Senior launches cotton candy business

  Wednesday, August 31, 2016 2:00 AM
  News

Pittsburg, KS

Pitt State home football games seemingly have it all.  The crowd. The excitement. The energy. The passion.

But John Botts has always felt that something is missing.

“I’ve always thought that if you’re going to have a live sporting event, you should have cotton candy,” said Botts, a senior finance major at Pitt State. “How can you have a football game without cotton candy?”

More than just question the sweet treat’s absence, Botts decided to do something about it.

Beginning at the Gorillas’ home opener on Sept. 1, Botts Cotton Candy will be open for business. Botts started his own cotton candy business this summer as part of an entrepreneurship venture.

“I was looking for an opportunity to start my own business,” he said. “This just kind of came to me. Everyone loves cotton candy, and we didn’t have it at football games. I thought that would be perfect.”

He spent the summer researching cotton candy machines and the best ways to create the sugary goodness. And when it came time to launch, he used the knowledge he’s gained as a student in Pitt State’s Kelce College of Business.

“The classes in Kelce really do prepare you for real-world experiences,” he said. “A lot of what I’ve learned in class has helped me start my cotton candy business. Without that education, I probably couldn’t have done this.”

Botts said he plans to be present at various events throughout the community.

“My goal is to be at more than just football games,” he said. “Whether it’s a downtown event or something here on campus, I think cotton candy will be popular anywhere it’s available.”

For more info on Botts Cotton Candy, visit its website at http://bottscottoncandy.weebly.com.