Cottontale KC Thrives, Pays Forward Small Business Support During COVID
AltCap helped support Kiffany Bosserman’s creative idea.
She shares it with other entrepreneurs.
Like many small business owners before her, Kiffany Bosserman launched Cottontale KC out of her home. That was five years—and one cotton candy machine—ago. The all-natural, organic cotton candy service that’s since become a Kansas City household name and major event highlight, was on such a steady growth path that Kiffany was making plans to open a brick-and-mortar storefront.
“We knew a cotton candy store couldn’t stand on its own, so after researching deserts, we decided to open an ice cream shop. Ice cream has been the number one dessert in America since its existence more than 100 years ago. Having the ice cream shop in front and running Cottontale KC in the back made the best sense.”
In March 2020 the world changed. Cottontale KC was forced to pivot.
“The pandemic hit during the middle of wedding season. We did a little bit of delivery, but I mainly felt like I was treading water.”
Rather than giving up, Kiffany, along with her husband, Steve; threw everything they had at their business and invested in that brick-and-mortar storefront.
“AltCap’s reputation for championing small, women and minority-owned businesses, and unusual ideas for businesses that traditional lenders may overlook, gives me confidence as a business owner.”
With the help of AltCap’s KC Region Relief and Recovery Loan Fund, Kiffany opened Cookies and Creamery—an ice cream shop and new hub for Cottontale KC located at the Redbridge Shopping Center in Kansas City, Missouri. She also hired 10 new employees—mostly local students who are just as passionate about the Cottontale KC mission.
“It meant a lot to have a loan and have someone believe in me and know that we can pay our vendors on time. [With the funds we received] we hired an architect and engineer to help revamp our storefront space, and we’ve been able to support other small businesses while remaining stable at home as the business moved forward. The security of it, being able to be in a good mental space as I was opening a business, helped me to be happy.”
Cottontale KC has benefitted from the popularity and region-wide exposure of Cookies and Creamery, and Kiffany said the business is doing better than ever. Having a home base created opportunities for Kiffany, and her cotton candy enterprise, that she never had before.
“AltCap’s reputation for championing small, women and minority-owned businesses, and unusual ideas for businesses that traditional lenders may overlook, gives me confidence as a business owner.” And she that pays that small business support forward by hosting pop-ups, which gives other entrepreneurs space to showcase their products at Cookies and Creamery, as well as using local ice cream vendors at Cookies and Creamery.
Looking into the future, Kiffany is focused on continuing to grow Cottontale KC at its current location, increasing sales for her businesses, and bringing Cottontale KC’s awareness full circle; before considering a second location.
“It meant a lot to have a loan and have someone believe
in me and know that we can pay our vendors on time.”
As for what small businesses need post-relief, Kiffany said “we need to get the word out about all the resources that are available. The access is getting there. The most underserved small businesses are food and beverage because it’s low-barrier access to entry. There are so many people working out of their homes; there are no commissary kitchens.” She added that entrepreneurs need more mentors.
“Big entrepreneurs doing amazing things need to step up and mentor and lift up other small businesses and entrepreneurs so that we can succeed. I don’t know what that looks like, but I know that there’s a disconnect, and I hope that I’m able to find a solution.”