Meet Kelly | Flavored Popcorn Proprietor

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

Hi Kelly, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
In 2019, I had been experimenting with creating flavored popcorn for parties. A year later, my job as a corporate event coordinator was on hold, due to the Covid pandemic.
My family & friends encouraged me to pursue a popcorn business.
Years before, I had a catering business, & I have always enjoyed cooking & entertaining. So I began creating delicious & fun flavors.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I started Pixie Pop during Covid.
My job as a contracted corporate event/travel director, was on hold, due to the pandemic.
The year before, I had created some fun popcorn flavors for a monthly neighborhood movie night, & some other gatherings. With the encouragement of family & friends, I embarked on creating a popcorn and event business
In October 2021, I won a contest called
” The Heart Behind It”, sponsored by Dallas based PR firm The It Crowd. They generously provided 3 months worth of free branding, social media marketing & website design. They also involved me in every decision, & made my dream a reality.
Along the way, there have been some personal challenges. Not long after I started the business, my husband at the time, underwent major heart surgery. He had some serious health issues after surgery, and was hospitalized for over a year before passing away. During that time, I had to put the business on the back burner.
Once I restarted, because the business was brand new, I was essentially starting from scratch.
It may sound cliché, but every obstacle has truly become a learning experience. It also made me aware of how kind most people are. When I was going through the worst time of my life, I experienced the best of humanity, through people’s compassion and support.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
DFW has a weath of amazing restaurants, bars, cultural and sporting events!
A few years ago, while serving on the Board of the DFW Area Tour Guide Association, I had to plan our monthly meetings. During that time, I became very familiar with all the local gems.

In Fort Worth, there are so many restaurants! Two of my favorites: the fantastic Eddie V’s, and the very charming Lili’s Bistro. Both have a very different vibe, but wonderful food & excellent service.
Delicious artisan cocktails at Thompson’s Bookstore, are always a great idea!
As a lover of anything books & secret rooms, (Nancy Drew was my childhood hero – lol),
I adore the speakeasy behind the bookshelf vibe that Thompson’s offers.
Four day Weekend comedy is another favorite. Every out of town guest that has experienced the show, is blown away by how funny it is!
Scat Jazz lounge is a fantastic place for an evening of enjoying very talented musicians in a NYC style venue.
Sipping cocktails & enjoying delicious tapas on the balcony while watching the sun set at Atico, is a wonderful way to enjoy the gorgeous
Forth Worth city views.

Rise Souffle’ is also a wonderful place to take guests. The souffles are divine, and I really enjoy their cheese cart.

In Dallas, Al Biernat’s is a favorite. Bishop Arts is a fun area to explore. I always love visiting the Winspear Opera House, and The Meyerson. We are all very fortunate to have so many world class venues to enjoy in the DFW area

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?
I have been very fortunate to have many wonderful people in my life that encourage me! The first person that comes to mind is Chef Carol Ritchie.
I met Carol several years ago after watching her local DFW show Cookin’ With Carol. In 2002, I had the honor of being a guest on her show.
I demonstrated a pasta recipe I had created, for my children’s story about a culinary feline, which was published by Half Price Books. Carol & I became friends, & she has encouraged & inspired me ever since.

My good friend Rebeca Olmos, who is also a professional website designer, created my first popcorn business website – free of charge, because she believed in me.
I will always be grateful to both of these women, & everyone who graces my life with encouragement and kindness.

Website: https://www.pixiepopcorn.com

Instagram: @pixieispoppin

Facebook: Pixiepop

Image Credits
Kelly Girnas