Spirit Magazine - February 2014 - (Page 56)

Enter to Win A trip to Pier 60 Clearwater Beach April 4-13, 2014 PACKAGE INCLUDES: * Two (2) $500 gift cards for travel to the festival on Southwest Airlines® . * Three (3) Night stay at Hilton Clearwater Beach with daily breakfast for two April 10-13, 2014. * Two (2) tickets including VIP Meet & Greet with Winter the Dolphin at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. * One (1) Sugar Sand & Sunsets VIP Dining Experience for two on Thursday, April 10, 2014. * Two (2) Unlimited Guest Passes for the Sugar Sand Walk Sand Sculpting Exhibit. Live Greener with Gas ENTER(ONLY ONE ENTRY PER PERSON) AT SPIRITMAG.COM OFFICIAL RULES: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE AN ENTRANT'S CHANCE OF WINNING. To enter, go to spiritmag.com and click on "Sweepstakes." Entries must be received no later than midnight, February 28, 2014. Entrants must be at least 21 years of age. Employees of Pace Communications, Inc., Southwest Airlines, all contest sponsors and their immediate families are not eligible. The winner will be selected in a random drawing by Pace Communications, 1301 Carolina Street, Greensboro, NC 27401, on or about April 15, 2014. Only one entry per person is allowed. Odds of winning are dependent upon number of entries received. For a list of winners, send self-addressed, stamped #10 envelope to SOUTHWEST AIRLINES SPIRIT SWEEPS/SUGAR SAND, Pace Communications, 1301 Carolina Street, Greensboro, NC 27401. The winner will be notified (by email or telephone). If the winner does not agree with the rules of the contest, or does not meet the requirements to be eligible to enter this contest, winner will be excluded as a possible prize winner. Federal, state and local taxes are the responsibility of the winner. Local taxes are the responsibility of the winner. Void where prohibited by law, and all federal, state and local laws apply. The winner will receive a 1099 IRS tax form. Promotional value $2,900. Prizes are non-refundable, non-transferable, are not redeemable in cash, and may not be substituted. Selected blackout dates may apply. Restrictions may apply. may find inspiration from a far less complicated time: your youth. KERNEL OF AN IDEA Darien, Connecticut, circa 1988. Two 7-year-old girls in pajamas and pigtails push a chair against the kitchen counter, climb up, and swing open the cabinets until they find the treat they've been seeking-a microwavable bag of butter-flavored Jiffy Pop. "My friend used to even lick the dud kernels at the bottom of the bowl," Kristy Lewis, now 33, says. In college, however, Lewis realized that her favorite snack hadn't changed since she was a kid, even though attitudes about food had. Why didn't anyone make organic microwave popcorn, in say, a compostable bag, free of potentially harmful chemicals? In the fall of 2010, three months of maternity leave from her job as an executive assistant gave Lewis the time to test out her idea. Her son Quinn was born-and soon Quinn Popcorn was, too. Between feedings and diaper changes, Lewis experimented in her kitchen with different flavorings, like sage, rosemary, and maple syrup; researched suppliers; and contacted manufacturers to commission a bag made from chemicalfree paper. Her husband, Coulter, an engineer, came up with the idea of placing the flavorings and oil in separate packets, in part to prevent them from seeping through the bag. The couple posted their product on Kickstarter with a goal of raising $10,000. They raised $3,000 overnight. Eventually, 755 backers pledged nearly $30,000. The month after returning to work, Lewis gave notice. It was time to get her business baby on its feet, so she badgered the Whole Foods near her home in Arlington, Massachusetts, until they agreed to stock the product. "They ordered $30,000 worth in our second month, and we had to turn it down because we didn't have enough inventory," she says. Today, Quinn Popcorn is available in hundreds of stores nationwide and online through Amazon and Abe's Market. "Childhood is such a really fun time-at least mine was," Lewis says. "I drew on those childhood sleepovers for inspiration." She even made a butter and sea salt flavor at her pajama party friend's request. "She's obsessed with it." Lewis' advice for following your fun? Talk to people in the industry. She and her husband reached out to Justin's Nut Butter, Taza Chocolate, and Bear Naked, all organic food companies that had success selling to Whole Foods. "Now we get emails all the time from people asking how to pursue their ideas," she says. THE SLUSHIE KINGS Vancouver, British Columbia, circa 1993. Richmond High School quarterback Zack Silverman, parched from a long afternoon of football practice, has a craving that only a product from the local 7-Eleven can satisfy: a Slurpee. "There was nothing more refreshing," Silverman, now 35, recalls. "It was kind of like a tradition for me and my football buddies. I must have had thousands of slushies in my life." Years later, while billing long hours for a large corporate law firm in New York City, Silverman quickly bonded with fellow first-year attorney Alex Rein. Chained to their desks, the two began dreaming up business ideas to help them escape. Inspiration struck when Silverman mentioned his post-practice ritual. "You don't see many lawyers bring a neon cup with a purple straw into the office," Silverman says. "But people drink other frozen drinks. It seemed obvious: There should be a better, healthier slushie. No one else agreed with us. My wife certainly didn't." In 2008, Rein was laid off from the firm, and he dedicated himself to building a slushie truck business. He http://www.SPIRITMAG.COM http://www.spiritmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Spirit Magazine - February 2014

Spirit Magazine - February 2014
Contents
Gary’s Greeting
Gary’s Greeting en Español
Star of the Month
Freedom Story
From the Editor
Your Words
Your Pictures
Media Center
Eat Drink Sleep
Revel in rum
Cozy up to Chicago
Wise Guide
Learn to slow down
The Numbers
Get briefed on Oscars history
Entertain (with) a proposal
Keep your company current
Business
Cut down on insurance confusion
Digitize your doorman
Seek success with fun and games
Go loco for Lego
Building Lego
A Fighting Chance
Your Adventure In Miami
Promotional Series: Focus on Health for All Seasons
Promotional Series: Focus on Education
Promotional Series: Focus on Franchises
Calendar
Fun!
Spotlight
Community Outreach
Products & Services
Flight Service
Terminal Maps
Information
Rapid Rewards and A+ Rewards Partners
Route Map
The “If” List

Spirit Magazine - February 2014