THE BALLOON MAN

Vendor lacks sales at fair


 

Apr 01, 2012
from: kiiitv.com
By Agustin Garfias

It's the finale for the South Texas State Fair and vendors are counting cash to see just how profitable it's been the past two weeks.  

But an award winning food vendor is leaving the fair without even the grand prize of a profit.

For Anthony Revis, making a profit through his business is more than making a few extra dollars.  It's his only source of income to support a family of six. 


During the last day of the South Texas State Fair people made final visits to their favorite food vendors.  But none of them were really visiting Custom Confections. Owner Anthony Revis says a normal vendor should make between two and five thousand dollars a day. 


"Our best day we made $600," Revis said. 


Custom Confections sells mainly pastries including their specialty, the Frostie Bite. 


Originally from Cypress, Revis says the idea for a cupcake filled with ice cream came from working at other fairs in the Summertime. 


 "As a kid you always had ice cream and cake together and we though if we could put that into one package it'd be a great idea and the Frostie Bite was born," Revis said. 


The unique pastry has won various awards including Most Creative Food at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. But Revis hasn't seen the same success at the fair this year. 


Success the pastry guru says is important to him and his family. 


"This is our lively hood. this is how I pay for diapers and pay my mortgage," Revis said. 


Revis believes the location of his truck and the bad economy played a role in his lack of sales. He says Custom Confections won't be returning to Southeast Texas next year. But the Frostie Bite inventor says he does plan on bringing more to the table at the next fair he visits. 


"I think we're going to try to come next year with something fried because that's what people want. If you're at a fair people want it fried on a stick or covered in chocolate," Revis said. 


Revis says he is working on getting a patent for the Frostie Bite. His next stop will be in Conroe at the Montgomery County Fair. 


The South Texas State Fair is the largest volunteer fair in the nations. The Young Men's Business League says about 75% of the fair's profits go to different charities and non-profit organizations.