Joan Eppehimer & Jason Madison with Aunt Joan’s Pearl City Popcorn

The Forrager Podcast for Cottage Food Businesses

Joan Eppehimer lives in Jamestown, NY and sells flavored popcorn with her cottage food business, Aunt Joan’s Pearl City Popcorn.

Joan started her business in 2015 as a way to raise money for many different causes, and she has now donated thousands of dollars to charity!

Even though her popcorn has always been extremely popular, in 2021, Joan decided to reboot her business with a new business name and brand, and with the help of her nephew Jason, has taken it to new heights.

What You’ll Learn

• The importance of proper licensing and regulations for running a cottage food business
• How the government’s red tape ironically enabled Joan’s business to flourish
• The rare disease that Joan’s husband has, which inspired her to expand her business
• How to effectively brand your products to make them stand out in a competitive market
• The value of maintaining strong community ties and supporting local enterprises
• The challenges and rewards of charitable work in a business context
• How to manage time effectively, especially when balancing multiple personal and professional commitments
• When to seek help and delegate tasks for improved productivity
• Why you should continually strive to keep learning and improving your business operations

Resources

Aunt Joan’s Pearl City Popcorn (Facebook | Instagram)

National MPS Society

Food Business Success (hear Sari Kimbell on Episodes 59 & 60)

Kidology (non-profit ministry)

New York Cottage Food Law

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Get full show notes and transcript here: https://forrager.com/podcast/127