Meet Gina Johnson | Small business owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gina Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gina, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Consistency is key in the success of any business, as well as exceptional customer service. At POParella’s, we believe that the knowledge of employees, the information presented to customers, and the quality of our product must be consistent. Unpredicatble qualitites of any of the aformetnioned result in unsatisfied customers and confusion amongst employees. Consistency is achieved through excellent communication and high expectaions. Building relationships with customers and providing excellent service is of the utmost importance, as this is the quality of our brand that keeps customers loyal and wanting to come back.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
POParella’s Gourmet Popcorn & Treats offers unique items like fudge, chocolates, cotton candy and cookies, all made in-house. We also offer totally customizable flavors and colors for our popcorn and cotton candy. Our ability to cater to and work with customers to bring their ideas to fruition sets us apart from others. We go above and beyond to ensure that our customers are satisfied with any special requests that we are able to accommodate.

It was not easy in the beginning. I went from being an analyst in the corporate world for over ten years to becoming a small business owner, with no experience. Experience or not, that is a big transition, and there were a lot of learning curves! In addition to some personal budget changes, I spent the first year and a half investing back into the company. While it was high risk, it has been very rewarding. The things I have learned and the people I have met have made it all worth it!
Some of the lessons I have learned along the way is that what worked five years ago, might not work now. The world, how we market product, and how we connect with consumers is constantly shifting. Staying current with trends, social media, and how consumers respond to marketing is a huge learning opportunity, aside from the other operations of owning and running a small business. That was one of the very first lessons I learned being in this business. I had to learn how to adapt and build up online presence for marketing purposes. Additionally, relationships, consistency in products, and customer service are very important in the food service industry. These are all things I have learned along the way, and am continuing to learn!
It’s never too late to make a career change if you have the passion, desire, and discipline. If you have an opportunity that seems scary, but is something that is appealing to you, take the leap! You will always wonder “what if?” if you do not take the risk. POParella’s is constantly reinventing because that’s what we love doing. We try to stay creative and think of new ways to engage with and satisfy our customers!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
For sports: Tour or game at The Star (Dallas Cowboys Headquarters)
Tour or game at AT&T Stadium (Dallas Cowboys)
Tour or game at Globe Life Park (Texas Rangers)
Tour or game at American Airlines Center (Dallas Mavericks)
Tour or game at Toyota Stadium (FC Dallas/National Soccer Museum)

Foodies:
Bishop Arts District (Dallas)
Clyde Warren Park – Food Trucks
Dallas Farmers Market
Legacy Hall – Plano
Deep Ellum Brewery

Sightseers:
Downtown Dallas
Dallas Museum of Art
Deep Ellum
Fort Worth Stockyards
Dallas World Aquarium
Dallas or Ft. Worth Zoo
Federal Reserve Bank
Fair Park
Katy Trail
Southfork Ranch
Book Depository (Site of JFK Assisination)

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There is a group of people that definitely deserve some credit into the success of my business. My family! My children and my husband gave me all the support I needed to take the risk of becoming a small business owner.

Website: www.POParellas.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poparellaspopcorn

Twitter: https://twitter.com/POParellas

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PoparellasGourmetPopcorn

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/poparellas-gourmet-popcorn-and-treats-frisco-3

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waoSfMa5v80