cream is my favourite part of the job,'' says Double Dip owner Doris Brooks.

Doris Brooks has been working in the industry for 30 years. " The job I took happened to involve ice cream, and my interest grew from there,'' she says.

"I started out working for the company 'Mr. Twist'. After a while I thought `why not try this for myself? My first operation was in the Phoenix Centre and was called `Jelatos'. That was almost 11 years ago.'' "My Mother worked with me in the business for many years. She has since retired, but she ran Jelato's for me while I worked at another job. There were dark moments however, as I realised that I was losing money. I closed down Jelato's and even sold my home as a result of the financial strain. One of the lessons I learned was the importance of location. Jelato's was upstairs in the Phoenix Centre and not an ideal location.'' Despite the failure of her first venture, Doris Brooks' entrepreneurial spirit remained, "I went on to open the Double Dip on Front Street and Double Dip II in Flatts. Double Dip II was sold this spring. Now we have branched out to the East End by opening Double Dip Express at Southside.'' The newest venture, Double Dip Express, is clean and welcoming. As with Ms.

Brooks' other shops, the Southside shop has already achieved a Grade A licence from the Department of Health.

Ms Brooks is also part owner of the ABC Factory which is "the home of the product. This is where we make the ice cream, and store all product for the shops.'' Doris Brooks, who works 19 hours a day during the busy season (Palm Sunday through Labour Day) remarks "business on the whole is a gamble, I have had dark days where it was a real struggle''.

"Through the years however, I have formulated what I call the 4 L's to guide me in business; location, willingness to labour, good legal advice and loyal staff.'' "Another key to my success has been the support of two people. The first is my partner at the ABC Factory and the other is my mentor and also supplier, John Panza, of A. Panza and Sons, New Jersey.

"As our supplier, John Panza is a business partner but we have also knitted a friendship. John Panza always encourages me to keep going, to remember that success is achieved step by step. He also reminds me to remain humble and to be mindful of those on the steps below me.'' Doris Brooks says that one of the highlights of her business is "working with young staff. My staff see that I will never ask them to do anything that I won't do. They see how involved I am, and yet I also delegate to them. This lifts morale and we all take pride in our product.'' The bumper sticker on the Double Dip van reads "Real Women don't have hot flashes, they have power surges''. Indeed Doris Brooks is living proof of what can be achieved through the power of hard work and vision.

THE `4 LS' Double Dip Express owner Doris Brooks has devised the "4 Ls'' of good business practice. They are: Location Willingness to Labour Good Legal advice Loyal staff Yummy: Jason Jackson shows there is more than one way to eat an ice cream cone at the new Double Dip Express at Southside in St. David's.