The phrase “all in the family” aptly describes Marcus Floyd and his wife, Sheree, and their three children, Markus II, Damarius and Markala. From vacations to school to business, this family operates as a single unit.
Their newest business venture is Kool Kupz Frozen Treats found in the bright neon green truck just down from Pop’s on Highway 149 in Mendenhall. Open after school and typically on weekends from noon to 6 p.m., Kool Kupz offers a variety of tempting flavors that vary from day to day. In addition, they can be booked for school functions and private events, fundraisers and birthday parties.
Sheree explained that the Kool Kupz treat has a snow ball flavor with the consistency of ice cream.
“With snow balls you get more ice; with this you get more flavor and no syrup.” Damarius said that the top flavors include Captain America, mango, and strawberry banana. The least purchased flavor is lemon.
In addition to Kool Kupz the treat truck also offers hand-dipped ice cream in a variety of flavors. However, Kool Kupz sales outweigh ice cream sales hands down.
All three Floyd children were involved from the beginning stages of this new venture. The family had the opportunity to try Kool Kupz while on vacation out of state and knew there was nothing like this in Simpson County. The Floyds began planning the business in 2018 and brought it to fruition when they opened the doors in the fall of 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The business is self sufficient and doing better than we anticipated in the first year,” Marcus said. And there are many promising attributes to the business according to Sheree.
“My daughter, Kala, she was on the timid side. She’s more comfortable now talking with the customers since she’s been at the window taking up money. I wanted to take over so many times but thought, ‘No she has to learn.’ Now she offers great customer service.”
In addition, this business has taught all three kids how to be responsible, manage money, and develop customer service skills. Sheree added, “I like being able to work with my family. I like teaching my kids that they can work for themselves and make a living. It’s always an option.”
Markus is enrolled at a school in Nashville as he wants to become a music engineer. Damarius graduated from Mendenhall High School in May 2021 and will join the United States Air Force once he has lost a few more pounds as required before entering basic training. “I walk the track every day or the treadmill.” He’s ready for this next step but is being patient in the process.
And Kala plans to follow in his steps once she has graduated. While only 12, she also plans to join the Air Force to become a navigator. Kala is quick to point out, “It was my idea first!” She also added that her reasons to join include a guaranteed paycheck and physical training.
They are Simpson County natives with Marcus being the only Magee Trojan, having graduated from Magee High School in 1997. The couple married in 2002 and upon attending the first Simpson County Super Bowl between Magee and Mendenhall, Sheree said, “It only got heated once when we first got married but after that, it didn’t matter.” As the lone Trojan, Marcus takes pride in his team in a houseful of Tigers. “Especially if Magee won,” quipped Damarius. “Daddy would be talking the whole week!”
