Random Thoughts!

We're very excited about the recent "debut" and addition of Bissinger's Ice Cream to POPtions! For those unfamilar with the Bissingers brand, they're a gourmet chocolatier (over 400 years old) that is based here in St. Louis. They have a number of retail locations (three in the greater St Louis area) and a large catalog and internet business. Their products are to die for, and we've being using their chocolate for all of our chocolate topped popcorn flavors since we opened two years ago.

About four months ago, the Coldstone Creamery store in our strip center (for those who don't know where we are, we're located in The Village at Schneithorst's http://www.poptionspopcorn.com/articles.asp?id=1) closed. I thought adding ice cream would be a real plus for POPtions and add balance to our offerings. I proposed to the president of Bissinger's to think about launching Bissinger's branded ice cream-he was very enthusiastic about the idea and agreed to do it. Our landlord was also in favor.

It took about 3 months for Bissinger's to develop their line of ice cream. They're big on offering all natural products, so it took some work on their part to create a line of flavors that is 100% natural.

We debuted their ice cream at the beginning of July to much success. Flavors are; Vanilla Bean, Extreme Chocolate, Creme de Menthe Chip, Missouri Black Walnut, Raspberry Creme, Strawberry Sorbet, & Espresso Bean. Cups, cones, shakes and sundaes.
Next week we will begin offering for sale quart containers of the ice cream-and the good news for POPtions is that we have the exclusive on the ice cream. It is not available at any other retail outlet at this time. So for all the Bissinger fans (and their are thousands here in St Louis), we'll be the only place in town to get it!

Now that we have the quart containers, we've started marketing it. We're promoting it on KMOX (the #1 radio station in St Louir) and 101 ESPN (the #1 sports radio station). In addition, our print campaign will begin shortly in The Ladue News (a local weekly newspaper catering to the well to do in West County St Louis).

Also, we have begun to promote it on twitter, www.twitter.com/poptionspopcorn

and on facebook www.facebook.com/pages/Ladue-MO/Poptions/80185742622?ref=ts