A Popcorn Story: Interview with Jason Staner of Freddie's Popcorn

Uncommon Wealth Podcast

Jason Staner is a dynamic entrepreneur who, together with his wife Tammy, owns and operates Freddie's Popcorn. Prior to taking over Freddie's Popcorn in 2022, Jason worked as a paramedic and in auto repair. He brings a wealth of experience in customer service and business management, which he leveraged to successfully rebrand and manage the legacy popcorn business. Jason is also involved in volunteer paramedic services in his hometown.

Episode Summary:

In this engaging episode of Uncommon Wealth Podcast, host Phillip Ramsey interviews Jason Staner from Freddie's Popcorn. Jason shares his journey from paramedics and automotive repair to owning a beloved popcorn business. Known for his observant nature, grateful attitude, and easy-going personality, Jason navigates the challenges and triumphs of rebranding and expanding Freddie's Popcorn.

Jason recounts the origins of Freddie's Popcorn, detailing how his in-laws first purchased the business and their vital role in its early success. He discusses the hurdles they faced, including dealing with supply chain issues that forced them to pull their best-selling product off the shelves for over two months. Despite these challenges, Jason and his team pressed forward, emphasizing the importance of customer service. They have plans to expand their business nationally while maintaining a strong local presence in northeast Iowa.

Key Takeaways:

• Family Legacy: Jason reveals how Freddie's Popcorn was initially bought by his in-laws and has become a family-run business, growing and adapting over time.
• Customer Service: Jason's diverse background has taught him the importance of customer service, which remains a cornerstone of Freddie's Popcorn's operations.
• Supply Chain Challenges: The episode explores the significant challenges faced by Freddie's Popcorn, including a supply chain crisis that hit their best-selling product.
• Resilience: Despite obstacles, Jason and his wife Tammy remain dedicated, resilient, and focused on growth and quality.
• Business Expansion: Future plans for Freddie's Popcorn include national distribution and strategic marketing to make their product a household name across the United States.

Notable Quotes:

1. "You can tell why I like him... He's grateful, super grateful for where he's at and all the things in his life, even the bad things." – Phillip Ramsey
2. "Luckily, all of her family members pretty much knew that that was going to happen because we'd been there with it all the time." – Jason Staner
3. "Really having each other in there to kind of help bounce it off. Now we can both kind of bounce it off each other and work our way through it." – Jason Staner
4. "Everybody has a memory with popcorn... we want to make sure that people relive those memories and incorporate Freddie's Popcorn into it." – Jason Staner
5. "Whether you're running a business, there's always little crises that come up." – Jason Staner

Resources:

• Freddie's Popcorn Website: freddiespopcorn.com

For more insights and personal stories on navigating business challenges and achieving growth, be sure to listen to the full episode. Stay tuned for more inspiring content from the Uncommon Wealth Podcast!