Recently, we joined forces with Fayette County CEO to visit with Kevin and Carrie Schultz, owners of Pinky's in Effingham. We learned so much about their journey since taking over the business in 2018 and had plenty of fun while doing it! The couple has built a strong seasonal team, employing 5–6 full-time staff and over 120 part-time workers during the busy spring and summer months. To keep revenue steady in the off-season, they introduced heated dome dining, which has been a creative and effective solution.
Kevin and Carrie emphasized the importance of marketing and branding in their growth. Their consistent and recognizable branding has helped create familiarity and customer loyalty. They advised aspiring entrepreneurs to take pride in their brand and be intentional with how it’s presented.
One of the key lessons they learned early on was to shift the original business model to make Pinky’s a more kid-friendly and family-focused environment—something that has clearly resonated with their community and contributed to their continued success.
