Cartrepreneur® passion and unique connection to community are what make the King of Pops experience extraordinary. The Cartrepreneur® Special Pop opportunity provides a creative path to offer customers pops that reflect local story, as a lever to grow each franchise business.
This initiative is more than just crafting new flavors—it’s about creating something deeply meaningful that strengthens Carterpreneurs relationships with local community.
Glossary of Special Pop Terms
New Pop Flavor: A new flavor developed alongside the HQ team, led by a Cartrepreneur®
Pop Minimum: The minimum number of pops required to produce in order to execute the request.
Custom Pop Wrapper: A customized wrapper, designed by KOP HQ team, that fits within the standard pop wrapper design template.
Custom Pop Stick: A customized saying on King of Pop sticks.
Part Time Pop: A flavor that has been produced at any point in the KOP legacy. A part time pop doesn't need additional R&D, but does require verification of available ingredients and the ability to produce the flavor (again) from HQ.
Lead: The cartrepreneur® who initiates the creation of the flavor, and fills out the special pop request form.
Full Time Pop: Each year, KOP HQ releases a list of "full time" flavors which are a small variety of flavors that will be produced, and made as available as possible for the corresponding year.
Proper usage of the aforementioned terms is crucial. We possess numerous methods to deliver exceptional pops to our community, and consistent application of these terms will ensure alignment among all parties.
New Pop Flavor Process:
Every "new pop flavor" requested by a Cartrepreneur® will progress through a five stage process.
- 1) Pre-Flavor Development.
- 2) Flavor Development
- 3) Production
- 4) Order, ship, sell.
- 5) Post-Mortem
Stage One: Pre Flavor Development
Cartrepreneur® Interest Submission: Cartrepreneur® submits their interest via the form titled “Special Pop Order Form found on the Hub. The form will collect information needed to start the new flavor process.
The Cartrepreneur® will be asked to provide an initial vision for the pop, including any potential ingredients, marketing ideas, or potential creative directions for the pop. They will be prompted to specify the number of pops required, deadline for delivery, and intended use case. If the flavor seems viable, HQ will choose to move forward, and corresponding admin fees will be sent via invoice to the Cartrepreneur®.
Stage Two: Flavor Development
The Cartrepreneur® will be invited to a 30-minute virtual consultation with HQ R&D (Currently Jessica Luna) for an opportunity to spark creativity and align on flavor goals. They will then participate in a Tasting and Tweaking session, and the pop will then move through the final stages of approval.
Virtual Consultation 💻
Welcome & Objectives Setting- HQ R&D team will kick off by verifying a clear understanding of the project’s vision and goals.
- Creative brainstorming techniques will expand the vision and include brainstorming. Discussion might develop around seasonal trends, unique pairings, or cultural influences.
- Textures, inclusions (fruit chunks, swirls, etc.), and visual appeal.
- Participants can share ideas and inspirations to refine the vision.
- Clear next steps will be outlined, such as flavor sample development or testing timelines.
- Participants can discuss challenges like ingredient availability or recipe balance.
- Jessica will provide practical advice and solutions.
- Topics like ingredient sourcing, allergen considerations, or scaling for production will be addressed.
- Clear next steps will be outlined, such as flavor sample development or testing timelines.
Tasting & Tweaking Session 👅
After ideating and crafting your new pop flavor, it’s time to taste and tweak. This 30-minute session is designed to evaluate and refine the flavor with the lead's input.
Preparing for the Tasting- Two iterations of your flavor will be prepared for tasting.
- In-person tastings at HQ in Atlanta are preferred. If possible, we encourage the Lead and key decision-makers to join us on-site for the best experience and access to immediate resources.
- If in-person tasting isn’t an option, pops will be shipped to the Lead and any key decision-makers in advance for a virtual session.
- KOP HQ will be responsible for the shipping cost of one box to one location for virtual tasting sessions as a part of the service the cartrepreneur pays for in the admin fee.
Jessica will guide participants through a structured tasting, focusing on:
- Texture: Is the pop smooth, icy, chalky, brittle, soft, hard?
- Sugar, Salt & Acidity: Are the flavors balanced or in need of adjustment?
- Melt & Stability: How quickly does the pop melt, and is it consistent?
- Production Time: Are the ingredients and steps practical for scaling?
- Pricing Potential: Does the pop align with cost and profitability goals?
- Gather participant insights and consolidate feedback.
- Discuss potential tweaks to the recipe or production process.
- Identify the final adjustments needed for perfection..
Flavor Approval & Finalization ✅
The final step in the development phase involves finalizing the flavor, packaging, and production plan. Once all necessary approvals are secured, the pop is officially set to proceed. During Flavor Approval, the following occurs:
✔️ Pop Name: The definitive name is chosen, reflecting the flavor's essence.
✔️ Stick Sayings: If applicable, stick sayings will be chosen at this stage.
✔️ Wrapper Artwork: New Pop Flavors may utilize an existing icon or feature a unique, special illustration. Licensing approval or agreement is mandatory for artwork incorporating the following elements:
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- Partner logos for co-branded collaborations.
- Advertisements supporting campaigns or partnerships.
- QR codes for interactive content with promotional tie-ins.
Final approval will be obtained from: HQ Leadership (Jessica, Steven, Nick, and Bill, VP of Product), the Flavor Lead (Cartrepreneur®), the Production Team (Bill & Terra), and the King of Pops Owners (Nick & Steve).
Stage Three: Production 👨🍳
In this stage, the final flavor enters production, with the focus on crafting the pops and capturing the story behind their creation. The key steps in the production stage begin with securing all necessary ingredients, which will be sourced and prepped for the process. Next, the pops will be produced in our facility, ensuring quality and consistency in every batch. For content opportunities, the Lead is welcome to attend the production day for an immersive, hands-on experience. During this time, they can join the process by pouring, blending, wrapping, or taking on a production task. Additionally, the Lead can create content for social media to showcase their role in the pop's journey.
If the Flavor Lead is unable to attend, the HQ Franchising team will attend a production run to gather footage. High-quality video and photo footage will be captured throughout the process and shared for future marketing and storytelling needs.
Stage Four: Order, Ship, Sell ⛱️
With the flavor ready for customers, it’s time to bring it to the cart and showcase it to the world!
📲 Ordering Pops:
- The pop will not be added to the King of Pops portal, HQ will communicate with with any participating cartreprenurs to place an order on their behalf.
- Additional pops may be produced and made available for HQ distribution, depending on demand.
- If the new flavor is going to be made available to other Carterpreneurs® It will be added to the Cartrepreneur Pre - Order Form.
- The Flavor Lead will typically design and orchestrate a marketing campaign to promote the new flavor, sending it to local communities via Square Marketing to drive awareness and sales.
- HQ May decide the flavor fits into a larger marketing campaign to be highlighted on global mailing lists or social media.
- The flavor will be added to the King of Pops “Vault,” making it available for potential future use.
- The flavor will be prominently featured on the King of Pops website, showcasing the unique creation and its story.
- Flavor Leads are encouraged to share their story and flavor journey via social media and blog posts, spreading the word and building excitement.
Stage Five: 📊 Post-Mortem
After the flavor has been enjoyed by customers and the sales data is in, it’s time to review, reflect, and plan for the future.
What Happens in the Post-Mortem Stage:
🗨️ Gathering Feedback- Feedback from customers, Lead, and team members will be gathered to understand the overall response to the flavor.
- Sales data will be compiled to measure the success and popularity of the new pop.
💸 If 10,000 pops are sold, the Lead's $500 Admin fee reimbursed via a $500 Rainbow Revenue credit for future or unpaid invoices.
Custom Pop Wrapper & Stick Process:
Carterpreneurs® have the option to request a custom wrapper for either a part-time or full-time flavor. This is an excellent opportunity to create a local marketing campaign, collaborate with a community partner, or even honor a loved one by naming a pop that serves their community.
Once the lead submits the request form, the King of Pops Design team will get in touch with the next steps. All details will be finalized via email, and any necessary files will be shared through email as well.
The production timeline may vary, but a typical turnaround time is 4 to 6 weeks.
Example 👇
Chocolate Sea Sale as the "Young At Heart" Harry Norman Pop
We highly recommend that the Cartrepreneur® applies an additional charge to the customer, as it reflects the extra time, effort, and expertise required to create a custom pop wrapper or stick. This also reflects the heightened overall experience the customized touch brings to an already exceptional product and catering service.
Part Time Flavor Process
Carterpreneurs® have the opportunity to reserve a minimum run of 2,000 pops for any flavor that King of Pops has made. To request a flavor, they simply need to fill out the special pop request form. After submission, HQ will review the ingredient sourcing and the labor required to produce the pop, which will determine which pricing tier the pop falls under.
The timeline will depend on the availability of ingredients on hand and whether any additional sourcing is needed. The timeline needed is also determined by delivery schedule and location. The most updated timing guidelines are available on the Cartrepreneur® Drive.
Carterpreneurs® are required to request a minimum of 2,000 pops, along with their desired delivery date. If the request is feasible, the pop will be added to the "pre-order form," allowing other members of the Cartrepreneur® Kingdom to reserve cases of the flavors.
These custom pops will not be available on the portal, but the special pop request form will be used to generate the invoice. There is no fee to submit the request, only the cost of the pops.
If a Carterpreneur® needs to collaborate with other Carterpreneurs® to meet the 2,000 pop minimum, they are welcome to do so.
We suggest using this option to incorporate local preferences into your flavor calendars. Flavor trends can vary across different communities.
Special Pop Pricing Guide
Product & Fee |
Requirements, Notes & Ideas |
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Part Time Flavor |
Reserve Pops via Special pop order form. 2,000 pop Minimum Run. 6 Weeks notice Bring your local best sellers back. Bring a personal touch to the variety you want to offer your community. |
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New Pop Flavor |
Reserve Pops via Special pop order form. Pricing per pop based on ingredient cost and labor.
One time admin fee includes each step of the five phases including artwork and design. |
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Custom Wrapper |
Reserve Pops via Special pop order form.
2000 minimum for any other flavor. All customization must fit within the current wrapper template. |
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Custom Stick $2,600 |
Reserve Pops via Special pop order form.
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FAQ: 🖐️
Can I do two tastings for a new pop flavor?
No.
Do I have to come to HQ for my new pop flavor tasting?
No, we can ship you your pops. In person tastings are preferred if you can make it. We will pay for shipping of one box of pops to one single location for tasting.
What if I change my mind on a special pop and I want to back out?
All fee's are non refundable, and pop obligations are required to fulfill.
Why are there fees?
To help cover expenses related to the exclusive to cartrepreneur® perk.
Do all pops need to be KOP branded or co-branded?
Yes, however we are open to exploring exceptions for white labeling in special breakthrough cases in 2025.
When will I know how much my per pop price will be?
For New Pop Flavors: During the approval phase, R&D will research the market price for ingredients, plan a production run which will include labor planning, and present the price. It will fall in everyday, extra special, or a premium custom offering.
For Part Time Flavors: After the flavor is requested the current pricing will be confirmed.
What rights do I retain in the development of a new pop flavor or custom pop wrapper/stick?
None. King of Pops retains ownership of the flavor and all associated legal rights.
For New Pop Flavors, what if I pay the fee, do the flavor consultation, but it doesn't land where I wanted it to too.
If the initial request is approved to enter the building stages, R&D will get your flavor to an approvable state by KOP standards. While it might not be to your specific pallet, it will meet all of KOP quality thresholds.
Question: If I go with custom sticks? How many sayings can I create?
Answer - Up to 10 sayings.
Are there any hidden fees?
No. You will be invoiced your admin fee. After you pop is green lit for development.
Will I be charged royalties on my sales of pops requested through the special pop order form?
Yes. HQ takes a royalty on all revenue less tax and tips, including any up charges you might pass along to the customer.
Are my special pop request subject to the $200 rainforest delivery fee or $50 pick up fee?
Yes.
For a new Pop Flavor, can I do more than one wrapper?
No. You can, though, pay a $250 admin fee to design a second wrapper and add on 500 pops to the
If I do a custom wrapper on a part time flavor, or full time flavor and hit 10,000 pops of that wrapper, can I receive a credit back on the $250 admin fee?
Yes.
How will you keep track of pops purchased to get to 10,000?
We have records, and you can request a status update via the Cartrepreneur® Support Form whenever you want.
Where do I find the timeline needed for planning special ordered pops?
In the ops resources folder on the Cartrepreneur® Drive