The Baker

Posted May 4th, 2008 by Jen in family life, features, health/cooking/food

Welcome to Buffy’s kitchen, where she bakes about 3,000 cookies a week and makes a nice addition to her family’s income. As long as I’ve known Buffy, she’s always loved cookies and cookie dough, so when she told me she was thinking about starting a home cookie business, it seemed a perfect fit. Being a full-time mom with three little cookie monsters in tow, she still manages to keep things running smoothly, but with the irresistible aroma of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies constantly drifting from her home, I don’t know how she keeps the entire neighborhood from invading the kitchen.

My first thought, actually, was “it’s so simple!” What is any more basic and American than baking and selling cookies? My local grocery store has about 100 varieties of cookies to choose from, attesting to our national past-time of cookie snacking! But there is always room for a good homemade product, and Buffy has found a smart niche.

She has one corporate client, a large jewelry store chain with stores in Oregon, California, Idaho, and Washington, which give the cookies away as gifts to their customers. Again, this adds to the simplicity of Buffy’s business model, and streamlines the process into a successful enterprise.

I wanted to share a few words from Buffy, especially because the topic of women in business is near and dear to me. I run a business with my husband, and many of my friends and readers are women who are home taking care of their children - I so often hear these ladies commenting about their desire for a home-based business to add to the family earnings, so here is Buffy sharing a bit of her experience:

Jen: How did you decide to choose the cookie/baking business?

Buffy: One evening, as I was putting Ella to bed, I had an idea of baking specific sugar cookies for the family ski and snowboard business to put on the shelf for sale. The holidays were just around the corner and I was in the mood. I have always loved baking cookies and so I thought, why not try to make money doing what I already do and enjoy? I got excited and ran the idea by my husband. He had a better idea that included a bigger scope and possibility. His work was already giving away candy bars and were looking for a more homemade giveaway. It evolved from a special cut out cookie to miniature chocolate chip cookies.

Jen: What are the greatest benefits and greatest challenges of having your own small business, and how does this business fit into family life?

Buffy: The greatest benefit is being at home while making a little extra money. It’s satisfying knowing what I can accomplish alongside being a full time mother. The challenges include the stress of fitting the baking/packaging times into family life and timing the packaging correctly. I try to do most of the baking during school and nap times and then package at night. I love the one-on-one talk and music times I gain at night with my husband and friends.

Jen: Tell me about one particular hurdle you had to overcome.

Buffy: One hurdle I overcame was figuring out how to make the cookies last 2 weeks to a month. It took about 2 months of testing the cookie recipe and researching different techniques. It was really challenging and overwhelming. I felt strongly, in the moment, that the Lord really helped me figure everything out. The timing was perfectly in His hands. When I needed a specific answer at a specific time, He would give me just the information I was looking for…time and time again.

Jen: What do you see for the future?

Buffy: I see myself making this business work as long as there is a need. Maybe, someday, if there’s extra time and outside interest, it could become an online business or I could cater baked goods for local parties. As long as it’s fun and manageable, I’m up for the challenge.

Jen: I know the “family business” runs in your family (and your husband’s family). Do you think your background was helpful in giving you the courage/motivation to step out and do this?

Buffy: Because of the family business, I have a wonderful client. I couldn’t operate successfully without it. I don’t think our family businesses, per se, gave me the motivation to do this, but I do think that my parents’ role modeling a good work ethic did. My husband believing in me and sharing in the excitement really motivated me as well.

I’ve sat in Buffy’s kitchen many a time (and never want to leave), and truly, her cookie business is just another extension of her gift of hospitality. She loves baking and is an excellent hostess. This is important to mention, because my advice for those of you considering a business is to choose a venture that you have a passion for or a natural interest in. Be willing to make adjustments, as Buffy has done, but try to stick to your vision.

I also like Buffy’s attitude of “as long as it’s working.” I wouldn’t stick with an idea for the sake of principle if you’re hating it and it’s more trouble than it’s worth. That being said, there is work to be done and there will be difficult seasons in all things. A young mother has the extra burden of working her business in with the often overwhelming task of raising children. However, it’s good to look at the family business as a teaching tool, and it’s a marvelous way to train your young ones in so many life skills, financial skills, and relational skills.

Well, as the Cookie Monster says, “C is for cookie, it’s good enough for me; oh cookie cookie cookie starts with C.” And as for my dear friend’s cookies…these are such a delicious treat that you might have to go buy yourself a new piece of jewelry just to get your hands on one of Buffy’s cookies!

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