Los Alamos Business Wins Statewide Award

Cliff Han, owner of Knoze Jr. Corp. Courtesy/NMSBDC

NMSBDC News:

  • Breathe Easier with Knoze Jr.’s AllerPops
  • Innovative allergy relief now comes from a tasty lollipop 

Knoze Jr. Corp, the makers of AllerPops, is being recognized as a Star Business by the Small Business Development Center at UNM-Los Alamos.

Star Businesses are recognized annually by the NMSBDC Network at a special banquet at La Fonda on the Plaza in Santa Fe. Lt. Gov. Howie Morales and radio personality Kiki Garcia are slated to co-host the event sponsored by Century Bank and The Loan Fund.

Founder Cliff Han moved to Los Alamos and, suddenly, he was hit by debilitating allergies. But being a Ph.D. scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, he didn’t just look on the shelves at the local CVS for a cure. Instead, he started reading and experimenting and discovered that pre-biotics could be a cure. There is research that shows there’s a link between pre-biotics and some allergies. Pro-biotics are bacteria that live in your intestines, pre-biotics are their food. And, with the right food, they can help, he discovered.

He took that research and created AllerPops in 2017, a pre-biotic pop that tastes good and feeds good stuff to bacteria. They’re being sold from his retail store in Los Alamos and online at retailers such as Amazon.

“I didn’t prepare to be a business entrepreneur at all. But in 2017, when I got the positive research results and I made a recipe and it worked so well, it was such a gift t me, I thought I had to carry it out,” Han said.

He visited with the UNM-LA SBDC for business help to launch Knoze Jr, and the SBDC has helped with marketing and setting up the business.

“My goal for the company in the next five to 10 years, I hope AllerPop will be the prime choice for people to take care of symptoms,” Han said.

“For the past 31 years, the NMSBDC Network has made a meaningful difference in the lives of New Mexicans by helping our clients start, grow and sustain their businesses. We are proud to share our client’s success stories from across the state, these success stories are not just about up-and-coming small and existing businesses, but also the incredible people behind those businesses,” said NMSBDC Executive State Director Russell Wyrick.

Fast Facts About Knoze Jr. Corp:

  • Years in Business: 2
  • Type of Business: Allergy Lollipop Manufacturer
  • Number of Employees: 1
  • Community: Los Alamos
  • SBDC: University of New Mexico, Los Alamos

What: The 21st New Mexico Small Business Development Center Network Annual Star Business Recognition Program.

When: Feb. 10, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Where: La Fonda in Santa Fe

About the NMSBDC:

The New Mexico Small Business Development Center Network began in 1989 through a partnership with the US Small Business Administration, the State of New Mexico, the New Mexico Association of Community Colleges, and the New Mexico Association of Independent Community Colleges. The NMSDC Network State Office is on the campus of the Santa Fe Community College in Santa Fe. The program provides no-cost business consulting and low-cost business training to entrepreneurs throughout the state. Strategically located in 24 communities and serving all 33 counties throughout New Mexico. NMSBDC’s consultants bring countless years of combined small business management and ownership expertise and have helped to create more than 35,000 jobs in the state since NMSBDC’s inception. Entrepreneurs have access to subject matter experts in everything from accounting to social media and franchising to e-commerce. For more information visit www.nmsmdc.org.

AllerPops. Courtesy/NMSBDC

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