Today we’d like to introduce you to Alicia Thomas.
Alicia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Lush Pops is an alcohol-infused adult popsicle business. The idea came to me in the summer of 2015, after a disappointing time at a local festival. After the festival, my friends and I went to a local popsicle shop to decompress. As always, I ordered my favorite popsicle. While eating it I thought to myself how tasty the pop would be with the addition of a specific alcoholic beverage. Then, I thought to myself how tasty an alcohol-infused popsicle would be at any music or arts festival in my city. I later shared the idea with a few friends and family; however, the idea remained an idea for the next four years.
Fast forward to 2019, I had just been laid off from my job and new employment opportunities were very scarce. Late one night while browsing social media, the idea came back to me. I began researching proper techniques and equipment needed to properly create alcohol-infused popsicles. I searched for podcasts and webinars by successful business owners. I researched proper business techniques, necessary permits and licensure required for my particular business. After extensive research, Lush Pops, LLC was born, March 26, 2019. I began researching venues, festivals and events where I would be able to debut my product. My first event was May 25, 2019, the Atlanta Caribbean Festival. While the popsicles were well received, based on initial costs, additional funding would be necessary to expand to other venues.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The road has not been smooth but it has been very rewarding. The opportunity for growth in this business is phenomenal, however running a small business without extensive funding is very challenging. As I began to market the business, I’ve found it requires extensive funding to develop a product in large quantities. Fresh Fruit and liquor are very expensive, however, they are necessary for the quality of my product. Also, being that popsicles are considered a summer treat, it’s challenging to find local opportunities to sell the product. I’ve had to be creative in my search for marketing during the fall/winter months.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My name is Alicia Thomas, I am the Founder and Owner of Lush Pops. I have a healthcare background, I received my Bachelors in Healthcare Management and a Masters in Public Health. I am a firm believer in pursuing your dreams despite the obstacles that confront you. I have always been an advocate for friends and family to pursue their passion. Although I was blessed to have a job in my field of study, there was still a desire deep within that I was not being fulfilled. In taking my own advice, during the time of my unemployment, I decided it was time for me to do the same, pursue my passions. Lush Pops was created with a nostalgic adult in mind. I wanted to put an adult spin on a childhood favorite. Although Lush Pops is in the forefront, I plan to still pursue and create opportunities in the healthcare field, such as a non-profit and a healthcare facility. As a brand, I am most proud that I was able to realize one of my dreams, create a product, market/sell to consumers, and to receive excellent feedback from our consumers.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Selecting a mentor in the field of your business is very important. Research businesses similar to your business, find contact and connect with, attend networking events, join organizations geared toward your business focus or geared toward assisting small businesses/startups. I feel like the world is always evolving so it is important to always seek out opportunities to increase your knowledge in your respective field, continue to research opportunities in your area of interest. Attending seminars and webinars are other sources for networking and educating yourself in your field of interest. In addition, seeking opportunities for demonstrations or in-person tutorials was quite beneficial for me. With funding being equally as important, I sought out financial advisors to advise me on grant funding and other avenues for obtaining funding.
Contact Info:
- Email: lushpopatl@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/lushpopsatl
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/lushpopsatl
- Phone: 404-436-1117
