Fluffy ice is the secret to a good snowball, says Pamela Ingham.

She ought to know, since she has been running Snowy’s snowball stand for the past 18 years.

“It is really impacted by humidity,” she said. “How you handle the ice is different depending on the weather conditions.”

She opened for the season three weeks ago in a new location — 33 Cedar Avenue in Hamilton, directly across the street from Victoria Park’s east gate.

“We were a little late opening this year,” she admitted. This was partly due to the need to make some repairs.

The business was also forced to move because the Corporation of Hamilton required businesses in Wesley Square, its previous location, to be open all year around.

The move has been an upgrade.

“I actually love it here,” Mrs Ingham said. “Foot traffic is high, so it has worked out for me.”

She sees plenty of children, particularly summer campers, but they also see so many grown-ups that Mrs Ingham has started calling Snowy’s an “adult candy shop”.

“Office workers like to come out for their break at about 2.30pm,” she said.

Her late husband, Larry, started the business in 1992 on Princess Street in Hamilton. Over the years it has been in many different locations.

When Mr Ingham died from an aggressive form of cancer in 2016, Mrs Ingham continued running Snowy’s in his memory, while also running her own therapeutic massage practice.

When the Covid-19 pandemic began, she had to choose between businesses. Snowy’s was less hands-on and outdoors, so the snowballs won.

Now Mrs Ingham does a little massage, but is mainly focused on the cold treat.

Climate change has been a silver lining for Snowy’s — hotter summers are boosting demand.

Popular flavours include The Bermudian, which is strawberry, pineapple and ginger beer, and Galaxy, consisting of piña colada, strawberry, pineapple, ginger beer and blue raspberry, among others.

Snowy’s has also become a training ground for young Bermudians. Camps and school groups regularly pop by, turning the sidewalk into a temporary lesson in both math and independence.

“There will be around 30 children in a line and they will each have their little bag of money,” Mrs Ingham said. “This is a time where they get to learn how to purchase something themselves.”

Snowy’s staff are patient and supportive.

Mrs Ingham also hires teens for their first jobs and talks to them about entrepreneurship and working for themselves one day. She works on discipline — no texting while you’re working, and also about maintaining standards.

Many of her former student workers are now adults with their own businesses or jobs, but remain fiercely loyal.

“I started working for Snowy’s when I was in high school,” Kaelin Cox said. “I am 30 now. I have been with them in many locations from the Causeway to Back of Town to Harbour Night. Snowy’s and I have a good history.”

Now he helps with things like social media, and training.

“I still remember my first day,” Mr Cox said. “Back then Snowy’s was in a shop on Princess Street. It was really busy.”

He felt intimidated seeing the line stretch out the door.

“Everyone wanted a supersize snowball,” he laughed.

He quickly found he enjoyed working under pressure.

He now co-owns Pedago, an electric pedal bike business in St George, as well as Aries Sports Centre, a martial arts school, and also works full-time with children with special needs.

“From Snowy’s I have taken with me how to be a better leader and how to run a business,” he said.

Mrs Ingham said she really enjoyed running Snowy’s.

“It is fun and we have a really big following,” she said. “I call this the people’s business. I just work here.”

The anniversary of Mr Ingham’s death was on August 25.

“I know he would have been very proud of me,” Mrs Ingham said. “I have kept Snowy’s alive.”

She is now working on a winter product that will allow the business to stay open throughout the year. She is also looking for a more permanent home for Snowy’s.

• For more information, see the business on Facebook under Snowy’s Bermuda