The Gen Z CEO Who Built a Candy Empire with Alina Morse

*This transcript was auto-generated*

Kim:
This episode is brought to you by this tv dinner ad I did in the 1990s. And so, for those of you who are listening, let me describe this for you. I cannot believe we have dug this up out of the archives. Zac. I mean, what is so crazy is why do I look the same just with blonde hair? I mean, that is what the crazy thing is. I'm 19 here. I'm 53 here. My hair is the same.

Zac:
Honestly, like, you're rocking those hoop earrings. Kim, your.

Kim:
I look the very same.

Zac:
I'm looking at this, and it is kind of shocking. I pulled this out. So.

Kim:
Wait a minute. By shocking, you mean what, like, defined?

Zac:
No, like, you look. I mean, I looked. You look at the same haircut, which is hilarious.

Kim:
Oh, my God. I know. Bless my heart. I have y'all. When I tell you I have for hair, I'm not kidding you. I do it with what I got. Come on, dude.

Zac:
Come on.

Kim:
I know my strengths, and that ain't one of them. I'm just telling you, look at me as Miss Georgia. That was when I won Miss Georgia. Do you remember? You probably don't remember the lie menu. Healthy choice. Like, healthy meals.

Zac:
I don't. I had to look this up. I looked up to see if it was still around. It turns out it's not.

Kim:
Thank God I am gone for a long time.

Zac:
Thank God I am so. Wait. So let me just tell you. I found this in the archive because I was looking for photos of you. I realized our guest today is 19. That's the year you won Miss Georgia.

Kim:
I was 19 right here.

Zac:
And I was like, what photos of Kim could I find, you know, at 19? And this is the one I. This is just like.

Kim:
But little did you know, my photo at 19 would look in the. Like, I was in my fifties as well, so there you go. Look at that. Bless my heart. What did I say? But can I tell you, my messaging is always consistent. Zac, look at the quote.

Zac:
Like, you know, you got I love to eat.

Kim:
You love period.

Zac:
Yeah. It says, read what it says. Read. What's the headline for the folks who are just listening?

Kim:
I love to eat, but I do it sensibly. Yeah, well, I don't know if that was the truth back then, but I love to eat. Part was.

Zac:
And then you're holding, like, what looks like manicotti or something like a. Oh.

Kim:
Don'T you love stuffed shells?

Zac:
Tea, cheese?

Kim:
How can you not love ricotta cheese in a stuffed shell?

Zac:
I know. Here's the thing.

Kim:
I don't even think I got a year's supply of those or anything. I think I just had to just do the. Do the ad.

Zac:
Yeah. Where you just. You were just run around, huh? Like, when you were Miss Georgia, you were just kind of, like, running around.

Kim:
Yeah. But I loved it. I loved it.

Zac:
I bet. I bet.

Kim:
Yeah. That is good times. But this is good. So this today, this episode is brought to you by, you know, a 19 year old who looks 50 something. Look, I say, hey, preserve it the best way you can.

Zac:
People, they did make you look, like, matronly. I don't know. What's the word for that? Like, they could have. Okay, I'm gonna be fired. Bye, everybody. Let's start the show. See ya. I'll just be over here.

Introduction:
This is The Kim Gravel Show.

Kim:
She is the youngest person ever to be on the cover of Entrepreneur magazine.

Alina Morse:
So I combined my ideas of creating something that I could have without my parents saying no with, you know, I could really help people with a product like this.

Kim:
I have a almost 18. Do you believe in arranged marriages?

Alina Morse:
I'm just a single gal trying to make it in this world. I get it. I was getting rejected by major retailers, and then I was going to middle school and having mean girls make fun of me.

Kim:
How are you financially?

Alina Morse:
I love this question because I think it always shocks people. In 2024, there is more resources than there have ever been to become an entrepreneur.

Kim:
All right. My guest today is known as the Lollipop girl. She is a founder and the CEO of Zolli Candy, and it's a sugar free candy company. She is the youngest person ever to be on the cover of Entrepreneur magazine. She's done a TEDx talk, and she sold out her lollipops. These right here on QVC with David Venable. She got the happy dance, y'all. And when she was only nine, she was on guests on shows like Steve Harvey and all over.

Kim:
All over the place. She's currently a student at Michigan state, class of 2027. And the Zolli Candy is Amazon's number one selling sugar free candy company, and it's available in over 20,000 stores nationwide. She's one of the most incredible young people I have ever seen. She's only 19, y'all. And I'm so excited to welcome Alina Morse.

Alina Morse:
Thank you so much for having me.

Kim:
I'm getting a lollipop.

Alina Morse:
Oh, I'm so glad.

Kim:
I'm so excited to meet you. They are so good.

Zac:
They're really good. I got some, too.

Kim:
Zac and I have been just like I've already had one. They are so good.

Zac:
Kim, I found out just a minute ago, is a lollipop biter. She had it in her mouth for 20 seconds, and then just bit it, and it was gone.

Kim:
It's that yummy. It's that good. These are sugar free, allergy free, vegan, gluten free keto. They're delicious, and they help clean your teeth. Now, let me tell you something. I'm gonna dive right in with you, girl. Okay. Keep it real.

Alina Morse:
Awesome.

Kim:
I have a almost 18 year old son. Do you believe in arranged marriages?

Alina Morse:
I believe in whatever you want me to believe in, Miss Kim Gravel. I mean, I want you to say, that place. I'll be there.

Kim:
Okay, look, look, he's got homecoming coming up in a couple of weeks. Call me, girl. I'm just saying, like, you're so entrepreneurial, girl, and you remind me so much of myself. At 19, I was on this track. I wanted to really succeed. But, girl, you started this when you were how old?

Alina Morse:
Seven. I came up with the idea when I was seven, and then we started selling when I was nine.

Kim:
So tell me how it started. Cause I've got so many questions for you. And these are good, by the way.

Alina Morse:
Thank you so much. I'm so glad you love them. So, I came up with the idea for Zolli. Back in 2014, I took a trip to the bank with my dad. And you know how you go to the bank with your parents, and the bank teller always offers you a lollipop, and, you know, we do the whole song and dance, and we get to the lollipop part, what I've been waiting for. And I asked my dad, oh, can I have one? And he said, well, it's up to you. But, you know, you'll get cavities, which, obviously is, like, parents speak for no. So I said, well, then why?

Kim:
The shame.

Alina Morse:
Like, I'm not mad. I'm just disappointed. And that's always worse. So I just said, okay, fine. If I can't have sugary candy, why can't I make something that I can have that's good for me, that'll fill this problem that I know all my friends are having, eating candy without our parents saying no. But it goes a lot deeper than that. I actually learned in my research very early on that tooth decay was one of the single greatest epidemics facing kids in America. And that broke my heart, learning that tooth decay, which is, in most cases, a preventable disease, was affecting so many kids in the United States and internationally because they didn't have access to proper dental care.

Alina Morse:
So I combined my ideas of creating something that I could have without my parents saying no with the idea that I could really help people with a product like this if it's priced right and accessible. And we meshed it together and we made Zolli.

Kim:
Well, how did, how? Because clearly at seven, your parents were a pivotal part of the support and the entrepreneurial spirit that you brought to the table. How did this, how did they help you? How did they support you? Because I believe, you know, I think you're born entrepreneur. You can learn it, but it really is a spirit within. How much of your parents really fostered that and helped you get this business started?

Alina Morse:
Yeah. So my parents have always instilled in me from a very young age that I could do whatever I put my mind to, and that's really special. And I've, you know, as I've grown up, a blessing. Absolutely a blessing. I mean, as I've grown up and I've met so many other entrepreneurs that have faced a lot of familial adversity, I just feel so grateful to have the support system that I have. My parents, you know, my dad worked as a CPA and my mom worked in sales. So I kind of got to see both sides of business, you know, the very numerical side, and then also, you know, the personable, fun selling side. And I'd like to think that I picked up on those skills very early on.

Alina Morse:
But really where their support came in was letting me be independent in my thought and pushing the idea that it doesn't matter if something doesn't exist, you can go and be that person. It doesn't matter how old you are, you can be the person that makes that happen and you can make your mark. And they never really put barriers on. You have to be graduating high school to go pursue your career. No, you can do it right now. But they always put it up to me. They said, if you want to make this happen, you got to do the research. And I think that idea of not having it being handed to me, I mean, that built the work ethic that I have today.

Kim:
Well, and you have to have a work ethic to do what you've done in such a short period of time because you're 19 now. And when I was 19, I was Miss Georgia, and I was one of the youngest Miss Georgia's at the time. I felt a lot of pressure to perform and be the best. What kind of pressures are you feeling now? I mean, cause you're 19. You've launched a company. It's delicious. I mean, didn't you have a sellout on QVC? I mean, you got the happy dance from David Venable.

Alina Morse:
Several.

Zac:
Wait, I have the clip. I have a clip. Let me show you the clip, because.

Kim:
We'Ll see the clip, Alina.

Zac:
Here we go.

Kim:
That's hard to do. You've had several sellouts.

Alina Morse:
Yeah. So our first airing, I believe, with Rachel Alberti, I want to say, was a sellout. And then we had subsequent sellouts. We have a ton of different products, so it's been really cool to showcase all of the items that we have. And the response has been awesome, and it just warms my heart. But speaking of pressure going out on live tv, my first ever appearance was on live tv on Good Morning America at nine years old. And I'm a theater kid.

Kim:
Good Lord.

Alina Morse:
But, I mean, nothing could prepare you for being in front of George Stephanopoulos and Damon John and the whole fishbowl with the New York citizens walking by live. I mean, it was mind blowing, and it was so much pressure. But what's helped me overcome some of these high pressure situations is I really know my stuff. I am living this business every single day, and I'm so passionate about it succeeding and about our mission here that nothing rattles me. I know my crap. You can ask me any question, and I know it. And that confidence and security in my own knowledge, I mean, you can't beat it. And a lot of people say, fake it till you make it.

Alina Morse:
I'm more on the. I'm more on the side of, I know my stuff, so I will make it.

Kim:
Right.

Alina Morse:
The pressure's a lot, but if you know your stuff and you're on top of it, you can handle it well.

Kim:
But that's so. Okay, so let's just talk about generations now, because a lot of people that are listening right now, they might have an idea or they might have a granddaughter, a daughter or a family member, that ideas are a dime a dozen. Look, I'm an entrepreneur, too. I have been starting. I've been always, you know, bumping and grinding. I say all the time, like, hustling since I was a young kid. And knowing your stuff is a must. I love what you're saying about that, but why do you think that young people want this instant gratification now? Because, I mean, you started at nine you're 1910 years is not an overnight success, right?

Alina Morse:
Correct.

Kim:
People don't understand. You've been doing this for ten years. Talk to me about work ethic, research, belief, faith. Give me that kind of, you know, little motivational speech right now for those who are saying, gosh, she's so inspiring, that Alina, I want to do something like this.

Alina Morse:
You know, starting a company at any age is absolutely a feat. Literally. I truly believe one of my biggest advantages was coming into it at nine years old. I didn't have the baggage or the doubt that I think so many people struggle with as they're entering adulthood. You know, they've seen the real world. They've experienced failure, they've experienced rejection.

Kim:
That's a good point.

Alina Morse:
They close their minds, and they think, I got to take the safe route. I was very fortunate to not come into the idea of entrepreneurship or the concept of starting a business with all the negative connotation. I went into it with guns ablazing. I have an idea. I have a passion. I am going to make this happen, come hell or high water.

Kim:
Come on, now.

Alina Morse:
And the hardship came after that. And, you know, sort of that. That naivety faded. But throughout the entire process, I maintained this perspective of curiosity and tenacity, just like a nine year old would.

Kim:
How did you deal with rejection and failure? Because people don't understand. I mean, on paper, your story is this magical unicorn moment, but honestly, you have faced the same type of hardships and challenges that we've all faced is entrepreneurship. Just because it doesn't matter what age you are, you still face it. It's just like gravity. You throw something off a building, it's gonna fall. Right, but how did you fight that? How did you deal with rejection?

Alina Morse:
Yeah, well, I've been told no so many times, it started to just kind of go numb in my mind. But at first, it really hit me. I took it very personally, as anybody would. You have a great idea. You put everything behind it. Somebody tells you no, it breaks you. So, for me, like, having my support system and surrounding myself with people that were really motivated and passionate about the business as well, has been really helpful. So finding the right team members and then ultimately having my family and friends behind me, supporting my decisions, and helping to fuel the good feelings, the happy feelings, even in the face of rejection.

Alina Morse:
I also, you know, I read a lot of business books, I listen to a lot of business podcasts, and I just try to find the kinship of the community, because everybody gets told no, and it doesn't feel as personal. And it's like, if everybody's being told no, well, at least I know I'm not the only one dealing with the rejection. I just find the community to be really supportive and ultimately helps me overcome the little challenges. Yeah, I mean, it's all about community. And, like, I am a religious person, and so, like, turning to God and having my family, you know, being a religious family, like, always looking for the blessings and looking for the good and the silver linings, I think that's always, you know, in the heart of what we do as entrepreneurs.

Kim:
Absolutely. And I will tell you this, too. Like, you know, I have boys that are very close to your age, one that is almost your age, and then a younger one, and when they are rejected from a coach or from a situation. My son also has a business, and he's an entrepreneur. And I'm so glad he has learned the no's and the rejection early on, because once you thicken up that skin a little bit. But I always say to him, I said, son, the rejection is nothing a rejection. It's a redirect. Because a lot of times do you think, Alina, I'd love to hear what your thoughts are with this.

Kim:
A lot of times, a door shuts, and we hear that saying, when God shuts a door, he opens a window. But I believe, like, when God shuts a door or an opportunity is a no, and it's a rejection. It's because he's got something bigger and better, maybe a whole big old garage over here, a garage door that he's opening up for you. How do you look at rejection? Because it's not just entrepreneur, too. Like, when someone doesn't like you or someone bullies you online or someone, you know doesn't get what you're doing, how do you handle that? Because I think that's not just an entrepreneurship.

Alina Morse:
No. I've been very transparent about my journey as, you know, growing up alongside becoming an entrepreneur. And those coinciding has been, you know, extremely challenging. But it's allowed me to put in perspective a lot of what that rejection means. I was getting rejected by major retailers, and then I was going to middle school and having mean girls make fun of me, and I realized, oh, my God, what would I rather be doing? I'd rather be getting rejected by retailers.

Kim:
They could be mean.

Alina Morse:
Yes. Yes. I was like. I mean, you know, I was like, an easy target. So I've dealt with, like, all sorts of rejection across the board and for me, I view it as a stepping stone, but also just as a way that makes me mentally tougher. And exactly what you said, you know, another opportunity opens, and I think that that's absolutely the case. Sometimes another, another door doesn't open and, or maybe we can't see it in the short term, but I ultimately can walk away from that situation feeling a little bit better about myself. Because if I'm strong enough to get through rejection from major retailers and also from mean girls, well, I can get through anything.

Alina Morse:
I mean, throw whatever at me. And I think I walk away, or I try to walk away from any negative situation where I'm facing rejection with a positive spin. Or at least one thing that I learned.

Kim:
Yeah, it doesn't stay in that spirit place. It doesn't stay, it's not a fact. It's just passing through. And that's brilliant, because if you can learn to come, you know, when you learn to let things come in and flow through you, it teaches you something. Now, you had a setback when you started selling on Amazon when your lollipops were melting and shipping. Tell me about that, because let me tell you something. I have had experiences where negative reviews, shipments do not arrive on time or they're damaged. I mean, like cratefuls, boatfuls of stuff.

Kim:
What made you not quit in that personal situation?

Alina Morse:
Yes. So very early on, we got into our first retailer, whole foods markets, and then soon after, we got on Amazon.com dot. And there's a couple ways you can set up through Amazon for us. We were just shipping from our warehouse to our customers.

Kim:
Drop ship. Yep.

Alina Morse:
Yep. And what we didn't realize about our product was that in the heat of summer, it was melting and we couldn't ship it from coast to coast, let alone from Michigan to Florida, without it becoming little blobs of lollipops. And it didn't necessarily compromise the integrity of the product, but it just didn't look so pretty. And as soon as our first Amazon orders had gone out, mind you, this was right after our Good Morning America episode that we launched on Amazon. So people, were you nine?

Zac:
Were you nine years old?

Alina Morse:
I was. I was. And I was. I was actually about to turn ten. And it was like the mix of, like, going back to school, just getting off of Good Morning America. People now know about Zolli, and they're trying to order a store, ordering up a store. It's our first supporters. And I felt so terrible that these people had taken a chance on a small business, made an order.

Alina Morse:
They get the product, and it's melted. And then the reviews started to come in, and it's just like, we wanted to support this company, but the product has melted, and, you know, whatever, and we couldn't have even foreseen this. We didn't know to heat test it like that, but we jumped on it as soon as we could. And when we were working with our.

Kim:
Did you lose a lot of money? Did you lose a lot of money in inventory?

Alina Morse:
Not as much as you'd think, because a lot of the inventory was okay to ship locally. So we were able to salvage inventory that wasn't shipped. But we knew we had to fix this problem. I mean, there is no way we could be a national company if we couldn't ship nationally. And when we went back to our manufacturing partners to try to work this out, that's when we realized why people had never been able to successfully create a candy like this before. Not because they didn't have the idea, but because this happens every time.

Kim:
They couldn't execute. They couldn't execute.

Alina Morse:
Exactly. So it took us about three or four months to get a new formulation and process down solid and create and start to produce the updated product. But once we did, our sales were able to skyrocket and we could ship internationally. So, currently, we ship product on vessels. In the heat of summer. When you can't even ship electronics, you can ship lollipops and they won't melt.

Kim:
I love it.

Zac:
104. These were 104 when I got these. By the way. How many should I be eating at once? Because I'm eating.

Kim:
So I was saying, Zac, you are addicted to Zollipops, okay?

Zac:
I mean, they're really your girls.

Kim:
Save some for your girls. You've got four in your mouth.

Zac:
Is this a good podcasting? Look, can I. Okay. This is what it sounds like when I say podcast.

Kim:
You look like Kojak. You start to look like Kojak. That's too many. Okay. Zac is addicted, but this is what I love about it. This is why I'm so excited about this, is talking to you. Cause this is our women in business series, and you're 19. You've been in business for ten years.

Kim:
The sky's the limit for you, right? Do you ever get to a place where you think, I've missed it? I've missed a little bit of my childhood. Do you ever get a play? Is the sacrifice been worth it? Is what I want to tell you. Have you. Do you ever feel like you've missed anything?

Alina Morse:
I do.

Kim:
Okay. Oh, do tell. Nope. Gotta tell me what you feel like you've missed.

Alina Morse:
So, you know, in high school when, you know, kids are going to parties and they're doing whatever, I went to about half of that, and my parents did a fantastic job of keeping me in the kid world, too, because there was a lot of times where I would throw myself into work and they would have to reel me in a little bit and say, alina, you, you know, go out with your friends, you know, and go out with your boy. I had a boyfriend in high school, and they were like, go spend time with your boyfriend. And I think if not for them, I would have missed out on more. But I'll tell you this much, I would have never changed the things that I did miss, because I've realized now, being a college student, it's just the same stuff. And it's just the same stuff, except now it's more acceptable. So I really wouldn't change any of my childhood experiences for the world. I was on my high school dance team. I was on my high school tennis team.

Alina Morse:
I went to every school dance. I was on homecoming court. I had no shortage of high school, middle school, elementary school experiences. But there were certainly things I missed out on. But it's not the stuff that I would look back and think, oh, I wish I went to that party where everyone was like, blah, blah, blah. Nobody even remembers anymore. Nobody cares.

Kim:
That's what I was saying. I honestly, you know, I have a certain. I'm such a fan of education. Teachers do not make enough money. What they have to do to basically raise our kids today. I want to say this, though. I say this to everybody, don't peak in high school. And I mean that.

Kim:
I mean that in, like I said this to a group of kids because I always mentor and sponsor our senior girls in our local high school here. And I say to them, enjoy the time. Like, go to the dances, have some fun. You don't want to get to a place. I think what you did was the right thing. I say to kids, follow that passion and purpose. Now, I'm not talking about in the backseat of a car making out. You can miss that.

Kim:
Trust me, there's plenty of time for that. But, like, I think you didn't miss out. I think you were setting up for all the magic and all the memories that are yet to be made. Do you know what I'm saying? Do you agree with me on that, looking back on your life?

Alina Morse:
100%, and especially now that I've experienced college life, if you will, I truly have had so many incredible experiences now that I wouldn't have even wanted to have in high school. I didn't appreciate them, and I was so busy. Now I'm an adult living my life, having an amazing time, having new experiences, and there's new experiences to be had. And I think that's what makes it really, really special and why I, like, definitely chose to go to college, which I get this question all the time, which is totally valid of why I would pursue a higher education. Well, first of all, I have a foundation that's supporting schools, so I am a huge education proponent, just as you said. So I 100% identify with that. But also, I am 19. I have set up the building blocks for my career.

Alina Morse:
But you can only be 19 once. You can only go to college as a freshman at 18 years old or whatever. One time.

Kim:
Let me ask you this. I'm going to ask you a very, very poignant question, a very, you know, transparent question. Hopefully gets you, like, how are you financially? Have you really killed it in your financial game at 19?

Alina Morse:
I love this question because I think it always shocks people. So we are a private company, but I can tell you we've done about 10 million at retail.

Kim:
Brag.

Alina Morse:
Thank you.

Zac:
What's up?

Alina Morse:
10 million, but almost all of it's been reinvested. I don't take a salary. I bought myself a used car. I am on scholarship at school, and my goal is I want to take care of my parents for all that they've done to take care of me. And I want to grow this business to be the best it can possibly be. But first and foremost, we're a cause based organization. So we donate over 10% of profits to support oral health education in schools. We donate millions and millions of lollipops to not only our nonprofit, but Special Olympics and JDRF.

Alina Morse:
And any organization that asks, we try to support. I'm about mission first and moral first, and I don't need to go buy a fancy car or go to the most expensive college or whatever. Have an Apple phone. Everyone gets on me for having a Samsung phone.

Kim:
No.

Alina Morse:
Yeah. Like, I just don't need all of those things because I know I'm setting up the building blocks to hopefully later in life, be able to take care of the people that have always taken care of me. And, you know, you're an entrepreneur. Business is a game of reinvestment, and we're definitely in that cycle, especially as a CPG cash flow heavy business. But I will say, I think we're lining up the building blocks to hopefully have a very successful future.

Kim:
You mentioned your foundation. Tell me about your foundation and what it does for people in the community, because it's called Zolli's million smile initiative. I love that.

Alina Morse:
Thank you. So, very early on, when I learned about tooth decay and how it was ravaging the nation, I was trying to brainstorm where I could reach these underprivileged kids that don't have access to proper dental care. And one place kind of rang in my mind, and it's a government mandated place. It's a school. So I thought, you know, if I can reach kids through schools in a way that I wasn't educated about entrepreneurship and proper oral healthcare, yes, that could make an impact. So essentially, through the Millions Miles initiative, we donate millions of lollipops to schools across America. Teachers, principals, educators can sign up on our website to get free Zolli candy for their schools. This past year, what we've tallied is over 16,000 participating schools and over 4 million lollipops donated in this past year, which has been incredible.

Alina Morse:
We've seen it grow year over year and been able to, as the business has grown, donate more and more. But we also donate lesson plans, coupons to go home in, like the take home folder for parents because Zolli's an EBT and snaps eligible product. And what we want to share is that, you know, yeah, we may look a little bit more gourmet on the shelf, but this is a supplementary product and an accessible product to help aid in oral healthcare and oral hygiene for kids. So through the Millions Miles initiative, we've reached millions of families and just the letters that I receive on a daily basis from grateful kids that are, you know, firstly getting exposed to entrepreneurship and seeing that as a viable career path for them, but also having some fun in an underprivileged or underfunded title ix school. Bringing fun into the classroom has been just one of the greatest joys of my life.

Kim:
You know, it seems like, you know, because yours is sugar free and all that sugar is the devil. I truly believe that. And I am possessed. I love me some sugar. Okay. So when I put this in my mouth, I don't feel like I am sacrificing. I feel like I'm sin. And, honey, I'm telling you, it tastes that good.

Kim:
But how did you become, how did you become so big picture, Alina? Like a lot of people that are not 19, a lot of people might be 49, 39, 59 saying, I've had this idea. Cause this, like I said, this series is about women in business. What would you say to that person who is sitting there saying, I've got this idea. How do I put feet to the ground and take action to make it come to pass? What would you tell that person?

Alina Morse:
No one else is gonna do it for you. If you have a great idea, let.

Kim:
Me go ahead and write that down.

Alina Morse:
Well, truly, it's like, you know, my parents said this to me at seven years old. Okay, Alina, you have a great idea. Go do some research. Go make it happen. I believe that in 2024, there is more resources than there have ever been to become an entrepreneur. There is so many free courses, free resources. There's government funding through, like, I mean, I live in the state of Michigan. That's through the department of Agriculture.

Alina Morse:
There's grants, there's accelerators. There are so many people in your corner, and I mean in your corner, throughout the entrepreneurial community that want to see you succeed and that are funding and stimulating the entrepreneurial economy. There is no better time to take your idea and make it into a reality. But if you're not passionate about it for the right reasons, I'm telling you, it's not going to happen. If you're not willing to throw everything you've got at this idea, it's not going to happen. You have to be ready to jump in both feet forward. You can't half ass entrepreneurship.

Kim:
Come on.

Alina Morse:
Cause that's just being a wantrepreneur. That's just what it is. You have to go in all the way, guns ablazing, and put your butt on the line, and you can make amazing things happen, especially in this, in.

Kim:
The day age of social media. How has that played a part in your business? Because, like, I will tell you, I'm 53 and fabulous, but I'm 53, gorgeous, and farty. Mc Fart Fart. When it comes to social media, I'm just being honest with you. It is the bane of my existence. And every young person that I hire, TikTok, I'm just like, if you say TikTok one more time, I'm gonna give you oral health. All right, you know what I'm saying? Like, that is what I'm talking about. Like, how.

Kim:
But you're so right in the day of social media, like, how do you balance all of that? Do you just use social media as a marketing tool? Do you get on? Are you, like, you know, cyber stalking? You know, this guy you think is hot on TikTok? I mean, tell me how you manage. And I say that, like, I know that I've never done that. I've never done that. I've never just gone and looked it really cute.

Zac:
No, you've never done that, Kim.

Kim:
Me neither.

Alina Morse:
Of course. Nothing.

Kim:
I mean, like.

Alina Morse:
I mean, I'm just a single gal trying to make it in this world. I get it. I mean, anyways, no. Ten years ago, social media was not used for business, and I am so jealous of entrepreneurs, starting right now, because they have so many free resources to go viral. And it's not easy. Don't mistake me saying that. It's. It's accessible for it being easy.

Alina Morse:
You have to put in the time. You have to put in the work and the research, but there's so many resources to do. So. And I like, personally, you know, when I started Zolli, Facebook was literally for connecting with your high school class. And, like, there was, like, MySpace.

Kim:
I remember MySpace.

Alina Morse:
Literally. Literally. And now there's, you know, so many channels that are even specific business. And learning those for Zolli has been a learning curve for me, because the entrepreneurial world that I came into was, like, print ads and billboards.

Kim:
Right, right.

Alina Morse:
So I am not looking for a techie person, right. I'm not a very techie person, but if I can figure it out, anybody can figure it out, truthfully.

Kim:
Right.

Alina Morse:
Because I learned at the most traditional.

Kim:
So you're saying just do it. Just take a step and put something out there and do it.

Alina Morse:
Hire someone from Gen Z to do your social media.

Kim:
Okay, well, if you don't want to.

Alina Morse:
Do it, like, I'm just saying, like, there's. There's college students everywhere that get it. Like it's the back of their hand. And I am not one of those college students, so don't ask me. But literally, like.

Kim:
But they're out there. They're out there.

Alina Morse:
Exactly. And it's like, if you don't know it, my motto is, find somebody smarter than you that can help you do it. Chances are that's a Gen Z intern.

Kim:
Well, listen, I'm telling you right now. I know. I'm looking for one right now. Anybody? You've got a Gen z er out there that needs, like, a part time job? Somebody call me. Here. Here are the Zolli pops. There's so much other candy. But before I let you go, Alina, I'm so impressed by you again.

Kim:
I'm going to close it out with arranged marriage. I'm totally for it. So I'll be calling you. You are so that kind of girl. I mean, I feel like you complete me. So we'll talk. Beau, I hope you're listening and paying attention. I like to do this thing called rapid fire.

Kim:
Okay, so I'm just gonna ask you a question, Alina, and I just don't hold back. I just. I don't think you will, but I'm just saying, what comes up, comes out.

Alina Morse:
All right, I'm ready.

Kim:
Here we go. Rapid fire questions. Who is your biggest business influence?

Alina Morse:
Ooh, Michelle Obama.

Kim:
Oh, good one. Good one.

Zac:
Who you met, right? Didn't you meet her?

Kim:
Oh, you met Michelle?

Alina Morse:
I high fived her. I was invited to the White House Easter egg roll. You touched her, so that was cool. I did. Yeah.

Kim:
Because of the business.

Alina Morse:
Yes.

Kim:
Wow, that's so cool. So many door. It was so cool. And so many doors have opened. Okay, here we go. Who is the most famous person you can name, who you don't think me and Zac will have ever heard of? Now, keep in mind I have teen boys, so I may know some of them.

Alina Morse:
Oh, my gosh. The most famous person that you don't know. This is a hard one. Oh, all them are so amazing.

Zac:
It's gonna be like, some influencer.

Alina Morse:
I don't know. There's a fantastic influencer named Lynet. Chantal.

Kim:
Oh, I've never heard of.

Zac:
Nope.

Alina Morse:
She's like that.

Kim:
Down.

Alina Morse:
Zac, we need Latin America.

Kim:
Watch her.

Alina Morse:
She's awesome.

Kim:
Ooh.

Zac:
Okay.

Kim:
Oh, that's a good one.

Alina Morse:
My go to answer is always Shawn Mendes, but I'm sure you know him.

Kim:
Well. This is the thing. I'm always looking to pick, like, young people's brains. So that's why your rapid fire seems a little bit, like, with the ulterior motive. Here we go.

Zac:
I mean, I've never heard of Shawn Mendes. I just looked. Shawn Mendes?

Alina Morse:
What?

Kim:
Oh, my gosh. Seriously? Seriously?

Zac:
Yeah. No. Nope.

Kim:
Oh, bless.

Zac:
He's only got 72 million followers on Instagram. All right, like, I don't think I'm behind Zac.

Kim:
I think I follow him. Seriously.

Zac:
I mean, he's, like, a good looking guy. I get it.

Kim:
Okay, Zac, we need you. Okay.

Alina Morse:
He's great.

Kim:
Alina, Alina. We're just gonna let Zac pass on that one. What is your favorite top three websites you visit most often?

Alina Morse:
My own website, zollicandy.com.

Kim:
Okay, girl.

Zac:
Shameless plug. Love it.

Kim:
I love it, I love it.

Alina Morse:
Definitely. Most visited. Ooh, the MSU website. Because I never know what my schedule is, so I always have to check literally every single day.

Kim:
Every single day.

Alina Morse:
I never know where my classes are.

Kim:
That's an entrepreneurial brain.

Alina Morse:
Yup.

Kim:
Yeah.

Alina Morse:
And then third one, it's a tie between Instagram and LinkedIn, because I am constantly stalking people for professional and personal reasons. So professional and personal. Casual.

Kim:
She said professional and personal. Instagram is personal. LinkedIn is both. Here we go. What is the main thing that my generation misunderstands about your generation?

Alina Morse:
I think this is one that everybody says, but that we're lazy. I just think we're crafty.

Kim:
Oh, you're not? Yeah. Yeah. You have to sell me on that to explain.

Alina Morse:
I think people think Gen Z is lazy because we're always on our phones. And truthfully, I don't think it's laziness. I think we're constantly absorbing different skills, and not all of us, but I think a lot of us are absorbing different skills, and it's making us. Yeah, maybe a little bit, like, not that sociable, but really techie and really smart and crafty.

Kim:
So I would agree with you 1000% on that. I will tell you, doing the whole tech thing makes me have panic attacks and anxiety. It really does. I sat the other day because my team's like, just post a video. Just a two minute video. Zac, you know, my team does this all the time. I mean, and they do it in the sweetest way. Cause everybody on a group chat says, hey, kim, if we could just get.

Kim:
I mean, and like, they try to come at it back doors. Oh, girl, that was so good, what you said. Could you just do a little video? I mean, they're always coming at me for social media. You can't play a player, Alina. You can't play me. I know what you're trying to do. You coming up social media street. I forgot where I was going with this.

Kim:
What did you say before? That's another thing about being over 50. That's another thing that probably frustrates you.

Alina Morse:
Gen Z being very crafty.

Kim:
They're crafty. They're not only crafty with this tech crap. They're crafty with how they trying to get you to do tech. Just say it.

Alina Morse:
Oh, yeah.

Kim:
But I am looking at social media team.

Alina Morse:
I've got two different teams, one specifically, and they're always hitting my line. They're like, Alina, can you film this video? It'll only take ten minutes. Oh, well, unfortunately. Unfortunately, it will not take ten minutes because I will have to refilm it three times, and then I won't be able to upload it. So you will have to come to my house and upload it for me.

Kim:
Spirit hands. Jazz hands. Okay.

Zac:
I feel like, what is it?

Kim:
About. Wait a minute. No, we missed it. No, Zac, hold on. We missed it. We missed something? Cause I forget what she did. A little Gen Z catchphrase. I hadn't heard.

Kim:
You said it. What'd you say? They tapped my. What?

Alina Morse:
Oh, they hit my line.

Kim:
Hit my line right now.

Alina Morse:
I think my mom says that.

Kim:
Well, I'm making it great again right here. Hit my line. Hit my line. What does that mean? Was hit my line.

Alina Morse:
Yeah. Hit my line.

Kim:
Is, like, so cool.

Alina Morse:
They sent me a text, or they called me, like, you know, like, my phone line.

Kim:
All grandmothers and mothers listening to Alina. We are going to learn this thing. So we're going to bring back. Hit my line. What's some of the other phrases you could teach me, Alina? That I could go tell my kids?

Alina Morse:
Yes, I know.

Kim:
No cap and cap. I know no cap and cap. And I know bucks.

Alina Morse:
Oh, my gosh. Okay, great. What do I always say?

Zac:
Yeah, what are the college kids saying?

Kim:
Give us some cool stuff.

Zac:
Yeah. What's the.

Alina Morse:
Well, a lot of college kids, I feel like we say that gives or that doesn't give. Or it's.

Kim:
Ooh, I didn't hear. That's a new one. Write that down. That gives. That does a give. That's giving. Okay. Hit my line.

Kim:
That gives. That doesn't give. Okay. Okay. I'm loving this.

Alina Morse:
This is what my friends say. And we actually have. There's, like, the popular one, and then we have our iteration. So, like, when somebody's outfit is really, like, say it's giving. We could say that eats. And if you really, like. If you really are passionate about it, like, her outfit is really giving. You could say her outfit eats up, down and around town.

Zac:
Kim, you have to say that on QVC. Like, big time.

Kim:
That eats. Are you writing this down, Zac? Are you just sitting there trying to eat lollipop?

Zac:
No, I got it.

Kim:
She doesn't mean it literally. Put a lollipop in and eat it.

Zac:
Okay, listen, I have four.

Kim:
I'm serious. You have four used lollipops. To me, that eats. To me. But Alina, to me, that eats. Sounds like it's, like, not. It's not a bad thing. But you're saying that eats.

Kim:
It's like, that's yummy. Is a good thing.

Alina Morse:
Yes. Yes. And it's like, oh, my gosh. Like, your outfit is so fantastic, Miss Kim gravel. That eats.

Kim:
Okay, I have done stole it. I'm using that. Okay. Is managing people who are older than you hard?

Alina Morse:
Yes and no. I mean, rapid fire question, I guess. No, my team is fantastic.

Kim:
No, no, no, no. You were gonna say yes, don't hold back. Just hit my team and give it to me.

Alina Morse:
Normally, yes, but my.

Kim:
Tell me why my time is really fantastic. I'm sure they are, but tell me.

Alina Morse:
Why it gets harder. Yes. Because I think there's a level of closed mindedness. People start to get to a certain age, and then they think. Not everybody, but I think a lot of people think they know everything, and there's not a lot of room to think, oh, this person is younger than me, a lot younger than me. They have a lot of fresh insight to bring to the table, and it's really valuable and to find people that get. That is really special. So I would say, like, yes, it is hard because sometimes people don't think I'm credible and they don't, like, value my opinion or my ideas, but a lot of people do, too.

Alina Morse:
So I don't want to generalize.

Kim:
No, no, no. But I'm glad you've said that, because you've just taught us all something. See, that's what I'm talking about, Alina. I wanted you to get to the heart of that because, of course, it's not all the time, of course, but that just opened up my eyes, because I will tell you, I think a lot of times we think these kids, they don't know. There's some things that you definitely glean from us that you really wouldn't know that we have gone on before.

Alina Morse:
Absolutely.

Kim:
But it's the partnership of the generations. It's supposed to be generational. We're supposed to be in harmony and perfect and love each other and support each other. I love that. Love it. Okay.

Alina Morse:
I agree.

Kim:
What is one thing you wish you knew before you started your business?

Alina Morse:
Oh, God. Don't read hate comments.

Kim:
Don't.

Alina Morse:
Don't do it, Alina. Don't do it. And all my hate comments are stupid, too. They're like, why does she have a sample?

Kim:
They never smart.

Alina Morse:
She looks like she would tell the teacher that there was homework. I'm like, I do not look like that. I do not give off, like, annoying girl energy. I don't think I'm sitting here trying.

Kim:
To set you up with my good looking son right now. I mean, I'm seriously, like, I'm on the prowl with. I like you a lot.

Alina Morse:
I like you a lot. No, I just. I think, like, if I want you.

Kim:
In the fam, I want you in the fam.

Alina Morse:
Perfect. Yeah. If I could tell myself, I just wouldn't read the hate comments, because it's a waste of time. It's a waste of energy, and it, like, it takes your mood all the way down. I don't want to sit down.

Kim:
We're not. So there. What's the best advice for parents of teens?

Alina Morse:
Listen. Kids just want to feel like they have somebody in their corner and somebody supporting them and, like, that their ideas matter, because I think so much of the time, we're blown off. And that's why, like, in my mind, there's special teachers that stick out in my head and special adults that I've met that have always valued my ideas and asked me questions and cared about what I had to say. The virtue of just listening and not always wanting to pass on information, because there's a time to pass on information, and there's a time to just let somebody bare their soul to you and share their ideas. And I don't care if you don't care about the ideas. Just sit there and act like you do. My parents have always liked a, given me a stage, a platform, an opportunity to speak my mind as equals to them, and that has just, like, made the most difference. Like, that's why I feel that I can be outspoken and, you know, and bold and confident.

Alina Morse:
Bold, exactly.

Kim:
Speaking of your parents, what is one thing, that one college story that you have that you do not want your parents to know that we'll know after you say it here.

Alina Morse:
Well, there's been a couple times. There's been a couple times where, like, there's been some intense, like, work travel the next day, and, like, I've had to, like, really, like, buckle down and work, and I've just gone out and, like, party the entire night before, and I've gotten, like, maybe an hour of sleep, and they're like. They're like, hey. Yeah. How'd you sleep last night? I'm like, I slept fantastic. So. But I will say my parents are, like, the coolest people ever. My dad went to my college, and he gives me tips.

Alina Morse:
He's like, okay, well, when you go back to school, like, you gotta hit up this, like, this bar. Like, hate to say like, the bar, but, like, you gotta hit up this bar. You gotta go to this frat. Like, he is. He is, like, the ultimate, like, party guy. So, like, I get the best tips from him.

Kim:
Okay, here we go. Who is your. Who is your celebrity crush? Make it a good one, too. Don't give me some subrebral. I want somebody that's working it. Hot out there doing it. Okay. Celebrity crush.

Kim:
I've got mine. Oh, my God. I'm sitting here trying to tell you.

Zac:
There's a time to listen, and there's a time to.

Kim:
She told me that while ago. She's already told me that.

Alina Morse:
I don't know. For the longest time, it was Shawn Mendes, but I feel like, as of recent.

Kim:
Shawn Mendes says, and it just rolled off the tongue. I said, what comes up? Timothy's charlemagne to me.

Alina Morse:
Yes.

Kim:
Is adores. Yes. Okay. Favorite candy of all time, other than yours. Bad candy.

Zac:
Like, just bad candy. Just, like convenience store good candy. Delicious candy.

Kim:
Delicious candy. That's not that good for you. Like, favorite candy.

Alina Morse:
So I take my favorite candies, and I turn them into Zolli candies. I would say my favorite candy, non Zolli, would probably be like, oh, those little, like, ice cream filled. Are they called dibs or dips? Yeah, yeah, dibs, I think, like from the movie theater.

Kim:
Yes.

Alina Morse:
So, like, those little chocolate covered things. Probably those. And the closest I've ever gotten to making a Zolli candy. Like it is. We make these chocolate caramel balls, and it's like, chocolate on the outside, caramel on the inside. I put them in the freezer, and then they taste exactly like that.

Kim:
I'll be buying that game changer right now.

Zac:
That is a game changer.

Kim:
Favorite fast food restaurant? Probably chick fil a. Chick fil a's good. I tapped you for a taco bell kind of gal.

Alina Morse:
Depends on the night.

Kim:
Got it.

Alina Morse:
Or raising canes.

Kim:
Ooh, my kids love raising, but that is dollar 452 for two chicken tenders. Okay.

Alina Morse:
Not in the college town. It's cheap in the college towns.

Kim:
All right, let's go raise some cane up in there. Okay, one last question. What is your goals and dreams for your company and your entrepreneurship?

Alina Morse:
It's so mission centered. I really just want to help people. The more Zolli we sell, the more Zolli we donate, the more kids that we can reach, the more people we can help. Smile. And that's just what fuels me from a high level business perspective. We really believe, and I want to get to this point where we could be the number 10 sugar candy in the world.

Kim:
Let's go.

Alina Morse:
We're already fastest growing zero sugar candy company in the United States, and we're number 10 sugar candy in Korea and a couple of the other countries that we sell in. So I think it'll take us a couple of years, but I think we could get to number 10 sugar candy.

Kim:
Well, by the time you're 22, I want you on here telling me that? Okay, you gotta come back.

Alina Morse:
Yes, ma'am.

Kim:
Well, or we'll be having a big wedding here in Georgia, so either way, we're good.

Alina Morse:
Hey, any. Any excuse to get together.

Zac:
Kim. She's saying nothing but yes so far to this whole thing.

Kim:
Listen and don't listen. You cannot look a gift horse in the mouth. I am taking it and running with it. No, I'm serious, Alina. I hope we see you at the Q again. Maybe we could do something together on air, and we could both get a happy dance. Okay.

Alina Morse:
Yes. Thank you so much.

Kim:
All right, y'all. Y'all can connect with Alina Morse on her Instagram or on LinkedIn at Alina Morse. Or you can find Zolli Candy on her website zollicandy.com or on Instagram zollicandy. Alina is. Is someone that you're going to, you know, want to watch, because, y'all, she is. Not only has she been places, but where she is going and the incredible things she's going to accomplish, not only helping young children all over the world, but helping young people find their entrepreneurial spirit.

Kim:
I got to tell you, Alina, you have been such an inspiration to me. I'm going to a start listening more to my Gen Zers. I'm going to hire me some Gen Z internship interns to do my social media. But I will tell you, the fact that you said you have a TikTok team and other. I'm like, how many people you gonna have to do? How many people I'm gonna have to get?

Alina Morse:
Just, like, one or two. Really? It's like. It's like a one or two person job.

Kim:
Okay, well, I'm just gonna let you know, this episode was so good, it eats up, down on, all around. Just letting you know that. Thank you. It so eats.

Zac:
You're rolling, right?

Kim:
Yeah, I'm rolling already.

Zac:
Kim, you're still rolling, right? Kim?

Kim:
I'm still rolling. Because you don't want to get to a place where. Hold on.

Alina Morse:
No. Tell your son to dm me. Like, seriously, like, I'm so single and, like. Like, I'm being so serious. Like, just.

Kim:
I'm gonna give you his deets real quick. Okay?

Zac:
Who is this talented at that age?

Kim:
It's because she's supposed to be. My daughter in law was going to kill me. Cut me off. Cut me off. I'm done. 

The Kim Gravel Show is produced and edited by Zac Miller at Uncommon audio.

Kim:

Our associate producer is Kathleen Grant from the Brunette Exec. Production help from Emily Bredin and Sara Noto. Our cover art is designed by Sanaz Huber at Memarian Creative. Our show is edited by Mike Kligerman. Our guest intros are performed by Roxy Reese. Our guest booking is done by Central Talent booking, and I want to give a special thank you to the entire team at QVC, and thanks to you for making this community so strong. Listen, tell somebody about the show and leave us a five star review. And make sure you're following the Kim Gravel show on your podcast app so we can keep growing this love who you are message together. I can't do this without you.

Kim:

So thank you so much for listening. And y'all, I love you with everything I got.