What is your "direction" with cookie decorating?

My direction is to inspire and teach through multi-media formats (books, videos, apps, classes - whichever turn out to be the best/most profitable formats for me and readers/students). I've done the bakery/production thing with cakes, and it's not a great fit for me. I prefer the creative process to mass production (or even cranking out the same design a second time). Being an idea generator for books and such allows me all the creative freedom I need w/o forcing me to suffer through the boredom/tedium of doing designs over and over again or the frustration of dealing with customers who will inevitably nickel and dime art cookies.

Finding a path can take time and experimentation - my path has shifted many times in my career. Planning can be good, but sometimes the best things do just happen.

Great question Mallory!  I tend to have a love/hate relationship with cookies which is why I make sure to not overextend myself.  When I first started selling my cookies I just couldn't bring myself to say "No".  So trying to keep up with 3 young boys (they are now 8, 6 and 6 - twins) and too many orders for this mom to handle I just got burnt out and stopped altogether for many months.  My hobby which I loved became too much, so now I only take on one or two orders per week (sometimes 3 if they are easy enough).  So my plan is to keep doing what I love at a pace I can maintain.  And to help get a Cottage Food Law passed here in KY

Since I am, at the moment, a hobby baker... I don't really have a true cookie path.  I bake for families, friends, and have never sold.  I enjoy teaching in general and would love my skill level to hit the point where I could share my knowledge and skill with others via live classes (which could be years down the line).  I just don't want to get to the point where they hobby is no longer fun.  I find I don't really enjoy "orders".  I like just doing "my thing" with no one having preconceived ideas of what THEY want done.  It makes me anxious and stressed out.  I may, possibly, bake cookies at the holiday season to sell in our local Farmer's Market.  We'll just have to see where the path leads!

Like Debbi, I am just a hobby baker who would like to improve my cookie skills.  I really like giving gifts from my kitchen so it only made sense to try to add special cookies to my repertoire.  I am so glad that all of you artists are willing to help out those of us who are creatively challenged.  I love seeing what you do and picking up tips and ideas. 

Mallory- I was just asking myself the same question, though I'm starting in a very different place!  Great timing, and maybe some of you here can give me your two cents!  So, first and foremost, I am a "real" architect with my own business, two small children and a loving and supportive husband.  Still- I am also the primary breadwinner in my household, so architecture is here to stay! It was only in January that I started into cookie land and cookie decorating with any sort of seriousness, and I definitely approach it as my art and my craft, not my job. Up until now, the only money I have gotten was from the occasional contest prize- so we are talking gift card, not paycheck!  At one point I was approached about a corporation looking to create a promotional video incorporating my gingerbread replication of one of their buildings, but that didn't pan out, but it would have been well worth it to do it financially.

Now...my cookie work is getting noticed, which I love, and just today I've gotten my first messages, inquiring about cookies for birthdays (Ireland- ummm, no I don't ship to Ireland!) or a wedding..(Nantucket- feasible and $$$$, but...)  And, I don't know what to do. I mean, basically I say no, I'm not in business.  But I do have some cookie friends who are- so I can send them to the appropriate peoples.  But it just raised the question of what might I do with this cookie obsession- what paths are there realistically, and do any of them make sense in terms of finances, time involved, and keeping my cookie love fun and alive?   

Rebecca, I think that if you listen to the voices of experience, like Julia or even Cookies in Charity, basically the actual creative process and joy of learning can be overwhelmed by the stress put on by deadline, dealing with clients who in the end hardly appreciate the art of what you are doing and seldom are actually willing to pay ones worth. In the FEW people I have had to deal with so far it was a lesson quickly learned. 

You are a talented architect as proven by your well thought out work but practically speaking as the primary bread winner of your home cookies will not be the path to cover life's expenses. You can easily continue this form of your artistic expression, love all the great accolades, follow it where it may take you but please keep your job! It came at a great financial and personal expense! ( Unless you become partners with Julia!)

I'm currently just a hobbyist cookie decorator.  I have a "real" job and kids who are in busy places in their life but maybe someday, when I'm suffering from empty nest or something" maybe I'll take the time to try to turn this into more of a business.  I'm terribly afraid it will take the fun out of it, though.  Sometimes HAVE-TO'S ruin things!  

I will definitely keep my day job!  And I think Julia has her bases covered- but I am always up for a cookie collaboration!!

This is true!  In fact, my favorite thing about cookies is that it keeps my "design brain" working so that my work designs are actually easier.  Now back to it, LOL!  Reentry after vacation is super hard!

This is the question I have been pondering for a while.  I am a hobbyist, but sell to family and friends when they approach me.  I still have a lot to learn so I look at this as a way to keep my hobby/learning process going without going broke! Currently I am a stay-at-home-mom so this is the way I keep my brain going without going crazy.  My kids are getting older so I will have a little more time on my hands to do more decorating.  I wish NJ had a cottage law, then this would be a no brainer for me.  I am currently deciding if I should rent space from somebody or just keep the way I am going.  One day my kids will be in school full time so I have to decide between this or counseling as I am a Licensed Professional Counselor.

Mallory and Rebecca - Following up on Tina's remarks (which I largely agree with), I think that it's tough to make a go of an art cookies-only business and expect it to be your sole source of income. One, the market is a niche one, and then there's the price pressure that we all know too well. I think you'll see that the baking businesses which have been most successful over time (by that, I mean profitable) are those that offer a diversified portfolio, particularly some items that can be churned out (low labor costs) yet are still relatively high profit margin. Simple designs also make it easier to expand your work force to handle increased volume. I also think these challenges are partly why you see art-cookiers doing so many other things - teaching classes, selling books and videos, etc. It's tough to make a living doing just one of any of these things!

That's not to say that successful art cookie- or cake-only businesses don't exist, because they do. Take Sylvia Weinstock or Eleni's Cookies (one of the first art cookie businesses that I know of) as examples. But they're in markets (New York) that command larger premiums and they're probably the exception rather than the rule. Even Eleni's has dumbed-down their designs quite a lot (in my opinion) over time. And their very simple cookies are quite expensive by comparison to the pricing that I hear most of you quoting online: http://elenis.com/store/produc...favor-cookie/?cat=43

Aymee VanDyke, one of our new guest bloggers, is much more optimistic about cookies-only businesses than me, though. She'll be talking about key success factors in some of her upcoming blog posts. However, I do know that she is also a proponent of relatively simple designs for some of the reasons I mentioned.

I am primarily a hobbyist, but I hope to be able to use my cookie skills to help raise some money for my son's family as they have a child with a chronic illness called Langerhans Cell Hystiocytosis (LCH). The medical costs are a lot. So, if I can bake and make someone happy, and they choose to make a donation to help my son's family, I would be a very, very happy person. Plus, though I do often make quite simple cookies, I am having a ball trying new techniques and have some cookies to post soon from two donated sets I have recently made. Cookies = Love!

Mallory, that is a great question and one I have been thinking a lot about recently. I have only just recently started my own Cottage Food cookie and cake business as a sideline to my full-time job that I MUST keep. I am an empty-nester for quite some time now and since I now have a grandchild, don't ride a motorcycle anymore. I found cookie decorating while searching out techniques for cake decorating. I enjoy making cakes, but cookies have become a passion for me. I have so far to go to be as talented as so many on this site. That is no put-down to me, just a truth and compliment to the many wonderful cookie designers out there, including you. I only want to do enough to keep me busy about 2 weeks a month or maybe more during the holidays. We'll see how that goes. So far, I am getting small orders and each brings me a little higher on the talent ladder. I work hard to make sure my customers are happy with their cookies, but I am not always as satisfied with them as I would like to be and I am OK with that. It gives me a desire to keep trying harder and learning more. Realizing that YOU are very close to me was kind of intimidating at first, but that also is OK, because I admire your talent and work and it completely inspires me! I want to keep my business just enough to make extra money doing what I love while I am home with my husband. As my business grows, I will see what happens and how it effects me. I am learning to say no, if I need to to keep from being overwhelmed in other areas of life, we'll see how it goes with cookie and cake making. I want to just enjoy making cookies and hope to make a little extra money as I do. I find the creativity is what I enjoy more than anything.

Hey Rebecca- 

I'm a former Architect student with a CAD degree- need a new employee for design AND cookie work?! ;D ;D 

I think my question came off a bit differently than I intended. For background info: this is my full time job, I'm much more than a hobbier. (and I say "full time" but my work days are usually two hours in pajamas. lmao.)  I quit everything (full time job, acceptance to universities and art schools) to do this and I love it. I'm doing a solid 200+ cookie weekend every week. I love my customers, they're extremely appreciative and loyal and I've created quite a following here in little ol' Spring Hill. I'm paying my bills and still have money to blow on the side, and I'm only charging 3$/pc per cookie with no minimums or fees or anything like that. 

Overall I feel immensely successful for being just one kid (and her mom) in a kitchen. But that doesn't mean I don't crave more.

Being in Florida is quite depressing as it's completely hindering my ability to grow. I've been contacted by the Georgia aquarium, Universal Studios, Funko toy company, and many other local stores that want my cookies but I can't sell to under the Cottage Food laws here. And not to mention the constant inquiries for me to ship. (can't do that, either!) 

We have plans to move to a more Cottage Food-friendly state where you can have a commercial kitchen in your own home and we can expand from there.  (Anyone wanna buy a house in Florida?!) But relocating two entire families and selling homes is sort of hard to do- and we're just waiting for everything to fall into place. 

Basically I guess I just needed to jabber about my predicament. Haha (sorry guys, rant mode!) 

People keep pushing the words "fame" in my brain and my eyes are getting big and bright and my dreams are flying by a mile a minute in my mind. (as my rational side is screaming, "no, you dolt! you're absurd, that could never happen! small business has always been your plan!") 

I feel potential for so many things burning inside me. I think I'm just starting to be impatient! Until then I want to keep pushing cookie-boundaries, outdoing myself, growing, learning, breaking the norm! 

...and I guess kind of waiting for a phone call to fame.

(but who isn't) 

Well it's a shame we live as terribly far apart as we do, because that would be awesome!!!!  We'd take both worlds by storm!

Mallory,

Wouldn't it be easier for you and your mom to rent time/space at a commercial kitchen, rather than pick up and move?  Since your business is so strong without shipping, I imagine you and your mom would certainly cover the expense of the commercial kitchen, if you were able to include shipping and corporate/wholesale sales.  Of course, if you don't like where you live, that would probably fall under a different forum catagory

The closest commercial kitchens to rent are in Tampa- an hour away. And, from what we found, far too expensive to be worth it on top of time, all of the expenditures pertaining to getting licensed and legal, and pure inconvenience. When we were looking into that avenue we pounded the pavement for weeks and had multiple meetings with local businesses/event spots/churches etc, and no one was willing to open up as a commissary. 

It has become one of those things- we know it's not here for us. And, yes, we are also ready to move and start a new chapter. 

"I feel potential for so many things burning inside me. I think I'm just starting to be impatient! Until then I want to keep pushing cookie-boundaries, outdoing myself, growing, learning, breaking the norm! 

...and I guess kind of waiting for a phone call to fame.

(but who isn't) "

As you should, like any young, talented and energetic young person. It would be awful if you didn't have dreams and expectations! You need to push yourself and grow and learn- it never stops. Never!

The phone call to fame will happen because you will make it happen.

I understand you because I have 3 children about your age at the starting gate of their lives and they are all kicking up a little dust ready for the big race!!!

I wish you all the best, Mallory!!!!!!! You go get them! 

Thank you, Tina! Very wonderful words to hear! My utmost appreciation for your response!! 

Hi Mallory!  First of all, let me just say that I am constantly blown away by your cookies.  You've got such unique style and incredible talent.

Secondly, with regard to moving to a state with a Cottage Food Law:  Research the state laws VERY carefully.  I live in a state with a Cottage Food Law that prohibits shipping, selling online and selling to a third party (i.e. a store or bakery that would then sell your cookies to their customers).  So if I had gone to all the trouble of modifying my kitchen and getting inspected and certified, I'd only be allowed to sell directly to customers, pretty much limiting me to farmers' markets.  I decided it didn't make any financial sense to jump through all the hoops to get my home kitchen licensed and then have such limitations imposed on my business.  The best option for me was to rent time in a commercial kitchen.  I live in a major metropolitan area so it sounds like that's much easier for me than for you in Florida.

There are states with cottage laws that are much more lax than mine, so if you're seriously looking at moving to a location BECAUSE of the cottage law, make sure you choose a state with the least limitations.

I hope this helps!

Tracey

We have the cottage food law here, and we're one of those states that don't allow anything besides person to person sales. We know exactly where we want to go and have heavily researched, it's just a matter of it all falling into place.

but thank you!! 

Hi Mallory!  

I happen to think you are in the perfect spot to let your cookie business, whatever that may be, just explode and I think you should go for it.  I got into cookies in 2006 when my boys were teenagers as something to do because they were becoming so independent.  My cookies style is much more elementary than yours, but my business grew so quickly in two and a half years that I ended up in the dreaded cookie burn-out land, but NOT because I was sick of doing cookies...it was because while I was doing cookies almost every day, I also felt the demands of being a mom and wife.  I think I could've done cookies 24/7 because I got so much satisfaction out of the creative process and the positive feedback.  I'd find myself thinking that if only it was my sister (she's very creative) and me in this world, we could divide and conquer lol!  But of course, we both have families, and in the end I chose to cut back on the cookie-ing for the sake of my family, all of whom I love dearly, so for me the choice was a no-brainer.  A little over a year later, I got the opportunity to work for a new cupcakery in town and do my cookies there, which was always a dream of mine to have my cookies in an actual shop.  But in working there I had to dumb-down the designs and mass produce which didn't fit me well either, so that was that, but I still have the satisfaction being able to tell people "Yes! I started those cookies in that shop!".  All in all, I would do it all over again, because the iron was hot and I struck and will never regret the experiences I had because of it all. 

I wish you the best in whatever path you choose and always look forward to seeing your incredible creations!  

Jennifer  

mallory, i totally understand what you're going through, i have to currently rent space where i am which means money out of my pocket and no real potential to grow where i am. i'm  young not married no kids and no plans for kids so i have the time to spare. I'm looking into moving somewhere right now with great cottage laws that would allow me to expand my business in so many ways. my end goal is to open up my own bakery i'll be doing my cookies but also much more as well . by the way your amazing talented