Dirty Pop to mark one year

by Kara Laws
Contributing writer
May 22 is a very exciting day for Dirty Pop, the custom drink shop in Blanding, as it marks the one year anniversary of their opening on Center Street.
I sat down with the owners Karah Nay and Sarah Walker to learn how they are celebrating their big anniversary and what they have learned in their first year of business.
Blanding has had a few different soda shops throughout the years. None have had the staying power that Dirty Pop seems to.
Dirty Pop has managed to secure a very loyal and excited customer base in a very short amount of time. They have also set themselves up as the ideal place to work for many youth in the area.
Every Dirty Pop employee I have spoken to lights up when they tell me about their job. Nay and Walker stated they feel the kids enjoy working with them because they created the business knowing that they would need youth to help run it.
Nay and Walker combined the 1990s themes they grew up with fun modern twists. “The 90s are cool now,” Walker stated and they are using that to bridge the gap between themselves and the youth they work with.
Their business is fun, colorful, and focused on experience, not just for the customers but their staff as well.
From the fun music they play to the interest they take in local youth programs, Dirty Pop shows up for their staff. If their team is involved in an extracurricular, Dirty Pop takes notice and frequently helps support youth programs. They involve their team in social media videos and challenges, and they work hard to accommodate their schedules.
Nay and Walker know if they want to attract the best and create a team that cares about their work, they have to care about their team.
I asked Walker and Nay how to give us some insight into their marketing strategies. They had three major suggestions they work within.
ONE: Stay consistent on social media – “Don’t let people forget you are there,” they stated.
TWO: Stay exciting – “Do something new,” don’t get boring.
THREE: Get involved in the community – “support the community that supports [you]”.
It didn’t take long for Dirty Pop’s creation to begin to positively impact other business owners, from their cookie bakers who suddenly find themselves too busy to manage alone to sales boosts from the collaborators they advertise with.
Nay and Walker did not start their business to do it all by themselves and what a great model it is turning out to be.
Nay and Walker stated that while things are going well, and they are so grateful their drink shop almost always has cars lined up, running this business has had some trials and challenges.
If you are thinking of starting your own business, Dirty Pop owners leave you with these pieces of advice: double the cost and get involved.
Whatever you are building or creating, they suggested doubling what you think it will cost. It is always better to have extra money than to need more and not have it available.
And secondly, they encouraged business owners to stay involved in their business. Show up, work shifts, you have to commit time to make sure your business is working well. Nay also stated, “Get help! You need a partner.” Running a business takes a lot of work and time, sharing the load can help keep enthusiasm high and a business running smoothly.
Huge congratulations to Dirty Pop and their fabulous owners for surviving the first year of business ownership.
Make sure you stop by Dirty Pop (174 E Center in Blanding) during May to join in on their anniversary celebrations. They will have drinks of the week, pop-up cookies, weekly giveaways, competitions, a movie night, and more!
If you would like to see your business featured in the “Making Sense of Local Business” column email kara@mylaunched.com and tell us why. Happy drinking!