A sweet treat without the sugar
It all started when she went to a bank with her dad and a teller offered her lollipops. Though she really wanted to accept, she remembers what her parents told her that sugar is terrible for her teeth. So she asked her dad, "Why don't we make a healthy lollipop that's good for my teeth so I can have candy, and it won't be bad for me?"
In 2015, after two years of research and testing and with $7,500 startup investment, Zollipops was born. Since then, it has moved $2 million worth of lollipops. Today, it is sold in thousands of stores across America including Kroger, Office Depot, and Walmart! They continue to expand distribution to other retailers and is also in talks with Amazon to market their products.
Zollipops comes in six different yummy flavors: strawberry, raspberry, cherry, orange, pineapple, and grapes. It is also available in Zollidrops, a lollipop without the stick and Zaffi Taffy, a chewy candy. Unlike other sweets, Zollipops does not use sugar. Instead, it has Xylitol, an artificial plant-based sweetener that reduces sugar to 0 grams and calorie to 35 per pop.
Bonus: it can help your teeth! Morse said, "They raise the pH in your mouth after an acidic meal and they neutralize the acid and strengthen your tooth enamel. That takes away the bacteria that causes cavities and tooth decay to (form)."
Success is not always easy
Despite Morse's success, she faces challenges with regards to her age. She says there are some older people who still don't take her seriously. "Some people are just close-minded and they don’t realize that kids can do... whatever adults can do, if they put their mind to it," she told Moneyish.
But it does not make her falter. She continued, "When I'm in a sales meeting, (business people) don't see me being all cutesy. I'm sitting there, ready to negotiate or make a deal or answer their questions. When you're in a big sales meeting, don't show any signs of weakness. People want you to crack under pressure, but you've really go to show that you're committed to your business."
Aside from reinvesting money for business and saving for her future college education, she also donates 10% of her profits to oral healthcare education in schools across the United States. "Your smile is one of the first things people see when they look at you," she said, knowing how important it is for other kids to take care of their health.
Being successful at such a young age, Morse is more than happy and contented with where she is now. She said, "It's really important to me that we help people feel good in a world of stress and anxiety. We just want to help people smile."
For more information about Zollipops, visit www.zollipops.com or follow the company on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Zollicandy/
