Hoopla Ice Cream, a small batch ice cream brand, made its debut in Durango, Colorado, with a sold-out pop-up at Anarchy Brewing Co. The founders, Jason Hopkins and Lexi White, met while working in marketing at an ad agency in Boulder. They decided to start Hoopla after White's garden-grown mint chocolate chip ice cream was a hit with friends. Hoopla's unique flavors, like Funky Donkey (peanut butter with Oreos and fudge) and Purple Nurple (lilac-colored ice cream with chocolate raspberry truffles and taro root), have gained popularity. The brand plans to expand with pop-ups and collaborations, including a possible ice cream featuring beans from Durango Coffee Co. Hoopla's success lies in its attention to detail, creative flavors, and the flexibility of its founders to adapt their business model to the environment and rate of growth. The long-term goal is to make ice cream their full-time job, and they are optimistic about the future, even as AI threatens to automate marketing jobs.
