At the age of 7, Alina Morse began creating healthy candies with the help of her father. Six years later, her company Zollipops became a market giant, generating over $6 million dollars a year. The secret? A brilliant idea and unwavering support from her father.
In 2012, while accompanying her father to the bank, Alina received a candy lollipop. However, her father explained that it could harm her teeth. This conversation sparked her quest for healthier candies.
After months of experimentation in her home kitchen, with her father’s encouragement, Alina, at age 9, managed to develop lollipops that offered dental health benefits, such as preventing cavities and reducing plaque.
With financial backing from her father, Alina and he consulted experts in dentistry and nutrition to choose ingredients such as Xylitol and Erythritol, known for their beneficial properties for oral health.
Zollipops was born in 2014, and its sales strategy focused on Amazon and major supermarkets like Whole Foods Market. In just one year, they sold over 70 thousand units, and sales doubled every year for four consecutive years.
As Zollipops thrived, Alina, at age 13, became even more committed to her purpose and began donating 10% of profits to oral health education in public schools through her non-profit organization, “One Million Smiles”.
By 2018, Zollipops exceeded $6 million dollars annually in revenue, making Alina one of the youngest entrepreneurs in the United States.
Despite her young age, Alina balances her school responsibilities, passion for dance, and role as CEO of Zollipops. Her success is based on her passion for business and her desire to make the world a better place.
Today, on the verge of turning 15, Alina leads a company that sells in over 25 thousand stores in the United States and several countries worldwide. She has been featured on the cover of Entrepreneur Magazine and has received multiple awards for her business and social work.
Alina Morse’s story is an inspiring testament to how determination and passion can turn an idea into a successful business that positively impacts the lives of millions. As she herself says: “It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, what matters is your passion and commitment to making the world a better place.
By: Nestor Castillo, ForAllTechNews Director
Image Credits: Tom Morse, LOL company (makers of Zolli Candy), CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons