We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kelly Girnas . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kelly below.

Alright, Kelly thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

Actually, when I first started the business in early 2021, my company name was Wish Pops. In October 2021, I won a contest with Dallas Marketing firm THE IT CROWD. They were sponsoring a campaign called “The Heart Behind It”, to help market a small, local business.
That also included a complete rebranding.
Their amazing creative team came up with some wonderful names, but Pixie Pop was the one that really fit the logo I wanted, as it evokes the fun & whimsical brand I wanted to create.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Since February 2006, I have worked as a contracted hospitality coordinator & travel director, assisting destination management companies, onsite meeting planners & travel industry specialists. It is a great business, but after the pandemic began, everything shut down. Like countless others, I was out of work, & looking for something to do, in which I could maybe generate an income.
I love to cook & create. Several years prior, I had a small breakfast & lunch corporate catering business called Workday Cafe. In 2019, I started experimenting with flavored popcorn to bring to neighborhood movie night.
Coming up with new ideas, and grinding the spices while creating fun & delicious flavors, became something I truly enjoyed! Popcorn is basically a blank slate, so whether sweet or savory, you can transform it into so many different things in the way of colors & flavors.
With the encouragement of family & friends, I started Wish Pops.
When I won ” The Heart Behind It” campaign with Dallas based marketing company THE IT CROWD, things really took off!
The incredible team took my ideas, & made them a reality. Their rebranding, creating a new website, social media marketing & believing in me & my ideas, made everything come to life, & soon Pixie Pop was born.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Mouth. It is actually twofold. Word of mouth of course, because people tend to listen to people they trust, or who have the same tastes as they do. But also literally “Mouth”, as in – tasting the popcorn. Free samples create Pixie Pop customers.
When people taste Sweetie Cheeze & the delicious combo of sweet kettle corn & savory cheddar flavors or the pop rocks candy popcorn and the buttery, crunchy, salty & sweet “Puffles” – popcorn chocolate truffles, they get it.
That’s my favorite moment. It is why I love what I do!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Since May of 2021, about 3 months after I started my business, up until recently, my life’s journey has been a JOURNEY for sure!

A close family member needed surgery, & I was the sole caretaker, Unfortunately, they did not recover, & things became more complicated, as they had to be & are still currently hospitalized. That situation dominated 2022, & has been very stressful.
Still, everyone has issues in life that can hinder their goals & plans. It is the reality of our existence.
I have found that the best thing for me to do is to indulge my heart & mind in a creative state, while focusing on the positive. That truly frees me, while also helping me persevere. I look forward to seeing where 2023 takes me & Pixie Pop!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.pixiepopcorn.com
• Instagram: @pixieispoppin
• Facebook: @PixiePop
• Linkedin: Kelly Girnas

Image Credits
Kelly Girnas