wouldn't let her because it was too common
went with a light blue and cream because it's nostalgic
wanted it to be something different
didn't want it to be like orange leaf, or yogurt land
wanted it to feel more like a vintage bake shop
soothing colors and take you back
emotion of nostalgia
theme has shabby chic--a lot of vintage stuff (ex: old door made into a table)
4. Is there a hidden message that is trying to be portrayed through the set up?
wanted it to be a place where you come by yourself you can feel comfortable doing that and
read a book or whatever
you can have a conversation with someone else
always a group with you so we wanted it to be where a group can feel very comfortable
make the seating package more accommodating for a group
big on acting as a community and creating community

2. 5. Why is the shop called Naticakes?
people ask what is Naticake but it's really who is Naticake
6. After being in the shop as many times as you have, what stands out to you most when you walk in?
every time I walk in people are having a great experience
it's not just a yogurt shop or cupcake place it's a place for people to connect
i love the floor and layout
really friendly staff
make sure everything is clean and everyone is happy
visually notices people smiling, with it being a service aspect with the yogurt they are creating
their own things so they are excited and included
go to a restaurant and you don't get what you wanted you are dissatisfied
people create their own frozen yogurt so they are happy
happy guests
7. What are customers immediately drawn to when they enter?
get lots of comments on the bake floor
love the chandeliers and it's unique and looks different
love the tons of choices of flavors
cupcakes are new to Lexington so people will come in looking at those thinking of how pretty
and different they are
8. Do you think the self serve technique satisfies customers more than it being made and the toppings
being put on behind the counter? Why?
yes
seeing that as a trend
just opened another Naticakes in West Virginia and both were Coldstone Cremeries previously
people like healthy choices more than ice cream and they like to make it themselves rather than
someone else doing it
you want an experience something while you're there
there's a little bit of an entertainment factor of the self-serve
you can each have your own experience because you all make different things
like the energy in the self-serve component