Debra Moore’s venture into the business of gourmet popcorn started with a mission every parent can relate to: paying for college tuition.
Debra had already built a successful career as a U.S. Army Officer for 10 years, followed by more than 30 years in corporate America. But in 2012, with three kids in various stages of higher education, she and her husband, Michael, didn’t want their kids saddled with debt. So they decided to get creative and launch a mobile popcorn business as a weekend gig. They were shocked when their first community event netted nearly $2,000 in three hours.
After six years on the concession circuit, and with funding from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and other programs, Debra’s dream of a brick-and-mortar retail store became a reality. On Mother’s Day weekend, she opened Mama Moore’s Gourmet Popcorn.
To celebrate Mama Moore’s anniversary as a retail storefront, we asked Debra to share some of her ‘kernels’ of wisdom.
1. Find your “ride or die.”
“When I had this crazy idea of starting a business, the first person I went to was my husband,” Debra said. “I shared my vision with him—essentially a scribbled sheet of paper with my ideas. He gave me that warm, reassuring smile and said he believed in me. He’s not just my partner. He’s my rock, my guiding light, my ride or die kernel.”
2. Embrace the journey.
With a Psychology degree but no formal business training, Debra has encountered her share of challenges.
“It’s daunting as a woman and even more so as a Black woman,” Debra said. “I’ve always prided myself on my ability to understand people. But the business world introduced me to a whole new realm of complexities, from deciphering the differences between mobile concession and retail setups to the ins and outs of financing and vendor agreements.”
But Debra isn’t one to give up. She’s mindful of the path she’s forging for others.
“I’ve embraced the journey with the belief that overcoming these challenges is not just about personal growth but also about paving the way for greater inclusivity and empowerment in the entrepreneurial landscape.”
3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help
“Asking for help is a testament to resilience not vulnerability,” she said.
To fuel her growth, Debra entered contests and won local grants from Digital Undivided and the Veteran Women Enterprise Center, both sponsored by Chase.
“That’s how I learned what Chase offered businesses,” she said.
Debra participated in Chase for Business’s Coaching for Impact program, a complimentary consulting program that helps local business owners manage and grow their business. Business owners are matched with a Chase senior business consultant who can provide guidance and local market insight on a variety of topics. Today, Chase has nearly 60 senior business consultants in 21 cities across the U.S., and more than 3,000 business owners have graduated from the program.
Her consultant introduced her to Angie Dinh, a Chase business relationship manager.
“Angie has been instrumental in the success of my business,” Debra said. “Not only has she consistently been there to answer my questions, but she’s also helped me identify both short and long-term business and personal goals.”
Debra and Angie, who’s based in Fort Worth, often attend networking events together. “Mama Moore’s is a testament to what women can accomplish with the right support,” Angie said.
4. Give back to the community.
Mama Moore’s helps facilitate fundraising campaigns for local schools, fraternities, sororities, and nonprofits. The staff is mostly local students, and Debra takes care to celebrate their hopes and aspirations.
Angie recalls visiting Debra’s store and seeing glass jars set up on a table in the middle of the shop with the employees’ names, favorite popcorn flavor, and college they’re attending.
5. Be ready for ups and downs.
“Navigating the pandemic wasn’t easy for us,” Debra said. Like many retailers, Mama Moore’s shifted to curbside ordering and pickup and used social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to get the word out.
“Everyone was stuck at home, and who doesn’t need popcorn with their Netflix?” Debra said. 2021 turned out to be one of their most prosperous years.
Still, Debra has a Business Line of Credit to be ready for the unexpected and uses an Ink Business Unlimited® credit card to make business purchases and earn rewards.
6. Know your “why.”
For Debra and Michael, securing their children’s financial future has always been the “why” behind Mama Moore’s Gourmet Popcorn—ensuring generational financial security not just for their own kids, but for their kids, and so on.
Though their kids are grown now, and college is mission accomplished, Debra isn’t ready to stop being a business owner . . . or a mom.
“If my daughter has a bad day at work, I’m ready to go talk to someone about it!” she laughs.
To learn more about the Coaching for Impact program and how Chase for Business is supporting business owners across the country, visit www.chase.com/business.
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