A kid in a candy store.

Yesterday, I took the ferry to Seattle and went to Dick’s Restaurant Supply store. It was my first commercial kitchen fixture shopping trip.  As I wandered through the aisles, I truly felt like ‘a kid in a candy store.’  Oooh, I need one of those.  Have to have that.  That would be helpful to have.  You get the idea.

It’s time to pick the type of equipment I’m going to put into my kitchen and the task is daunting.  I have to pick everything – oven, refrigerator, mixer, work tables, micro, you name it.  Plus all the smaller items that are needed – cookie pans, utensils, bowls, shelving, what am I forgetting.  Imagine stocking your kitchen from scratch.  And I haven’t even begun thinking about what the retail store will look like.

Lots of cookies to bake to make this a reality. 

Taking the Plunge

It’s been a bit since my last posting.  Been busy try to increase business and…I’m opening a kitchen and retail store!!!  I’ve been working with a local architect and we’ve come up with a commercial kitchen and a cute retail space.  It should be open in June here on Bainbridge Island.  I’ll be serving cookies, coffee, milk and a relaxing atmosphere.  Needless to say, this is a big undertaking but I’m so excited about it.  Any suggestions or ideas of how to make the My Kids’ Cookies store THE place to go to would be appreciated.

 In the meantime, I’ve been expanding the cookie menu and we are now offering 10 varieties of scrumptious cookies.  We also offer fun gear – hats, sweatshirts, aprons.  And an individual cookie gift box when you need something small to let people know you’re thinking of them.

And remember, when you need a delicious gift for someone or yourself, shop at www.MyKidsCookies.com

First Interview Went Really Well

Last Friday, I was interviewed by a lovely lady named Rachel Pritchett of the Kitsap Sun.  She made me so comfortable, I wasn’t at all nervous.  Just baked and chatted away.  The only thing I was sorry about was that she couldn’t sample a cookie, not being able to have sugar.  She wrote a lovely story which is in her blog.  Please take a look if you have the chance.  http://blogs.kitsapsun.com/kitsap/bainbridge/archive/2007/11/business_is_coming_along_nicel.html#comments.  Back to the oven to take out the latest batch.

Great Marketing Tools: From Referrals to Press Releases

With Thanksgiving 2 days away, the commercials for buying Christmas and holiday gifts have already started.  Just about everything I see is an inducement to buy some thing.  Some old idea that has been repackaged, revamped, made high tech and that costs more.

The PR firm I’ve hired has sent out the first press release for My Kids’ Cookies.  It’s going to a monthly regional business publication, and the idea they’re promoting is for businesses/corporations to give delicious, home-made cookies to employees and clients for the holidays.  Other press releases are in the works.

Another great marketing tool, I’ve happily learned, is the referral.  My accountant gave my business card and her recommendation (after enjoying a cookie) to her daughter’s ballet teacher.  The local ballet school, Bainbridge Ballet, is performing the wonderful, seasonal tradition, The Nutcracker, during December.  The school will be offering My Kids’ Cookies at all the performances which is a very nice size order for me.

I’m hoping that over the next few weeks I’ll be exhausted from baking non-stop to fill all the orders that will soon be pouring in.

Keep you posted.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Marketing 101

Today I’m scheduled to meet with a marketing/public relations firm.  Since the licensing aspect of the business is in review, and Christmas and the holidays are looming, I’m shifting the marketing part of the business into drive.  I have lots of ideas but need the people with the connections to guide and direct me, as well as put My Kids’ Cookies name out there.  Anyone with ideas about ways to market my business, I’d love to hear from you.  Off to the meeting with warm cookies in tow. 

Keeping My Webpage Fresh

I’m making some minor changes to my website for a few reasons. 

First, keeping your website fresh is the best way to ensure that the search engines continue to crawl it and list it.  Second, as I continue to learn and grow the business, it becomes apparent what works and what doesn’t.  I’ve discovered that selling a half-dozen cookies is not profitable for me.  My webmaster is in the process of updating the site to offer 8 varieties (white chocolate chip and white chocolate chip w/macadamia nuts have just been added) and a minimum 1 dozen order size.  Third, I’m going to start carrying My Kids’ Cookies merchandise.  Next time you see someone wearing a MKC baseball hat, tell them they have good taste, both in cookies and clothes. 

So many things to do, and cookies to bake.  So little time. 

How the cookie crumbles.

First, I liked cookies.  Then I began to bake them.  Next, they became gifts for family and friends.  Finally, I started a company selling cookies.  www.MyKidsCookies.com is the culmination of a long-term dream.  What comes next in the 21st century?  Why a blog, of course.  When I’m not baking or trying to grow my business, I think I’ll write the experience of starting a company.  Since all I want to do is sell cookies, I thought it would be easy.  I’ve discovered it’s not.  There are far more hurdles than I thought.  Create a great website, find the perfect and affordable space, health department and local licensing requirements.  Come up with packaging, pricing, marketing ideas.  Add accounting, legal, and insurance.  The recipe for success is there, somewhere.  Now to perfect it.  Didn’t your mother tell you – practice makes perfect.  Well, I’ve got the perfect cookie.  Now to make the perfect business.