Exploring Life & Business with Brandon Ornelas of Breezy Pop

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Ornelas.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started my business back when I was in high school. My sister and I started making art paintings and selling them door to door in our neighborhood and my grandma (Abuelita Coco) who was visiting us from Mexico saw our entrepreneurial ambition and suggested to us that we should sell Bolis (ice pops, or freezer pops word in Spanish) here in AZ. She gifted us our first machine, gave us her traditional recipes, and supported us in the beginning as we started this new venture. Now instead of selling our artwork door-to-door we were now selling our ice pops to our neighbors.

I would sell them over the summer break door to door and when school started a friend of mine who knew I was selling these pops suggested I should bring them to school for a class party and when my classmates tried them they loved them! Afterwards I would bring them in a small lunch box cooler bag and would sell them to my classmates throughout the school day (at Metro Tech High School). After a couple of weeks a few friends asked me if they can also sell the pops like me. I would end up bringing 5 extra cooler bags with me give them each a cooler bag and at the end of the school day give them their commission. This was my first experience with expanding my business.

After I graduated from high school I started college at Grand Canyon University and got a degree in Marketing. During my time at GCU I used my business as a case study for many projects that class would require. Instead of picking a fictional or other real business I would use mine. During that time I was part of Local First Arizona business accelerator program. That program taught me the necessary skills I needed to take my business to the next level and gave me a grant that would allow me to expand into various farmers markets throughout out the valley. This was my first step into the farmers markets and which would pave the way for the growth of my future business.

Now I sell my pops at Gilbert farmers market, Uptown farmers market, and recently new at Desert West farmers market. I also offer catering packages for corporate/private events, and sell my pops at Agritopia farm store, and Steadfast Coffee at Eastmark. I plan to offer my ice pops for sale online soon, expand into other retail locations, and sell my pops in Flagstaff and Tucson next season.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been the easiest but the business has made me expand out of my comfort zone since the beginning of me starting it. I used to be super shy and selling my pops door-to-door helped me get over my shyness.

The biggest struggle I have right now is my production. Since I am the only who makes my pops it has created a bottle neck problem where it’s difficult to make more pops as I’m limited on my time and energy. I plan to hire production staff next year so I can make more product and have more time to focus on the growth of my business.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in making gourmet ice pops from real fruits and offer a variety of fruity, creamy, and seasonal flavors. I offer regular flavors but also hard to find flavors like passion fruit and soursop. I also rotate my seasonal flavors to keep with the season and weather.

My pops are super tasty and taste like the actual fruits at every bite.

I sell my pops at farmers markets:
Gilbert Farmers Market,
Uptown Farmers market
Desert West Market,

Retail locations:
Agritopia farm store
Steadfast Coffee in Eastmark

I also offer catering packages for corporate and private events.
Soon I will offer online sales within Arizona

I want people to know that our pops help create memorable times with friends and loved ones.
Freeze time and enjoy the sweetness of friends and family with Breezy Pops!

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was shy but always had big dreams.

I’m a visual person and have always enjoyed branding/marketing

I love being creative in business and entrepreneurial ventures.

Pricing:

• Each Breezy Pop $4
• Family Pack (10 pops) $25 comes with cooler bag and ice pack to take home
• Drop off catering – custom price
• Full service catering – custom price
• Wholesale bulk pricing

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.breezypop.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/breezypops
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/livebreezy
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/breezy-pop-phoenix

Image Credits
John Caballero