Ready to pop

WATERLOO — Many folks would be nervous about starting a brand-new business from scratch. Helen Redding isn’t one of them.

“I'll jump out of the airplane,” she says. “I'm one of those.”

So when it came to launching her own gourmet popcorn company in 2021, Redding — who had spent 25 years working as a hairstylist — didn’t think twice. She dove in, and two years later, Kravve Gourmet Popcorn is thriving.

Offering “classic, cool and crazy foods,” Redding is constantly experimenting with new flavors and combinations at Kravve, 1457 Ansborough Ave. in Waterloo.

“I just think it's really neat to have something where a kid can be excited by all the different flavors of popcorn,” she says.

“I made a popcorn bar for Valentine's Day. I took the popcorn, mashed it up and put it in chocolate. Right now I’m trying a new mandarin orange flavor. There are so many things you can do with it, and I am always ready to try something crazy.”

And now she’s ready to expand her business with a mobile unit, allowing her to sell popcorn at local events.

To make that possible, Redding is seeking a $6,500 loan through Kiva Iowa. Kiva gives entrepreneurs access to a microlending platform to raise zero interest, zero fee, extended grace period loans. The loans can be for up to $15,000, and lenders can give as little as $25 at a time.

“The fact that Kiva loans have zero interest was awesome, and it just seemed like something like a good program,” Redding says. “In fact, I want to remain part of it when I’m done and become a lender.

”Giving someone a few dollars to help them get their dreams started? I think that's awesome.”

For now, Redding is focused on the mobile expansion for Kravve. But she has even bigger plans for the future, hoping to expand to “at least three more stores” in the next five years.

“Look for us,” she says. “We're gonna be everywhere. Hopefully."

To learn more about Kravve Gourmet Popcorn, visit kravve.net/. To learn more about Kiva Iowa or to support Redding’s loan, visit newbo.co/kiva.