Family cake pop business is result of local child's idea

For one Putnam County youth, an idea to make cake pops to earn money has turned into quite the family business. 

According to RaeAnne Kimmell, her eight-year-old son, AJ, had the idea to make cake pops one night, hoping they would be good enough to sell. 

"AJ wanted to make cake pops one night, and while we were making them, he asked if I thought he was good enough to sell them. I said he could try and then I asked what he would do with his money. He said he would buy stuff for his race car and fun stuff. We started by selling them at our garage sale and a couple times at the track he races at. That went really well and our community's really stepped up to support him and his dreams. That led to actually launching the small business. We went through the ServSafe class and worked on our branding. We launched our official business last Friday and First Friday, and then we did an on your honor stand Saturday," Kimmell told The Putnam County Post. 

Kimmell said the business consists of herself, her husband, Sam, taste tester JD (AJ's older brother), and AJ, who is in the third grade at Tzouanakis Intermediate School. 

And, the business has gone well so far. 

"He's doing really well with it. He needs help with the business side of things, but he is learning to buy his own ingredients and work hard. Since school has started back up, I have had a larger hand in production just to keep it manageable, but he is earning a profit and all his money is going back into the business  or his racing fund. It has been really cool to spend the extra time with him and learn a skill that is so important. I keep introducing different aspects of running a business to him and to watch him excel at it," Kimmell said. 

While the business is new, Kimmell said the plans are to continue doing local events and festivals with tent pop ups a couple of times a month. 

"We have started taking some small birthday party orders and such as well. Right now, it is just cake pops, but you never know what we might come up with in the future," Kimmell said. 

Monster's Cake Pops is currently accepting orders by the dozen for $25 per dozen, and Kimmell said anyone wishing to order can message Monster's Cake Pops on Facebook. She said they do ask for at least a two week notice.