There’s a sweet aroma lingering throughout the town of Bridgewater and it traces back to a small mobile coffee trailer. From lattes to dirty chai’s, Amanda Mullen and her two daughters have spent the better part of six months trekking through the community with a converted horse trailer - to give people some “Sweet Sips.” “We just felt like coffee was a great way to get out into the community,” says Mullen, the owner of Sweet Sips. Not only does it allow for more quality time with 16-year-old Bella and 10-year-old Willow, Mullen says it’s also a chance to teach them about hard work. “Being a single mom on my own, it was something that was important to me. I want them to feel that if they want to start their own business at some point, or if they want to carry on this business, that they would have the skills and the confidence to be able to do that.” Buck’s Building Center in Bridgewater, N.S., has become a regular weekday spot for the business, though they are keeping busy with special bookings. “We are so grateful for the amount of support that we’ve had in this community and the surrounding communities. People have been really supportive of us and getting this off the ground. We want to be able to give back to our community,” says Mullen. Bella Mullen says she thought the idea of running a business with her mom and sister would be a great experience. “I was getting to the age where I needed a job, and I was always just nervous about going to work somewhere. But I thought it would be really cool to do it with my mom,” she says. “Working under pressure was a big thing for me. But slowly, I got used to it. I took my time and the customers are really great about also letting me take my time. “My favorite thing about it is just being able to enjoy it with them.” It’s also given what might be the youngest barista in town the lesson of a lifetime. “I enjoy just being on the trailer and being close with mom and Bella,” says Willow Mullen. While it may have started as a way to teach her daughters, Mullen says they have big plans ahead. “We’re starting weddings in the spring, so that’s something exciting and new.” For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
