Tell Me About Your Business!

Ooh, interested in people's answers to this too!

Okay, I'll start ...

I loved to bake.  Everyone in my family from grandmothers, aunts and parents cooked or baked or both.  But no one professionally.  My favorite 'playtime' was making mud pies outside, or when I was allowed to mix flour and water for my own 'dough' (boy did that taste terrible!)  And when I wrote in my bio that I have been baking since my dad put a lightbulb in my Easy Bake Oven, it was really true!

My dad baked with me mostly.  He was always there to support me, help me ... and eat it (no matter what - but not to worry, I graduated by that time from the flour and water dough).

Baking was a huge stress reliever for me.  If I was stressed, I baked ... sometimes I baked A LOT!  Anyway, the short version of how Gigi's Fresh Baked was born came during a horrible economic downfall, especially in Michigan!  The corporation I worked for started downsizing ... can you guess what happens next?? ... That's right ... bye bye to me ... guess who was stressed??!  

I started baking and baking and baking ... and one day with counters full of baked goods, I asked my fiance (boyfriend at the time), 'Why can't I sell this stuff??!'... and do you know what he AUDACITY to say to me? ... he said... 'Why can't you?' ... WHAT???!!!  That wasn't what I was expecting to hear!  I was expecting the usual, 'because it's a dumb idea' ... 'because you're not as good as you think' ... 'because, because, because ...' but not, 'why can't you?'  So you know what I did?  Check out my web page, facebook page or go no further than my profile ... I started a cookie company!.  BUT, I had never decorated a cookie, ever.  When I started researching recipies, I came across the most beautifully decorated cookies and that's what I wanted to do.  So, I read and researched and researched and read and learned ... and am still learning!  

So, you ask ... what's in a name?  Well, just in case you don't know, my name is Lisa ... not Gigi (although, that's what many people call me and I love it).  There were many things that I thought of to name my new company, after my kids, my favorite pet (no not really) and then I was thinking about the two people who stood out the most in my life to that point, my father (who passed away in 2006) and my fiance, who said (in case you forgot) 'why can't you?'!  My father's initials were G.G.  My maiden name and my new married last name would be G.G. ... do you see it??  I bet you know where I'm going with this, right??  So, Gigi was born.  It was feminine and cute ... and hey, I'm not so bad!  It became Gigi's Fresh Baked in case I ever decided to do more than cookies.  I haven't yet!

Now my short version of favorite cookie? How could I not say my first cookie wasn't my favorite.  I had to make over 200 pinstripe couch cookies with floral pillows, to match an invitation to the furniture show in North Carolina.  Sometimes I am totally amazed I created them.   And since then, I have many favorites, but I'm still amazed that people actually BUY them!  With real money!!!    

So, I left out a few gory details of my story, but that's the shortest version, with just the highlights! Thanks for letting me share!!! 

Well, now you've got my story ... who's next??

Thanks TC ... it's still a work in progress, but it's mine and I love it!

Hmm... Where to start??

Did not grow up baking. Before all this started, I had never made anything that did not come out of a box. People are always surprised when I tell them that I never did anything artistic before cookies. But honestly, I did not have time.

I had been an oncology nurse for over 10 years. Had a couple of super cute boys running around my ankles. We were in a situation where I didn't need to work but I wanted to. But all of a sudden, the roles were reversed and I was the one waiting on a biopsy result. It all worked out fine but makes you rethink your priorities. 

Yankee Girl Yummies was born out of boredom! Once the kids were in school during the day, what's a girl to do? Learn to bake, that's what! 

I'm from Central New York but we live in Arkansas. It was quite the culture shock and people would call me the "Yankee" all the time.  So, rather than be offended, I went with it!

I love all my cookies. Each one of them has a story.

And that touches on the highlights of my story. 

Kari ~ Yankee Girl Yummies

Yankee Girl,  I love your cookies!  I think they are amazing and you have quite a talent!  It's amazing the surprises lurking in the corners that we never think would be 'us' ... thankfully for you, you have your health and some awesome cookies!  Keep up the great work, I'm a big fan (can you tell?)

Here's the super abbreviated version:

I'm a recovering meth addict (clean now for 6.5 years) who, because of a drug related felony, couldn't find a job. I started with chocolate stilettos - life sized, 3-D - but found that they don't ship well in warmer months. One day, the thought popped into my head, "I wonder how Cookies by Design makes such pretty cookies?" I started to read blogs and watch You Tube videos and practice, practice, practice.

I started selling on Etsy, but prefer local orders, so I started using FB for marketing. I also wrote a memoir about my addiction/recovery, which is what led me to cookies, so cross promotion was natural.

Kimbo's Cookies (pretty obvious where the name came from) grew in leaps and bounds. I work from my home in Idaho where I also maintain a certified family home for my son who has Down syndrome, and sell my book (Crystal Clean) mainly on Amazon.

My favorite cookies are always the ones I'm currently working on.

What an inspiring story of recovery, Kimbo's Cookies. Congrats on your book too - such a great response to it on Amazon!

Kimbo, what an incredible story and I wish you much continued success, on many different levels!  

Thank you, ladies. I hope to meet you at Cookie Con next March.