Center Stories: Jennifer Hawkins & DealPop

Every other month on our website we’ll be highlighting a different client of the Owatonna Area Business Development Center in a series called “Center Stories,” interviewed by Executive Director Sean E. Williams.

Jennifer Hawkins of DealPop. Photo by Danielle Wavrin.

What made you decide to go into business for yourself?

That is a very good question. For me, it's about the idea for my business that was really the impetus for going into business. I had this idea for a tool that can help people find deals on things that they want, and I wanted to bring that to life. That was really my purpose — to be able to bring this idea to life. It feels a little convoluted, because it's not like I necessarily dreamt about starting a business. It was the idea that brought me to the business. The business is the vehicle for bringing this idea into the world.

That's a cool angle that I think a lot of people can relate to. Not everyone sets out to start a business, but are instead pursuing an idea that leads them there. Tell me more about your business. What is DealPop?

DealPop is a technology tool that lets people monitor prices on items that they are interested in buying, but are willing to wait to purchase until their ideal price is reached. Folks can set up an account, add items to their dashboard, and receive an alert when that item hits the price that they want.

What is your favorite part of owning your own business?

I would say that seeing it all come together is very satisfying. I had an idea that was nothing, and now it's coming to life. Creating a brand, thinking about marketing, working with other professionals, advisors, and tech folks to bring it into the world has been really exciting and energizing. The process of bringing an idea to life has been the most satisfying part of owning my own business.

What resources did you find and take advantage of in putting DealPop together?

A lot of resources. I will say that Southeast Minnesota is very fortunate to have a robust set of supporters for entrepreneurs, and I've been able to really lean into that network of resources. The one resource that I definitely would not have been able to move forward without is the Software Studio. This resource offered by the Owatonna Area Business Development team was really foundational for me - feeling like I could [actually] bring this idea out of my head and into the world. Ongoing support through the OABDC has been really great to continue to help me think about the business. I did the Co-Starters cohort after the Software Studio, and have been receiving consulting on a regular basis. It's just been delightful to have that network of support.

What do you wish you had known before you started, or what would you have done differently?

I am a solo founder, and that can be good in some ways, but also challenging in some ways. If I had to go back, or even looking forward, I think about having another team member that I can work closely with to continue to drive the business forward. I'm not doing the business full time. I have other activities, and sometimes other things get in the way when it's just you and you have other commitments. Sometimes the business doesn't take priority when it could and should. I think I may not be going as fast as a solo founder as I would if I had a co-founder.

That makes sense. Good insight. What's next? What are you looking forward to or excited about?

I am still in beta testing, so I'm excited to continue to expand that beta group — having more folks using the tool and giving me feedback on it. The next phase, after I feel like I've gotten good enough feedback where it feels ready for broader release, is a full launch. That's what I'm looking forward to — bringing it out of beta and into live, freely available mode.

Where can people find DealPop right now?

We have a landing page at www.dealpop.co where you can sign up to be a beta user. We also have a Facebook page, so you can find us on Facebook.

This interview was edited for clarity.