226. Baking it Down - Podcast Guests Heather Brookshire and Kim Sims!

Summary

Baking It Down with Sugar Cookie Marketing 🍪

Episode 226: Podcast Guests Heather Brookshire and Kim Sims!

Date: August 26, 2025
Hosts: Heather and Corrie Miracle
Guests: Heather Brookshire & Kim Sims

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Brief Overview

In this upbeat, community-focused episode, the Miracle twins (Heather & Corrie) sit down with special guests Heather Brookshire and Kim Sims—beloved members of the Sugar Cookie Marketing and Cookie College communities. Known for running happy hours at CookieCon and being pivotal “emotional support bakers” (ESBs), both bring a wealth of insight: Heather shares her journey as a multi-time Food Network competitor (and winner!), while Kim details the adventure of launching a Beans & Brews coffeehouse franchise in Texas. The conversation covers the realities of “making it” in the baking world, the power of community, TV opportunities, franchise ownership, failures, wins, and tangible strategies for small bakery growth.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Getting to Know the Guests (00:32–06:17)

• Introductions:
  The show features its first-ever four-person interview. Heather and Corrie switch seats to let Kim and Heather take the hot seat.
• Who Are Heather & Kim?
  • Heather – Disney trip planner & owner of The Cake Whisperer (10 years, Houston), TV baking show competitor.
  • Kim – Newly minted Beans & Brews franchise owner, five years in the cottage bakery world, allergy-friendly focus.
• Notable Event: Both manage happy hours at CookieCon and are active contributors to the Cookie College.

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2. Behind the Scenes of Food Network (03:01–04:58, 19:07–26:12)

• Getting Cast:
  • Most Food Network contestants are scouted via Instagram DMs or referrals (“Yes, generally that is for real.” – Heather, 03:43).
  • It can also be by invitation if you know past contestants.
• Show Timeline:
  • “On Food Network? Three and a half.” – Heather, 03:01
  • The “half” refers to a time when Heather was designated as an alternate.
• Impact on Business:
  • “Usually the year after it airs is much bigger than the year before.” (19:34)
  • Social proof drives sales and increases reputation.
  • “It almost doesn’t matter if you win… just being on it is a big deal.” (25:19)
• Application/Filming Process:
  • Not for the faint of heart: travel, secrecy, prep, financial logistics, and wait times.
  • Travel and lodging are covered.
  • "It can be weeks between hearing anything... at the point you're about ready to give up is like when you'll finally [hear]." (26:31)
• Advice to Bakers:
  • Go for it if you can swing the time and logistics, but know it’s stressful and not always a “fun show taping” experience.

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3. The Journey from Cottage Bakery to Franchise (05:39–12:12, 27:00–38:43)

• Kim’s Franchise Story:
  • Lifelong love for Beans & Brews coffee, which began in Utah.
  • She and her husband decided to open a franchise after relocating to Texas and missing her favorite coffee.
  • The franchise process took over three years of prep, paperwork, SBA loans, and tenacity.
  • “It was actually a joke of a dream since high school…I want to have a bakery and next door have a Beans and Brews…and a therapy office in the back.” – Kim (27:35)
  • Kim details the brick-and-mortar side: holding onto your ‘why,’ choosing a franchise for the right reasons, and working with supportive franchisors.
• Franchise vs. Your Own Shop:
  • Takeaway: A franchise suits some bakers, especially if you want the clout of brand marketing and backing, but requires careful due diligence, legal review, and honest soul-searching about your goals.
  • “Not every franchise is created equal…some are more cutthroat…” (32:11)
  • Kim is able (soon, thanks to Texas law changes) to wholesale her allergy-friendly goods through her Beans & Brews.

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4. “Emotional Support Bakers”: The Power of Community & Collaboration (10:13–18:12, 41:22–44:51)

• Origin Story:
  • Kim & Heather met through local baker networking and quickly became “emotional support bakers”—relying on each other for backup, emergencies, and encouragement.
  • “It could be a very lonely road ahead…You risk it for the biscuit—‘hey, I could partner with this person’…” (13:59)
• Examples:
  • Tales of last-minute delivery messes, Uber mishaps, baking rescue missions, and mutual support during family emergencies.
• Advice:
  • “Invite to coffee. That’s all you gotta do. It’s a numbers game.” – Heather (16:13)
  • Start your own local network if one doesn’t exist.
• Why It Matters:
  • Emotional and business support helps sustain bakers through tough times, burnout, and the mental load of entrepreneurship.

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5. Navigating Failure, Growth, and Balance (38:49–58:30)

• Mindset:
  • “Just because it’s a joke of a dream doesn’t mean it can’t come true.” – Kim (38:55)
  • "If something doesn’t work this time, tweak something, do it again…If you just keep going, it just does not work for you…for me, pre-sales haven’t taken off, but that’s okay—customs are my thing.” – Heather (39:01)
• Learning to Fail Forward:
  • Normalize refunding clients as a healthy business response.
  • “Failure isn’t you’re horrible at what you’re doing...failing is: I’m learning from something” (47:22)
• Support Structure:
  • Kim discusses leveraging her team: staff, husband, financial advisors, and business coaches.
  • “Those you surround yourself with is going to be the pivotal part for your success.” – Corrie (44:00)
  • Both the right network and the right mindset are key for longevity.

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6. Community Groups, Legal Changes, and the Bigger Picture (15:37–38:43)

• Local Groups:
  • “We’re lucky…we have one where we live too. It’s called the Cypress Bakers Network.” – Heather (15:53)
• Advocacy:
  • Highlight of how Texas bakers (“organized…might be one lady leading it”—Kelly) have driven significant positive legal changes, like raising cottage bakery caps, removing home addresses from labels, allowing wholesale.
  • “It’s always for Texas, and it’s always in kind of favor of the baker.” (36:43)
• Shipping Laws:
  • Remain restrictive in Texas—can’t ship generally, only to families.

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7. Tangible Tips: Efficiency, Hiring, & Classes (62:01–64:53; 58:51–60:40)

• Efficiency Tips: (62:01–64:53)
  • Corrie: “Grow another twin in the womb.” (62:32)
  • Heather: Use SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) to systematize recurring tasks.
  • Heather B: Stay organized—weekly review of orders, checklists/tickets on the cabinet.
  • Kim: Write and refine to-do lists, and be flexible if something isn’t working—optimize and adapt.
• Hiring:
  • Kim looks for kindness, confidence, and especially candidates with healthy direct communication (“How do you handle workplace conflict?”).
  • “Any answer besides ‘I’d go talk to them first,’ I’m not going to hire them.” (59:51)
• Marketing Cookie Classes:
  • Fun, low-pressure “gingerbread parties” instead of workshops.
  • Sell the experience: “Bring your family, we’ll do all the mess here.” (41:01)

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8. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Building Community:

• “Emotional support bakers…whenever there’s a problem, you two are like, hey girl, talk me through this.” (11:36)
• “It’s not like I’m halving my dollar, it’s like I’m able to earn $2 instead of $1.” (12:40)

On Food Network:

• “Usually the year after it airs is much bigger than the year before.” – Heather (19:34)
• “Just being on, it doesn’t almost matter if you win… It’s a brag both in our industry and to clients.” (25:19)

On Risk-Taking:

• “Just because it’s a joke of a dream doesn’t mean it can’t come true.” – Kim (38:55)
• “Failure isn’t you’re horrible at what you’re doing. Failing is I’m learning from something.” (47:22)

On Support Networks:

• “If you did this with no support…you would have failed. You can’t do it alone.” – Kim (44:06)

About Trying, Failing & Trying Again:

• “It almost doesn’t matter if you win… just being on [Food Network] is a big deal.” – Heather (25:19)
• “Trying. If you didn't make it through round one: discouraging, but you made it more rounds than I did, you know.”

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9. Practical Q&A, Group Engagement, and Cookie Collab (61:19–69:04)

• Questions from listeners about efficiency, cookie collabs, vendor events (“Vendy Blendy”), and class participation.
• Breaking down group and collaboration strategy for Facebook group members and “Main Street Cookie Club” (how to maximize post engagement, etc.).
• Examples of how online communities directly drive sales and exposure for local businesses: “They listened to it on the podcast. They went…Influenced to go to Occoquan.” (65:41)

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10. Final Reflections: Encouragement for the Baking Community

• Both guests stress that success in baking—and business—is built on perseverance, flexibility, and finding (or building) a strong support system.
• The hosts encourage listeners to reach out—to them, to the guests, to their own local groups.
• “You’re not that person. So to separate yourself from ‘this wasn’t a good business decision’ but I’m not a bad business owner and I’m going to continue and I’ve learned from the situation and I’m going to apply it…” – Kim (58:07)

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Highlights & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Topic/Moment | |--------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:32 | “First time we’ve had four people on the podcast”—Heather sets up the show format | | 03:43 | “Instagram DMs are the scouting process?” “Yes, generally that is for real.” – Food Network Backstage | | 06:17–06:55 | Kim explains the origin of Beans & Brews and how high-altitude roasting shaped their coffee | | 10:13 | Emotional Support Bakers origin story: “The extrovert found the introvert…” | | 13:30 | Uber driver “steals” a cookie order—a story about having backup bakers | | 14:44 | Heather details the relief of having backup; importance of baker networks | | 16:13 | “Start your own local group. Invite to coffee. It’s a numbers game.” – Networking advice | | 19:34 | “The year after it airs [Food Network] is much bigger than the year before.” – TV impact | | 25:19 | “It almost doesn’t matter if you win… just being on it is a big deal.” – Why TV is valuable marketing | | 32:11 | “Some franchises are more cutthroat…” – Kim’s franchise advice | | 36:43 | “It’s always for Texas, it’s always in favor of the baker.” – Importance of state advocacy | | 38:55 | “Just because it’s a joke of a dream doesn’t mean it can’t come true.” – Kim | | 41:01 | “Bring your family…we’ll do all the mess here.” – How to sell baking parties | | 44:00 | “Those you surround yourself with is going to be the pivotal part for your success.” – Corrie | | 47:22 | "Failure isn't...you're horrible...failing is: I'm learning from something." | | 58:07 | “To separate yourself from [failure]...this wasn’t a good business decision. But I’m not a bad business owner…” | | 62:01 | Listener Q&A on efficiency tips (SOPs, to-do lists, organizing orders, refining processes) | | 65:00 | Cookie Collab and boosting local business—“repeat until it works…wash, rinse, repeat…” | | 75:02 | “What is the Cookie College?” – Guests’ perspective on membership & community |

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Tone and Language

• Friendly, upbeat, humorous: True to the Sugar Cookie Marketing podcast’s reputation.
• Community-focused: Emphasis on teamwork, authenticity, and support.
• Transparent and encouraging: Willingness to admit vulnerability and share both victories and mistakes.

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For Listeners New to the Show

This episode offers both high-level inspiration and tangible action items for bakers—whether you’re dreaming of brick-and-mortar, want to be on TV, or just need a business “bestie” who truly gets your baker’s journey.

Connect with the guests:

• Heather Brookshire (Food Network insights, technical baking, custom orders): [In Sugar Cookie Marketing Group]
• Kim Sims (Franchise, allergy-friendly baking, brick & mortar business): [In Sugar Cookie Marketing Group]

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Key Takeaway:
Community, perseverance, and being open to risk (and a little failure) are as essential in baking as butter and flour. Surround yourself with support, learn from every flop, and never be afraid to reach for the next “joke of a dream.”

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For more resources, events, and friendly business advice, join Sugar Cookie Marketing on Facebook, check out “The Cookie College,” and connect with today’s guests in the group.

Transcript

[A]

Hey, Corey, what have you been doing this weekend?

[B]

Well, almost got into an accident the other day.

[A]

Really? Again?

[B]

Yeah, that was fun. Car jumped right out in front of us.

[A]

Oh, my goodness. How are your brakes?

[B]

Really good. Thank goodness.

[A]

Oh, good, good. So tell us what's going on.

[B]

Well, welcome to the Baking it Down podcast. A group on Facebook from the sugar, Sugar, Sugar cookie marketing group.

[A]

Nice, nice. So what do we talk about?

[B]

What are we going to talk about today?

[C]

Oh, what was the good. You're saying you don't know how to drive?

[D]

I said I do know how to drive, abs. No, I'm having my husband pull you over.

[C]

Well, welcome to the Baking it down.

[D]

With Sugar Cookie Marketing podcast. This is your host, I think.

[C]

Are you actually four of us? If you thought we were twins, we were revealing today that we're actually quadruplets. Here's Heather and Corey and other Heather and other Cory.

[D]

But actually.

[C]

And I'm going to switch seats here in a second. It's Kim and Heather. And Kim and Heather have quite a fascinating story and you guys begged to have. Not us on the podcast. Welcome. We have interviewers. They've actually flown in for this. So if that's not dedication, the rest of you can get your butts here to Northern Virginia. So I'm going to switch real quick over. Cory and I are going to sit over there. Kim and Heather are going to sit over there in the hot seat and we're gonna interview them about how to get on TV and how to run a brick and mortar franchise out of.

[D]

Good old can't wait, take me out.

[C]

Of the hot seat.

[D]

I'm ready to go.

[C]

Okay, guys, there this. We're back to our respective seats. However, this is the first time we've had four people on the podcast, which means two more pieces of equipment I'm not used to. Yeah, not like you guys have cared about the blurry images on YouTube, but it could be again this time. So I can't even see Kim. Corey can. But we're going to jump into kind of an interrogation if you of sorts to kind of ask you you your story and your story and then tie it back into how it's affected your marketing. So let's just jump in because let's pretend nobody's ever heard of you guys. If you guys don't know Kim and Heather, they're the ones who run the happy hours at CookieCon. So they're other Heather and other Corey at CookieCon. Right. So if you've been to any cookie con and been to any sugar Cookie marketing happy hour. These are the two that are always there. Heather is a Disney trip planner as well as a baker, and Kim has.

[D]

Fluttered her wings in brick and dress.

[C]

So both of these girls are actually in the cookie college. And Kim has broken down to us over the time of opening this brick and mortar of which you just passed a year in.

[A]

Yep.

[C]

Crazy.

[A]

Yay.

[B]

Also, I like your hair.

[D]

I'm just gonna open up with the most important question.

[C]

Who is your favorite twin? You guys, I'm the editor. So what I do. So.

[D]

I'm just kidding.

[C]

I'm just kidding.

[D]

We're just gonna dive in. I know that we don't have a ton of time, and we could go on and on about what we can talk forg do have a cold. And that's why these other Heather and other courts have stepped in. If you didn't know Heather Campbell, how long. How many times have you been on Food Network?

[B]

On Food Network? Three and a half.

[C]

You say that in a way that you've been on more than just Food Network.

[B]

Yeah. My husband and I were on Good Morning America. We got pulled on the live Good Morning America on our honeymoon.

[D]

No way.

[B]

That was a rush.

[D]

That's crazy. So when it came to the Food Network, there's a lot of bakers who would love to be on the Food Network. That is just a cool thing to say that you've been on the Food Network?

[B]

Yes.

[D]

What was the process that you had to go about? Is it like an application process? Is it once you're in, you're in. Are they scouting? Is there scouts out there?

[B]

Yes, there are scouts out there. So we've seen in the group, people sometimes post like, is this for real? Like, they dropped into my Instagram DMs and like, yes, generally that is for real.

[C]

So Instagram DMs are the scouting process?

[B]

It's part of it, yes. And then, like, kind of if you know someone or if someone you know has been on Food Network, then they may put your name forward.

[C]

Question. You've been on how many times on Food Network?

[B]

Three and a half.

[C]

Three and a half.

[D]

I gotta understand this half.

[C]

I got it, too.

[D]

With your legs or your upper part?

[B]

So the half came from when we were alternates one time. So we went through the whole process and then got all the way there and never got to go to the studio.

[C]

But you were in case a team dropped out.

[B]

You were right there. Yes. Because this was pretty like, as we were coming out of COVID I think it was 2021. Yeah. And then. Cause I was on in 2019, we were alternate to 2021, on in 2022, and then on in 2024.

[C]

Now that you've been on so many times and I'm asking questions as the inquisitive other people listening, is it because you've been on one time that they're likely to come back and be like, could you do that? That went really well. Could we have you again? Or are you saying, hey, girl, call me?

[B]

They can. It can go both ways. So the second time. Okay, so the. Let me back up. The first time I was a. I was an assistant to like the main person and she invited me to come. So we were not cast as a team. She invited me to come so I didn't have to go through like the first part of being cast because she.

[D]

Had already done the casting part.

[B]

And then she called me up and said, would you want to come and do this for me?

[C]

Wild.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

So that's how you got in. Not an Instagram dm, right?

[B]

For the very first time.

[A]

Yes.

[D]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

And that was. Was that a Christmas cookie challenge?

[B]

That one was. The names are so long.

[D]

I know.

[B]

And like, they're very close together. The last one was Christmas cookie challenge, and the first one was holiday baking. Holiday Gingerbread showdown.

[C]

I know. You have to gingerbread. Okay. Pause on you.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Kim.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

You in the last year have taken on. Which is probably not a year in the making. It's probably been a couple years in the making.

[A]

It's been about three years of work now. Three years.

[C]

So now are you allowed to tell us what the franchise is or you want to give that on?

[A]

It's Beans and Brews coffee house, and.

[C]

They'Re based out of Texas, and they're.

[A]

A lot of Texas, so they're actually based out of Utah. I grew up with the coffee, loved their coffee, all of that. And then when we moved to Texas, I couldn't find any good coffee. It tasted like dirt water to me.

[D]

Dirt water.

[A]

And so I would just get the beans shipped in and make it at home.

[C]

You were so extra.

[A]

I know. I am extra. I'm not addicted to coffee. I'm addicted to beans and brews. I've said that forever. I actually have two Stanley's that are Beans and Brews logos that they sold that are 18 years old now.

[D]

No. Oh, so you are.

[A]

You are Stanley forever.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

So you're.

[C]

You're original Beans and brews girl. Original Stanley. Okay.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

How many Beans and Brews franchises are in Texas then?

[A]

So Right now they're, I think San Antonio just opened their third, so that would be six. And then there's the seventh and the eighth coming very shortly.

[C]

And how many franchises total? Do you know? This is a quiz question. 80s.

[B]

Oh, wow.

[C]

And then how many years has it been around?

[A]

So it started in 1993 is when the Laramie brothers decided to open their own coffee shop after their own failed franchise. So.

[C]

Oh, wow.

[A]

And they went and they learned how to roast their own beans. I hope I'm not telling their full story, but they went and into Nevada to learn how to roast their own beans. And then they brought it back into Utah and what they didn't account for was the high altitude. So then they had to remake the process. Just like how I learned to bake in the mountains. And then now I'm at sea level in Texas. I have to redo everything, all the recipes. And then they learned the trick. And the beauty of roasting at high altitudes, that's what makes it different.

[C]

I love it. So both of you, question, where were you before this? Where were you before Food Network? And what were you doing before beans and bricks? Like, what were you baking? Where did you start from in terms of like cottage bakery? And then how'd you land here? So, Heather, you want to start?

[B]

So I've always known that I wanted to be a baker and do all the decorating and things. So, I mean, I started baking when I was in high school and then the old school Wilton classes from Michael's Hobby Lobby. I took those when I was 12.

[C]

Oh, little baby Heather.

[B]

So I've been decorating for a really long time. And then I went to culinary school right out of high school, worked through three different bakeries in Houston that was over a 10 year period. And then once they passed the cottage laws, then I jumped off and started doing my own thing.

[C]

Which way?

[B]

My bakery is called the Cake Whisperer and it is turning 10 years old.

[C]

Wow.

[B]

In October.

[C]

That's.

[B]

I can't believe.

[C]

Yeah. So cottage baking 10 years come October.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

Happy early birthday.

[B]

Thank you.

[C]

And Kim.

[A]

So I actually, I just loved baking as a kid, but I never liked to do the dishes, so my dad wouldn't really let me. Right. And so got married, had a kid, got a degree in psychology as well, had another kid. And then in 2020, obviously, I just, people were always asking me, can I see, do you have a business card? Can I buy something from you? And I'm thinking that you have to be perfect to be able to start bakery. So I just Was like, no, no, no. And then in 2020, I was sick. I just had a newborn and the whole world was collapsing.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

So I decided to. In October.

[B]

Were you staring at some competition there?

[A]

So I'm five years behind her, but I'm celebrating my fifth in October.

[C]

That's great. So we got five years. Ten years. One year physical brick and mortar, which is a wild ride because when is its birthday? Did it just pass?

[A]

Yeah. So our soft opening was the 9th of August and then our grand opening was the 24th.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yesterday.

[A]

Because yesterday was like the anniversary of the grand opening.

[D]

Wow, that's been a wild ride of a year.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

I think we've all ridden the ride. I'm wilded out listening to it. Okay. To set more groundwork though, what is your primary bestseller before the brick and mortar and like what you said a year ago, like, what were you like? This is my bread and butter. This is what I sell primarily. I know you're brick and dinner bread.

[B]

Yeah. I mean but that's only during like Christmas.

[C]

Yeah, sure.

[B]

Christmas.

[D]

Your name is the cake whisperer.

[C]

So.

[B]

Yeah, so I do. Yeah, cakes is more. I do more cakes than I do cookies.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

And I do more cookies than cake.

[C]

And now to. To kind of fuse this together. How you two find each other. Cuz it's not there. They're not here for no reason.

[B]

The extrovert found the introvert. Well, you know the way on TV and never. She won't ever do it.

[D]

So you guys didn't know each other. You guys were hop skipping. How far are you guys away from each other right now?

[B]

Currently about 15 minutes.

[D]

About 15 minutes. And n. Did you guys know each.

[C]

Other existed but you meet through a networking event?

[A]

Kind of. So first off, I was listening to some podcasts and they were talking about working and networking with other bakers to make sure that you could give orders to other ones when you're not available. And I was getting orders for things that I can't do because I am a nut free, allergy friendly baker. I wanted someone who I can send those nut nutty people too.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Lucky.

[A]

We were both in the same networking group, but different houses of what they call it. So different groups.

[D]

Chapters.

[A]

Yes. And so I was connecting with some of them, trying to find other bakers I can talk to, invite them to coffee. That one said yes and then I haven't let her go.

[D]

So they actually call each other ESBs.

[C]

Which can support bakers. Yeah, Emotional support bakers. Because whenever there's a Problem. You two are like, hey, girl, let me talk. Talk me through this. Knock me off the ledge, talk me down the wall.

[B]

And like last Dec. December, something was happening at the shop and she was gonna be baking for our class and she just called me and she's like, I need you to bake. And like in two seconds I knew, like, okay. It's like I wasn't planning on it, but okay, it's fine. I can move things around. I got this.

[D]

Teamwork truly makes the dream work.

[B]

Yes. And then I ended up getting sick and she ended up having to teach the class alone.

[C]

These two are a great example. And I know when everyone's like, it's like a Mariner competition. Like, not necessarily come into my kitchen and steal my work, but as much as like, hey, we can both be buddies and expand our offerings. Because I know you teach cookie classes together. Because like Corey and I say, like, I obviously can't bake and she can't talk. I could if you try.

[B]

So.

[C]

But when we combine our efforts, we're able to not only handle more capabilities, we're able to handle more people in a class. Marketing is half marketing efforts. You know, if you're sick, she's got it. If you leave the icing, she's got it. Yeah. Yeah. So that, this is why I like when you guys talk about your emotional support. Bakers, besties. Because it's saying like, it's not like I'm halving my dollar, it's like I'm able to earn $2 instead of $1. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You have so many. Like there was one time Heather, she's at the airport ready to get on a plane and Uber had. The Uber driver had stolen her order that she had.

[C]

This is a really interesting story, some context. Heather needs to go on a cruise.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

But she has taken a last minute order. She's not able to deliver it, but hires an Uber that does the courier service and just drop it off.

[D]

Cookies are baked. They're going to.

[B]

Well, and this is round two. So I had messed up and misspelled the name.

[C]

Sorry. It was, it was a high stakes situation and she was like, I'm going to do right. I'm going to rebake it, I'm going to have it delivered. But when the Uber leaves her cul de sac, it cancels the order and disappears into the forever.

[B]

Yes.

[D]

He said, oh, these look real good.

[C]

Now this client is out two orders.

[B]

You're on the plane, I'm at the airport. There's no more time. I Cannot remake again.

[D]

There's no other option.

[C]

We have truly run out of options. Except for one reveals behind a door.

[B]

Yes. Who's already baking for the class. That's it. I'm gonna miss anyways. And I'm like, can you do a little bit more? And it's the same situation. Like, she knew. As soon as she picked up the.

[D]

Phone, she's like, yeah, this is not.

[A]

Why I didn't even call me. You should be on a plane.

[B]

I didn't even have to. I didn't get the words out. And she was like, I'll do them. Like, I explained to her what happened, and she's like, I'll do them.

[C]

Could you imagine people listening in podcast land to have that backup if you need it? And I'm sure you've done paid her back 50 times for taking. But just to be able to be like, I'm not alone. Which is. This could be a very lonely road ahead. Right. It could be very isolating. You know, of course, we're all hiding from our clients doing Porch Bakery. But then you're like, there's no one to talk shop with in a cottage bakery. But then you go out, you risk it for the biscuit. Hey, I could partner with this person. They could steal, you know, that whole thing. They're stealing my ideas or copying everything I do or this other perspective of you have backup and a person who gets it. A person who understands icy lead. A person who understands that we never knew Uber would take the cookies and run, but they did. And you get almost like a sigh of relief. A backup plan. A backup to my backup. Yes.

[D]

Because without that, you would have had one irate customer in your hand.

[B]

Right? Well, and I had. You know, I was fully prepared to refund and, like, all these things, because obviously. And it was because there was a cake and cookies. They picked up the cake and the cookies the day before, realized that the name on the cookies was wrong, which was half the cookies, which was 18 cookies. So I'm like, oh, no. So then, of course, I had. They were like, Eddie Assisted.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

So I just message her the canva files, and, like, here's what it is. Just print them and write over it and, like, you're good to go. And I think it was like a plaque and something else. So, like, the shapes weren't even an issue either.

[D]

And the people who are listening. At the end of the day, Heather could have just refunded it in that the customer's still out, the people are coming to the party, the kids Are wanting to eat something with a name on it.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

So it's just nice that you have this baker backup.

[C]

Say that five times.

[D]

That can aid in your.

[C]

In your help.

[D]

And that's why those community groups, those local baker community groups that you can find, we have one up here, it's called the Nova Social Baker Collective. And everyone's in there like, hey, I took an order. I'm not going to be able to fulfill it. Can I pass it on to somebody? It's been really handy for that.

[B]

And we have. We're lucky that we have one where we live too. It's called the Cypress Baker. Cypress Bakers Network.

[A]

Yes.

[D]

A lot of things that rhyme. A lot of S and a lot of Cs.

[C]

Here's what I'm gonna say. Cause some of you guys right now are thinking, well, that I don't have that in my area. Or all of the bakers in my area, they're rude. Or the meat. Try it. Make it. Start it. Start the one.

[B]

Just start the one. Invite to coffee.

[C]

Invite to coffee. Yeah.

[B]

That's all you gotta do. You never, you never know. Like, and it's, you know, a numbers game, right?

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Invite five and you might get one. Invite ten, you might get two.

[C]

That's why I always say, like, maybe how we run the marketing group or the cook group, it doesn't jive with you, but there's other groups out there that will jive with you. And it's really a, you know, throw your net out there, see what you catch, throw it back in and see if you catch it again. So if you're hearing this and be like, my area doesn't. You could be the one. Because, you know, I hate to say it, it does take effort to run groups. It is. Put yourself, put your neck out there and have an event and nobody shows up could hurt your feelings. However, I think if we say like, you know, we're all busy, just keep trying it. Don't take it as a personal, like, failure. As rather, I just time that one incorrectly. How can I just. Just the same way we do marketing. Yeah. Yeah.

[D]

I always say at the end of the day, there's. We all are working with the same 24 hours and two hands. Lord willing, at the end of the day, I can only take so many orders. 50,000 people could be knocking at my door and I would have to turn 49,000 away. Right. So to have those people that I could depend on say, hey, you know, I'm not going to be able to take care of this customer. But I want them to still have a good experience. I know you run your business similar to the way that I run it. Do you mind taking them? Because I think you could knock it out of the ballpark. You know, if I could say, sorry, I'm booked, and then that's the end of the sentence. And then they're, oh, I guess I gotta go find somebody else. Or I could be the person like, I'm so sorry that I'm booked. Here's some fantastic bakers and really create that relationship because look at what the relationship has blossomed into.

[A]

And I will say for me, I wish there was more allergy friendly bakers. Cause there's a lot of time for me, it stops and ends with me if I'm not available or, you know, I can't fitted in. And it, it hurts because there's no one to send them to that I know is safe, nut free and all of that.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

So it's really hard to be in that place. And people are so much more willing to go back to you if you send them somewhere else.

[C]

Yeah, I love that. And if you find like, maybe you're like, I'm not cut out yet to have somebody who's my direct competition also be my bestie. Find this one where she's allergy free and she's not. And you, you, you're not even really taking from the same target. Right. If you listen to the podcast last week, how many diamond stores can be at Tyson's mall, which you gu after this when we go to lunch, a ton can. Because they are not sharing the exact target. And as such, they're no longer in competition. They're fighting a different battle selling a similar product. But you can see that between these two, we've got an allergy friendly and we've got cakes and cookies. Right. So it's the same, but it's different and they both can survive. Now back to the interrogation. I wish I had one light and like put it right over there. Okay. How has being on Food Network impacted now? We did the, I did the live roast, the roast and toast. And you got selected. And I saw on your Instagram you put hey, I'm on the Food Network. Which I compliment because that is social proof.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

Just with the fact the way we integrate with tv. Right. We're like, wow. You know, you guys can see how easy a podcast is to run now, but people are like, wow, there's a podcast. I have a fascination with anyone who's been on tv. In fact, Ruthanna I'm like, this is the one that's been on tv. And she's like, the one on tv. So how has it impacted your marketing? Do you find that it has generated leads? Do you find it converts more leads? Do you find it has no impact at all? But it was cool story.

[B]

Yeah. I mean, it's definitely. I see where the. Now that I've done it a few times, like, I see where the spikes are. So usually the year after it's aired is much bigger than the year before. So 2022 was one thing. And then into 2023, huge spike. 2024 cooled a little bit, you know, waiting for it to air. And then now this year has just been, like, broken all kinds of records.

[C]

When you sit down versus when it airs. What's the distance of time? There's.

[B]

It depends. It's anywhere from three months to. Mine has not been this long, thankfully. A year to a year and a half. No, I can't imagine, like, I had to hold mine for six months because.

[C]

You can't talk to us about it. I know. You were like, I can't tell you guys anything. Don't ask me. I'll have to murder you after this.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

But you were like, I'm going underground. Don't look for my body. Like, that's only how it is.

[B]

There's like, a handful of people who, like, know that I'm gone because obviously, like, you have to tell your family and, like, people that you work with. So, like, Kim had to.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

But of course I can't tell anything that happens. Like, my husband knew what happened.

[C]

Sure. Are you allowed to tell him?

[B]

Yes. I mean, you can tell your significant other. I mean, there's, you know. Could you imagine holding in a secret like that for six months? Absolutely. Oh, yeah.

[C]

When?

[D]

Every time I go to TJ Maxx, the man never knows.

[C]

I've never met a secret. I didn't want to tell something.

[B]

It was so hard. And she came trying. She came to my house trying to look good job for the ornaments, and thankfully I had it and she did not.

[C]

We like to keep the ornament there. Were you like, am I warm? Am I closed?

[A]

There were times I'm just like, where is it?

[C]

I would do, like, she just left me alone.

[A]

Is this smart?

[C]

If you had a hidden ornament, where would you think about it?

[A]

Oh, I was grabbing her husband everything.

[C]

Those chocolate chip cookies. That would have got me to tell a secret.

[A]

It was.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

I, I, I tried it.

[D]

So he's strong question for you. A lot of bakers, that's like their ultimate, like, if I ever was entree.

[C]

Oh, my goodness.

[D]

Would you, from someone who's been on it, think that, you know, if you get the opportunity, go for it? Or do you think it's maybe not for every single baker? Or is there a certain time in your baking life that you'd be like, yeah, go for it?

[B]

There's a lot.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

I mean, there's a lot to process when you're going through all of this. And for me in particular, because it kind of depends on the show that you're on. I had to do a lot of prep work before.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

So all the gingerbread. I've only ever been on for gingerbread. And so every time I had to do, I had to prep the gingerbread and bake it and stuff and bring it with me, which means I had a suitcase full of gingerbread that I was checking.

[D]

You would have fly it with you.

[C]

But this is a part of the show because if you watched it when the gingerbread's broken, they were like, dun, dun, dun, Right. It was integrated as the drama.

[B]

So. And I don't remember. I don't think they showed it on the second one. I did arrive with a couple of broken pieces that I had, and I kind of knew that if anything was gonna break, it was gonna be those, so I was prepared. And then on, later on in that episode, I knocked something off, so I actually did break something, like, on set.

[C]

Did they show it on the. Oh.

[B]

Oh, yes. They made a big deal of it. There was a commercial break and everything as we're watching it. Like, of course. I know it happens.

[A]

SHE SCREAMS the time I fell out my chair. It was the time before. Yeah, I got out of my chair. I just, like, fell on the floor.

[C]

You're watching this three months after it's been filmed?

[B]

Yes.

[C]

Okay, question, just for people curious, how long are you gone to do the recording?

[B]

Typically 5ish days. And that's like, with travel and doing all of the interviews and stuff that you have to do with it too.

[D]

So question, are you reimbursed for traveling or is that out of pocket?

[B]

No, you're reimbursed for that because they want to be and they want to keep the playing field level for everyone. So if you can't, like, afford to go, they don't want you to be out.

[C]

So travel, lodging, paid for.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

Food cover.

[B]

Oh, yeah, you get a stipend. Plus you're eating, like, eating on set or something, depending on what the shooting.

[D]

Schedule is so really honestly, for bakers who maybe do this baking part time and they have a full time job, you'd be taking about a week off.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

Which is. Would you, Would you tell somebody with full time job, hobby, baking, Maybe not.

[B]

I mean, it just depends.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Because you also kind of had to put your life on hold for possibly up to three weeks, depending on the show. You either are going to be there for three weeks or you don't know until like you're in the final pool when that actual date is.

[C]

Because it's a floating thought that you'd have to take off.

[B]

Yes. So you have to like be careful of orders in that time.

[C]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

Because you're getting closer and closer.

[C]

Watch out, Kim.

[B]

So people are trying to. Yeah, I mean, like, I'm sure that I handed some stuff off to you.

[A]

Yes, he did.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Crazy. Sorry. I didn't like the page or unlike the page.

[B]

And I came. Actually, this last one, I came back. I got back on Friday and we had a class on Saturday.

[A]

Oh, my God, it was killing me.

[C]

Oh, I would have. I would have just had.

[D]

So as far as like, someone, and it seems like tis the season is when these DMs start popping up and we see them coming to the group.

[C]

And asking them, tis the Food Network.

[D]

Tis the Food Network.

[C]

See that?

[D]

Is there any way where you'd look back and be like, you know, if I was just starting out and I had a lot of customer orders, I'd probably say no to the Food Network challenge? Or would you say I'd hand off all my custom orders because I get.

[C]

To say was featured on Food Network.

[B]

Right? Yeah. That's a pretty big brag to have in this field. Right. Like, I go to a lot of cake shows, cookie shows, all that stuff. And like, having that Food Network patch is a big deal.

[D]

Right.

[B]

And so, like, of course, after I, after I got mine, after we were on the first time, I got, you know, a Food Network patch for my jacket and I'm like, yeah, yeah.

[A]

She's like showing it. Yeah.

[C]

Fresh ink.

[B]

Yeah. So I mean, it's definitely a brag, both in our industry and to clients.

[D]

It's because clients know the Food Network.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

I mean, like, everybody knows what Food Network is. Absolutely.

[C]

Good question. Three and a half times. So remove the halftime. The three times. How many times did you win?

[B]

Once.

[C]

Okay. Did you see an increase in orders even in the times you did not win?

[B]

Yes.

[C]

That's insane.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

So it really does.

[B]

Even just being on, it doesn't it doesn't. Almost doesn't matter if you win. I mean, it's an. It's like an extra.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Like I'm a Food Network winner now.

[C]

Yeah, you were on the Food Network, still got the bump in sales. And you saw that bump for around almost 12 months following the premiere.

[D]

So you as a person must work well under pressure, right? That is Kim.

[B]

Yes, she does too. For all the trials and tribulations she's gone through this past year.

[D]

Someone who has maybe high anxiety or who is like a super planner. That would be hard for someone, that part.

[B]

And even for me, that's very hard because obviously doing the Disney trip planning, like, I'm a planner, Right. I plan things months in advance. And here we are. You have to go through this process, which is about three, two to three months long, depending, like from start to finish. And it can be weeks in between, hearing anything, knowing if you've moved to the next step.

[D]

And that must be feeling chaos.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Can I ask you this? How many times you have. Have you applied and not heard back twice? Okay. And you, it's just like, do they say, hey, listen, it's not you, it's us.

[B]

You just hear nothing back. Oh, wow.

[C]

Okay.

[D]

Wow. You got to be really strong person, stronger yourself.

[B]

And you just always have to know, like, with every step, if you don't hear back in probably two to three weeks, like, almost. It's almost like at the point that you're about ready to give up is like when you'll finally.

[D]

When you're crying, the tissue box is running out.

[C]

Okay, you're insane.

[D]

Now.

[C]

You're also insane. Very insane. So you were like, my life's going too easy. I would like, yeah, two kids, two young children.

[D]

My husband, I want to throw in some chaos.

[C]

So three years ago, you guys, you and the husband, who now you both do this full time.

[A]

Right.

[C]

But you guys had. Were you a full time cottage baker before this?

[A]

So I was full time cottage baker. I had a stay at home mom life.

[C]

And he was, he was nine to five.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

So three years ago, you bring up the idea. I'm thinking it's a you idea, not a him idea.

[A]

It's. It was actually kind of a collective idea. It. So we were kind of looking at what should we invest in, what should we do with our lives, kind of. We now have two children. Do I want to just keep working.

[C]

Honey, we're spending too much money on importing your beans. And you're like, I know how we can save it. We can make one.

[A]

It was actually a joke of a dream since high school. So I used to say, I want to have a bakery, and then next door have a Beans and brews and then a therapy office in the back.

[C]

Come in.

[A]

Oh, yeah, you know, grab your coffee. Let's have therapy on your way back, like, get a cupcake if it's been really hard.

[C]

I would go to therapy a lot more if there was a cupcake.

[A]

Exactly right. And we, it was just that time and we had al. We've actually looked and see if Beans and Brews was expanding when we were moving and they weren't. And when we looked again, they were. So we were kind of inquiring. We went through the application process and all of that, and we just kept talking about it and what do we want to do? We wanted to have my husband home more because he was working six days a week in Houston, like our travel there. And an hour back he was never seeing the kids. And it just kind of grew into a. Are we really doing this? And I guess we are.

[C]

We'll pretend this is a cliffhanger. I'm going to have you check that audio thing. And as I'm talking, do you see it spiking there as I'm saying, wonderful. I had to really talk just now. What if this is only one second? You have to fill in the places where Corey and I were talking.

[D]

So Kim actually did a Facebook live in the cookie college. It was, I, I, I honestly saved it. You know, like, you know where you have your shows and I was may not be interrupted. I need to watch Kim Kardashian.

[C]

No other Kim, far more stressful.

[D]

So you went through the SBA process, which was not a small feat.

[C]

You said it was grueling.

[A]

I think the word it is all the time. It like, it doesn't just leave you. You have to stick up with it. You have to talk about it. Just the whole entire process is insane, what you have to go through.

[C]

And you even said, had I known the process of which opening a brick and mortar already sounded like a process, but like, you were like, it is a process. It was more than you expected. It was. Oh, yes, look at your face.

[A]

I see you flashback as, as the.

[D]

Time is ticking, you know, because you said you started planning this three years, the SBA loans following you through this whole process. And like, as ups and downs go, they're always being like, hey, Kim, remember us?

[C]

But they're like in your entire personal life, your finances, because essentially you're saying, I promise I can Pay this back based off of no future projection of beans and brews. Based off of me and my husband.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

So he worked through the entire application process, right?

[A]

Yes, I did a lot of it, a lot of the heavy lifting until. So May 2024 is when he finally left his job. So I was doing most of the backbreaking work while doing my business, taking.

[C]

Care of the business.

[D]

So you had like two years that was just literally talking and doing the.

[C]

Paperwork side of it.

[A]

So paperwork and then you have to do different things with like architects and permitting and all this, like even looking at sites to even go to. Yeah, it was a long process.

[C]

Was this an outfit of a already built building or did they build the building?

[A]

So it was an outfit of already built buildings.

[C]

So you have a landlord as well?

[A]

Yes.

[C]

Now, because people, I'm sure, are curious, do you. Do you interface with the landlord or does Breeze and Bruce Franchisor.

[A]

So we interface with the landlord. So it's basically on us. We just have this brand, we have these people backing us up with for questions and advice and all of that. But it is our business, it is us. So we talk to our landlord. Luckily, we have a individual landlord instead of a big company landlord, which has its pros and cons too.

[D]

Sure.

[A]

So we talk with him basically when we need to. I mean, it's not really. As long as we pay our rent, we're cool.

[C]

Now the funniest story about this beans and bruising is when you open a beans and brews franchise, they loan you out an inflatable giant latte. A giant inflatable latte. Right. And you have him for what, three weeks? A month?

[A]

I think he's had him for like a month. It depends on like when the other store needs it and all that.

[C]

Right. So she comes in and the. Does he have a name?

[A]

No.

[D]

You never named him.

[C]

I know when she comes in, she sees Luke. The latte has actually been shot. And that's the most Texas story I think I've ever heard in my life. The only other way is it was been shot by a buc ee's beaver.

[A]

But hey, baby, Bucky came by and got.

[C]

Yeah, yeah, you never know. It's just beaver nuggets for you. Now, question for you, having experienced the franchise aspect of this and if I. If somebody in podcast line is like, I've been thinking about this, it's always been in the back of mine dream Since I was 12, would you tell them to consider a franchise over their own entity?

[D]

Yeah, like doing it on Their own.

[A]

I think it depends on what you are going for.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

So for me, I knew that I didn't want to do any other coffee shop shop because I loved their coffee.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

I didn't really like any other coffee. I wanted their brand and their beans and all of that. So there was no other way to do it. But you also need to know what type of franchise there is. You have to talk to lawyers to also go through something called an FDD to see understand what the franchise is, how they run it. Like it's kind of, hey, this is the book on our success and our issues or whatever here. You have to look through this and talking with them because some franchises are more cutthroat and protective. They don't care if you win or lose.

[D]

They just, if they get their money there.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

Question for you. Because I know a lot of people like us, like home bakers listening to this, they're. They're probably like, okay, she went with a franchise that's Beans and Brews away kind of from the bakery aspect. You know, like a home baker, cottage baker just opening up. What were you torn there or were you like, I know that with beans and brews I can therefore sell my other things through beans and brews. Or were you like coffee? I know it has a cult following.

[A]

So I actually remember this call. I was visiting home because my mom was sick and I called Heather and I was like, beans and brews not only would accept me to sell myself like baked goods if it like obviously it has to be approved. They want to go to certain standards and stuff like that. If I'm approved. They were sort of some people saying, hey, you can sell to other beans and brews. We would be so talking to them what would be accepted, what would not get. Getting kind of what their take on it was. I knew that the chance would be like, no, I like, you're just gonna do art stuff.

[D]

Sure, that's a gamble.

[A]

But I also knew that, you know, I could do my own pop ups there if necessary or whatever.

[C]

Because you said like the guy, the guy that runs it, you, you were on his. It's not like this like I'm gonna open a Starbucks and you're never seeing who Mr. Starby's is. Right. Like you were like, this guy is willing to sit down and talk to me. So Beans and Brews was more of a homebrewed.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

Franchise. Right.

[A]

We like, we call our coffee houses each house. Like each house has. And that's the one thing I loved about it as well, growing up is. It was very tight knit cozy. Each Beans and Brews had its own flair, but it was still the same brand. And I loved that. And I just had.

[C]

So you saw the flexibility growing up.

[A]

You can tell. I feel like you can tell a brand and their, their mission, their values when you go in.

[C]

Absolutely. Because it feels like a doctor's office at a Dunkin Donuts.

[D]

So I really like that you thought, hey, they might say no to having me wholesale my products there. But I own the franchise. I can do my pop ups there, I can do my classes there. So it wasn't like I'm turning my back on my home bakery. It was, how can I mesh these two things in together? The great thing, if someone's listening and they're new to what a franchise is, it is backed by someone bigger. So there's a lot more marketing that they help you with, things like that. I know you've helped them with marketing.

[C]

Which is great, fantastic.

[D]

But the name is out there. Beans and Brews. People know what it is. So it's not like you're having to do a trailblaze.

[A]

You know, we are in a way, though, because it is a brand new franchise to Houston. We were the first ones in Houston. The only other ones in Texas were in San Antonio and they were still, I want to say almost like about.

[B]

Four hours.

[A]

And they were only eight months behind me.

[C]

So they were still new as well.

[A]

So they were still new. And we're still trying to get more recognition in the market too. So it's. Yeah, it's. It's not been just a easy year. I will tell you that we are not through, but I'm happy we made it a year.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But it's also. It can grow. And I want to go back and say I haven't actually been able to wholesale my stuff yet to Beans and Brews, but that's changing. Is that in a week?

[C]

How am I gonna.

[A]

Yeah, it's in.

[C]

Wow.

[A]

September 1st, the Texas Cottage food laws change.

[C]

Okay. That's a big thing. You guys are also in Texas, which it seems of all the states cares.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

The one that kind of seems. And I think it's because you guys organized, which is smart. You guys organized. And it seems like there might be one lady leading it.

[A]

Yes, yes.

[C]

What's her name? Mary baby.

[B]

Oh, my goodness.

[D]

We call her Sane around here in Texas Park.

[C]

Send that one over there.

[B]

Kelly. Kelly.

[C]

Oh, nice. So you've got somebody really spearheading us and then showing. Because every time there's a causal change. It's always for Texas, and it's always in kind of favor of the Baker. Yeah.

[B]

Now, that said, it's taken us us three times. Three, four times to get this pass. Like last time, it was like, what, nine away from getting to the vote.

[A]

It was seven away.

[B]

It was so close. And then they were like, okay, we're done for today. And like, all those other bills that are waiting, they're gonna wait.

[A]

It turned to midnight and they're done.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Wow. Okay, so now you guys get this. You what are like the three big changes that are coming on September 1st.

[A]

So you can now wholesale. You don't have to have your address on the label as long as you register. Register. Thank you. With the state. And then the cap of what you can make has also tripled.

[C]

Okay. Yeah, tripled.

[D]

That's great.

[C]

So you guys can also ship and you've been able to ship.

[A]

No, you cannot ship.

[B]

So there's like kind of a weird gray area with shipping. There's kind of.

[A]

I can ship to my family.

[B]

Slight ways around it and stuff. And like, none of that changed. So the shipping stuff all stayed the same. Mostly we can't ship.

[C]

Okay. Okay. So that's your biggest lack of vast horizon.

[B]

Really?

[A]

None of us.

[B]

I don't know that most of us. It's also very hot.

[A]

Yeah, it's hot.

[C]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You guys can accept payment online, which is something Virginia can't do yet.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Interesting.

[D]

We're working on it.

[C]

We're working on it.

[B]

We're on hand cover.

[C]

As long as you see the dollar coming at you, you're legal. Last time we've seen a dollar bill in physical form was by accident.

[D]

I think I found a quarter on.

[C]

The ground the other day. Yeah. So, okay. Okay. If you guys could each pass on a nugget, a beaver nugget, so to speak, two bakers listening, they could say whatever sentence comes out of your mouth. Every baker would hear it. What would the sentence be? Possibly the spotlight is on.

[D]

That is very spotlighty.

[C]

Beans and brews go down.

[A]

Just because if it's a joke of a dream doesn't mean it can't come true.

[C]

Oh, I like. Yeah.

[B]

And I would say just keep going. If something doesn't work this time, tweak something, do it again. If you just keep going and it just doesn't. Just does not work for you. So, like pre sales for me, I can't get them to take off. I've tried, I've tried, I've tried. And that's Fine, but that's just not for me.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

So I'm like, okay, that's for other bakers. If some. So we've got our network. You know, when we come. When it comes to pre sales, I will refer to them, but I'm doing just fine with custom orders.

[C]

See, I like that perspective because I.

[D]

See a lot of bakers be like, pre sales don't work. No, presets don't work for you. You know, like, they do work. There's people who built their whole business on preschool. But knowing what works for you and leaning into what works for you is going to be successful versus, you know, you can only beat a dead horse so many times before.

[C]

Is that. Is that kosher to say? I say kosher, but yeah, that's a good one. So you're baked. I mean, like, you said gingerbread. Now, I know you do the gingerbread decorating classes.

[B]

So we do. We call it a party. We were calling it a workshop. We tweaked it, and we're like, okay, let's do it as a party.

[D]

That sounds not a bad work that.

[C]

You graded at the conclusion of this gingerbread class on structure and architecture.

[B]

Yeah. So we. It's not. It's not structured at all as a class. I built. We build them pre. They pre built. So all they do is come in and they get to basically the fun part.

[C]

The deck.

[B]

You get to the fun part. Yeah. So we provide this basically the same thing that comes in my DIY kits, which is icing, sprinkles, candies. But then we expand it a little bit more, and we offer more candy and more colors and stuff, so be able to play.

[A]

And then what we do, it was inspired by my daughter because I said after a Halloween kit, she smeared royal icing all over my wall. I mean, she was what, two at the time? So we'll give her that. But she. We were like, I'm not doing this in my home ever again. And then I was thinking, yes, gingerbread house. As a mom, this is a mess. I do not want to do this mess. But if I go somewhere and they clean up the mess for me, I would pay for that.

[C]

Yeah, absolutely.

[B]

So that's our major marketing thing is like, hey, bring your family. We'll do all the mess here.

[C]

And then that right there, what they've just mentioned is their messaging. So why. Why would I not do this at home? Because now they're using. We will clean it up. There will be no mess. It's, you know, no fuss. Leave with the house. We got the icing off the wall.

[D]

You're not gonna be screaming at your kids when you leave, right?

[B]

Right now.

[C]

Question back to you. You're here. You're not at Beans and Bruce.

[A]

No.

[C]

Is that stressful to be able to. Is it hard to walk away from a brick and mortar? Everyone knows she has employees, so yes, I.

[A]

One, we have a phenomenal assistant manager right now who I think it would be harder if we didn't have her. She's still fairly new, but she is rocking it and killing it. Also, my husband is there. Yeah, it is a lot harder. Me and my husband went like 45 minutes away just for, you know, a small little family outing. It was the first time. Cuz we don't want to, you know, take our kids away from that moment as well. But we. He still had to go back and help them because there was an emergency. Because when the boss is gone, everything will the demons come in. So it's interesting.

[B]

They.

[A]

But my staff also knows that where I am, they know what I'm doing and they don't want to bother me. So even I know one messaged me and then later she was, oh my goodness, I forgot. Don't worry about this till you get back. And I'm like, it's fine. We're good. It's all good.

[C]

How does it feel? Like you have the personality for this though. I think you're like, you know what, we'll figure it out. Because you've. I've heard your stories in the last year and some of that stuff would have taken most people to their knees, but you're like, that's sucked. I did call Heather. Tears shed. We must go on.

[A]

I will say, like, last week was really. It was another rough week and we were just messaging at night and I was like, I just had a really hard day. She showed up the next day. She's like, here's a hug. What do you need?

[D]

Esb. I could just feel it.

[C]

So I know you have your esb, but you also mentioned that you have a mentor as well.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

And that's different than Heather.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

So we have a whole team and we rely on them.

[C]

We.

[A]

We have financial advisors, we have a business coach, we have all the people at corporate. I guess you could say we have so many people that we can rely on because we're not going to know everything.

[C]

Sure. I like that you're. You've created an infrastructure, a support network, and you lean on them respectively. Because I think it would be tough to go from Cottage Riker. To be like, oh, my goodness. Like, you use the acronym fdd. I feel like I got to Google that after you leave.

[A]

So you don't know Franchise disclosure, your documents.

[C]

And you said you had no idea about the vocabulary in a year and how it would shift. But you're quick to say, I'm not alone. I have many people. I have my husband. I have my esp. I can go to the cookie college group. I know you asked about all of some of your questions.

[D]

I think what I'm learning is those you surround yourself with is going to be the pivotal part for your success.

[C]

Make a break.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

Imagine if you did this. No husband, no esb, no general manager, no manager.

[D]

No.

[A]

I would have failed.

[C]

You would have cried. I think we'd have to pick you up on the floor.

[A]

Yeah. I don't think I would have opened, let alone gotten through a year. You can't do it alone.

[C]

Yeah. Yeah.

[D]

And I think as home bakers with the dreams of a brick and mortar, we so feel isolated and alone. And I think we so hold the card so close to our chest because, oh, if someone knows what I'm doing, they might know my imposter syndrome. They might know that not everything is perfectly aligned like I portray on social media. My picture's great. Me crumble. I'm falling apart, you know? And that's why I think so many bakers are worried to ever cross over that border, because we're so worried that someone's gonna look in and maybe judge us when really we could find people who are there just literally to help.

[C]

I think that's why we're kind of really strict in the comment sections on sugar cookie marketing, because you don't know if that one thing that you thought was a joke is going to cause somebody to quit because it is such a lonely. I would say it. Okay. A lot of people. Not extroverts. Right. So you say, okay, I don't want to talk to me. In fact, I'm going to go to the kitchen and hide. I'm going to go to the kitchen and talk to my mixer. It doesn't talk back. So then you're like, okay, I'm very alone. I don't know what I'm doing here. And then you go to these groups and this. I'm sorry. I'm complimenting us real quick.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

You go to these groups and somebody absolutely drags you. Because Corey's like, yeah, When I first got started, I put a picture of the cookie when it was sitting on shred. And everyone called me an idiot. And I was going to stop because I didn't write.

[B]

I didn't know until I got into the groups and saw that too.

[C]

Like, so that's why I want to challenge people. And then, you know, the people who listen the podcast are so gracious and everyone's so nice. But, yeah, consider, like, does this comment hurt or does it help? And if it hurts, why do I feel the need to do it to this person? Is there a way I can constructively help them instead of teach them a lesson by shame? Yeah. Yeah. And I think that you could make. And you don't. You'll never. You'll never know that little comment you made, how it sets somebody up. Right? So that's a problem. We never see this little seed planted if it does grow into the oak tree. But you don't. But I can almost guarantee you that little jab is actually causing someone to bleed out. Oh, sure. Because it was. It's never cuts, man. You make a post on Facebook, I'm like, oh, no comment. What is it?

[D]

Sometimes I post and I go to bed. I'm like, oh, please, Lord, let me wake up to not a lot of notifications.

[C]

How do you deactivate my Facebook?

[A]

The thing is, though, is we are all going to. To fail. We are all going to make mistakes. I think one thing that really helped me, I remember this moment is I believe it was either in the group or maybe it was on the podcast. I think Corey was talking about how she's failed and this happened. She had to refund or something happened. And to go into your phone, into your app's note right now, and write out what you would say when you're not emotional to a client to fix it. An instant refund. Guess what? A few months later, that happened to me. And I remember sitting there feeling those emotions, and I was like, wait, I have this. I've been prepared for failure this whole time, and that's what I've had to do through this whole entire business, too. That didn't work. Okay? It's not about me. It's not about. It's not showing that I am a bad business owner or anything. It is. This didn't work. Let's take the emotion out of it and let's pivot and figure out what does work. Where is the problem? Let's fix it. Let's take care of the customer and move on and learn.

[D]

That's here. And failing. I mean, if you failed, if the one challenge you didn't win, if you're like, oh, well, I'm closing up shop. I'm not good enough. It's done, it's over. Sell the cutters and everything like that. Failure isn't. You're horrible at what you're doing. Failing is. I'm learning from something. So next time when I need have a same order and you know, the color's a little off, I'm gonna know.

[C]

Like, Corey, I've learned.

[D]

Yeah, I've learned I can't see purple. So when you order something that's purple, I'm gonna let you know. Upward. And you not winning. I mean, putting yourself out.

[C]

You caught.

[D]

You called yourself an introvert.

[B]

Yeah, putting yourself.

[C]

You hide it very well. Yeah.

[B]

Being in front of a camera is so hard.

[D]

Oh, I couldn't imagine.

[B]

Yeah. When I did, when I went to apply for this last time, like, one of the things you have to do for the first part of the application is like, film yourself. And they have like a small list of questions like, introduce yourself. Why do you want to be on Yada Yada? And I'm like, I could not bring myself to shoot that video. And I was like, if I can't shoot the video, what am I doing going to Food Network? I've been on it a couple times before and why can't I shoot a video on my phone at home?

[D]

But I want to say that's so reassuring to people listening who I could not imagine. And I told her, I said, I do not see myself ever even applying to be on the Food Network. It would be such an out of a body experience.

[B]

It is weird. It was a wild ride.

[D]

And you have to like, know stuff. Like, I know a recipe.

[C]

They'll be like, you're going to be making sugar cookies with banana. And Cory will be like, listen, to go. There would be a jerky with just.

[D]

A banana on it.

[C]

That's all I know.

[A]

I will say Heather's new goal is to try to find a way to get me onto tv. Cuz I refuse to.

[C]

I support.

[A]

I think she's figured out whatever, whatever.

[C]

Support you need from us for the peer pressure, esp.

[D]

But that's so true. And I think you're right. You know, you're not a failure when something goes wrong in your business. You're not a failure if you didn't bring home, you know, the ornament. You know, you're not a failure when you have to refund. And I think we all as bakers, just because we put so much time, effort and love into everything, it feels Like a bit of a failure. Like, oh, man, the voices in the back of my head were right. You know, I wasn't good enough.

[B]

But the only voice is so easy to give in.

[C]

Absolutely. I think it's interesting and probably why people liked having Amy on here. And you guys is peeling back the layer of, you know, Amy does have five kids. Yeah. That's gotta be insane. I also have children and I also think it's insane. But you never, like, you see these bakers with everything put together. You're on tv, you have a brick and mortar. She has five kids and they're not cracking at all. So something's wrong with me. But then you get to hear these podcasts and you're like, oh, that is stressful. Fdd.

[D]

She can't film herself on a phone.

[C]

I can't make a reel either. Wow. The girl on TV can film herself. She struggles with that. Because I did a get ready with me the other day, immediately we're like, what was that? Who was that?

[B]

I was like, that was out of left field. No, no, it's an arcade. Okay, Makes sense.

[C]

I was like. I said, I wonder, do I get ready with other. So, yeah. To be able to. To see. Like, we all have our self doubts. We all have our little demons. I know you think your location's haunted too.

[B]

Like all these little things, they just follow her.

[C]

Yeah. I have my cat Munchy. So we all have these like insecurities or, you know, not even. Like the word's gonna sound malicious. Like deficiencies. Things I know I'm not good at. Yeah. But I'm like, as long as someone sees this and never points it out ever. But in reality, we all have em. And it's like you said, that didn't work for me. I'm gonna find something else that works twice as better than that. Yeah, I know.

[D]

It was so hard for me. Like, yeah, I messed up a customer's order and I had a refund. I'm like, people are gonna know I'm not perfect.

[B]

As long as my husband knows when I had that happen, it wasn't so hard. I'm like, I always have in my back pocket. The refund.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

That I think if more bakers realize that that allocated.

[B]

Once you let that in, I accept.

[D]

That to my brain that the refund isn't negative. It's free. You could get out of jail free.

[B]

Cost. Yes, yes.

[C]

But here's the thing, and here's what I'm. I think you're kind of saying is having that allocated Listen, I got this refund you. You changes your attitude towards the client when that issue arises. Like, no, no, no, no. I'm going to give you money back. And they're like, no, get your money away from me. I just want to support you. Like, absolutely not. I'm giving it back to you. Like, it becomes this, like, come, come a place of power. Yeah. From a place of control versus from this reactive, scared failure. You're reiterating my deep, dark inner thoughts that I'm not a good person. And now you want your money back. Which is physical, monetary proof. I sell.

[B]

Yeah. Yes.

[D]

Every time I make an order, I send a picture before pickup. It's just what I do. It usually catches a name spilled wrong.

[C]

Right.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

What I do, I say this out loud every single time. I've been baking for years now. I'm pretty confident with what I can do. But when I send the photo, I said, if they hate it, I can refund them. That's.

[C]

I say to myself, is that you feel, Mary? It's a hate. They can get to my back. You know, I always have that in my head. If I don't. If I get to a network, I'm a little bit of a. I gotta extrovert about two hours and then go back to introvert.

[B]

Right.

[C]

And I'm like, if I get there and I don't like it, I can't. Like, if. If you have these little catchphrases, they kind of release you from the. I have to. You know, at the end of the day, I'm not sure if you're legally allowed to do this, but if it gets overwhelming, you can go back to what life was before that. Maybe in 10 years when your lace is up.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

You know, kind of that.

[A]

Yeah, that's what I've. I know I'm gonna out him. My husband has had a lot of, like, scary moments. And I'm like, you know, I've had these scary moments before. Let's keep going through. And it's kind of his first scary.

[D]

Like, oh, you're seeing how you walk.

[A]

I know. Like, you know what? Guess what? If all else fails, my parents have a basement.

[C]

There you go.

[A]

It's okay.

[D]

Right there.

[C]

That's the same.

[B]

The backup plan.

[C]

I love it. You know, at the end of the day is rock bottom covered with a mattress and a roof over her head. Do we not truly end up on the street? And that allows you. And you might, you know, somebody might be listening. Well, I don't have that option. You can make that option for you, which is, you know, as simple as, I have a refund budget, I have that option. So if the client is really upset, I don't get the negative review I get. I get to buy myself.

[D]

But trying. If you didn' make it through round one, discouraging. But you made it more rounds than I did, you know, you made it to round one. Trying something. Beans and brews got. We hope it's here for the next 42 years, you know, but at the end of the day, if it's not, you still have your cottage bakery to fall back on.

[A]

Hey, and I have a lot of beans for the, like, probably, like, years. Come on.

[C]

That's. The goal is to get that.

[A]

I will have the coffee no matter what.

[C]

Yeah, yeah.

[D]

But without trying, without putting yourself out there, without applying, without taking the video, you're not going to move forward. Yeah, but it's comfortable to not move forward.

[C]

I can imagine losing on the food. I couldn't. I couldn't imagine the Food Network.

[B]

It.

[C]

Couldn't imagine losing in the Food Network and then putting my neck out even further and doing it again. Losing is an operative term because you were on the Food Network. The best of the worst. And then doing it again. Doing it again. Failing forward, failing. But getting the ornament, which you got this past year.

[D]

Yes, but you wouldn't have gotten it because you didn't win this one.

[C]

Taken you to your knees. Right. Yeah. Had you let that impact, how you saw yourself, there would have been no second, third and.

[B]

Right. Right. And I mean, I've had to do. I mean, that's why there's, like, gaps between some of it. You're precluded in contracts. Like, you can't for six or six months or a year sometimes in between shooting, because they want, you know, fresh faces and stuff.

[C]

But you tell them, look at this face. I got spark on my hand.

[B]

But I think that's also too, for me. Like, you kind of need to. You need to reset and, like, really think, like, do I want. Because you give your life over to these people for three to five days.

[C]

And, like, you don't control the edge.

[B]

I was gonna say. And there is almost nothing in your control.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Except for what you. You're, like, making and even that. Just what you do. And, yes, there's always twists. Right. So there's. But you can kind of go into it knowing, like, okay, there's twists. You can kind of, like, mentally prepare. Like, I know there's something coming, but it just. It's hard.

[C]

YouTube. Okay. YouTube. Have you guys seen Indiana Jones?

[A]

Of course.

[C]

When he goes to the. Find the. With the dad and they're trying to find artifacts in the temple of. They keep going. And then he has. That has to take a walk in the canyon. He can't see that there's a bridge there.

[B]

Yes. The faith.

[C]

That's you two. The walk of faith. Right. So he's. He just. Just closes his eyes and takes that first step, and then he keeps taking the steps. That's what I say. Guys, just need Indiana Jones hats for the next podcast.

[D]

Yeah. Also, drink out of the ugly cup.

[C]

But, yeah, it's kind of that, like, you take that first step and it's exhausting. Like, shoot. Like. And then you have to take the next step, and it's just as exhausting. And then you're like, wow, my whole life has changed. My holiday was in a different place because I took all these miserably exhausting lawyer flying in with gingerbread in my suitcase steps, and now my life is completely changed.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

I mean, baking, we can say for both of you, has changed your lives. Yes. Imagine if you had never picked up the spatula. You wouldn't be sitting here together. I don't.

[B]

No. No, not at all. And I mean, like, the day that she called me, you know, that was a pretty pivotal day, because where would we be now if we didn't have each other?

[A]

My kids would have never gotten to school.

[B]

School that day.

[C]

Oh, yeah, that's right.

[B]

There was one day over the summer, and she's like, I just. I need someone to take the kids to school because her husband wasn't in town and I was stuck at the coffee shop.

[A]

A new trainee.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And so, like, she's going down her list and down her list and, like, everybody's not available. And then she finally. She calls me, and I'm like, if you're calling me, I know how desperate you are because I don't have kids. And she wants me to take her children to school.

[C]

Like, we can't drive kids. High five. High five. I was like, yeah, I'll pick up your son. You're gonna get there real fast.

[D]

I just say to my son, heather's your new mom.

[B]

Obey her.

[C]

I don't know what she's gonna say, but I said, let's go to K. Buy whatever we want.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

No, but it.

[D]

It is life changing. And you're right, failing isn't necessarily a bad thing. And I think bringing it back to a lot of posts that we all.

[C]

See in the sugar cookie market, Group.

[D]

My pre sale didn't go well. I'm never gonna do these again.

[A]

Again.

[D]

Okay, your pre sale for maybe like Mother's Day didn't go well. But don't let that take away from your Christmas pre sale.

[B]

Right.

[D]

You know, because you're. You could be stealing from yourself because.

[B]

I mean, that said, I mean, I say I don't do pre sales, but then I do sell pies and the gingerbread house kits at Christmas. And like, yes, those are pre orders. So, like, I do, but she's adjusted.

[C]

It to work for the price.

[B]

Just those two things. And I don't do any of the other holidays because imagine if others said.

[C]

Pre sales don't work. Scrap the gingerbread. But idea.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Wild. Wild. You would be losing so much money.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

But you would be able to protect your fear that maybe the gingerbreads wouldn't sell because the first thing didn't sell.

[B]

Right.

[C]

I think living, I think coming from a place of fear is rough all the way around. It feels safe, but it's actually putting us in the positions of which we do not. Of which we fear. Yeah, right. So when you come from a place of confident power. That didn't work. Doesn't mean I'm a loser. That just means that wasn't it. And then trying it again and again. And then finally you guys are like, oh, beans and brews and gingerbread house party.

[D]

Mentally separating yourself.

[C]

I'm sure when you hire people, people.

[D]

You know and it doesn't work out, that can feel like, shoot, I was on who hired them. What did I do wrong? No, but at the end of the day, it's not necessarily. You're not that person. So to separate yourself from, you know, this wasn't a good business decision. But I'm not a bad business owner and I'm going to continue and I've learned from the situation and I'm going to apply it to my next one. I'm sure that's.

[A]

It happens with staff. It happens with. I mean, I can look at a Wednesday and be like, oh, my goodness, I make no money. This Wednesday we are going to fail versus, oh, it's just a Wednesday. Saturday was perfectly fine. Or, hey, what's going on today? Oh, it's raining cats and dogs outside and no one's out. No wonder we didn't sell.

[C]

Zoom out, zoom out and look at the entire picture. What effect of this? Now, question for you. Not everyone listening is wanting to start franchise. In fact, not everybody listening knows for sure if they want to keep up their Cottage Base Bakery. As an employer hiring employees, what do you look for? What would make somebody be able to land a job with you in that interview process?

[A]

I don't. It might be confidence about who they are. But also just we lost one.

[D]

One down. Put on those pretty faces.

[C]

Like you do. Reverse.

[A]

I think it is just kindness being open and friendly. Just having that confidence. I'm here trying my best and go putting myself out there.

[C]

Does enthusiasm help in the interview process?

[A]

It does sometimes too enthusiastic.

[D]

We don't like that.

[A]

Well, I think it. I also have make it or break it questions.

[C]

I think let's have one.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

So my biggest make it or break it question is how do you deal with conflict with a coworker and any, any other response? Like I get a bunch of responses of oh, I just, you know, try to keep my distance and do my work. No, that's. That's going to create a different. We don't want that in our culture. If any other, any other answer besides I'm going to go talk to them first. I'm not going to take them. I'm not going to hire them.

[C]

Because you know that the environment shifts. It has a cascade failure effect.

[A]

Figure out your issue. Like just go talk to them. Because most of the time time it is a small miscommunication.

[C]

Of course I think when we really zoom out, most people have their own end to our best interests at heart. I don't think we all are like I hope that fail.

[D]

What if I said I will take it out back?

[C]

Would you like.

[B]

Oh, interesting.

[C]

What a mean right hook. Okay. Only because I know the equipment's gonna start shutting down. I don't want this to cut off mid tens. Cause there's no coming back from it. Let's move on to the STL me about it. So we have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 text. You guys are going to pick it and also answer the question. You guys can discuss amongst yourself. This is sponsored by Cookie Design Lab who is running a sale in the next couple of days. They actually you can use code twin save 15% off. And they've added the ability to put text on cutters of which I thought was text on cutters. These two are in the cookie college and I dropped the digital download kit but I made the cutters in Cookie Design Lab and labeled.

[D]

They're very, very cute.

[C]

I actually made them and baked them up. You're welcome.

[D]

You're welcome.

[C]

So professional.

[D]

Okay, so you have six to choose from. Discuss amongst.

[C]

Okay, four that was.

[D]

Did you have the twin Telepathy, Twin telepathy, Right?

[A]

Sometimes we do. I don't know.

[D]

You almost have it. Dare I say, better than me and twin one over here.

[C]

This is so funny. This is written to all four of us actually. So area code 713. What do we think of 713?

[B]

That's home.

[C]

That's home.

[A]

We know who it is.

[C]

Are you?

[B]

I'm willing to bet it's Ashley.

[C]

Yes, that is. Did you guys choreograph hilarious? Okay, that was random that you picked. Hi, all four of my favorite twins, Ashley from northeast Houston here.

[B]

All four of you.

[C]

All four of you ladies are incredibly busy. If each of you had to give just one tip for efficiency, what would it be? Also actually hilarious. Email me heather sugarcookiemorgan.com not heather@ the cake whisperer. I will hook you up with cookie design lab for a month. And if you guys are listening, they do have that sale. Somebody had said that they couldn't get cookie cat to work non dogging on cookie cat. But I said, yeah, it's not a free trial, but you can do a five day trial for five bucks or something. A week trial for five bucks. If you just wanted to test it out. Code twins I think still works on that.

[D]

Yeah. My efficiency tip is grow another twin with you in the womb at the same time.

[C]

It's been great. It's been great. My efficiency tip is SOPs, standard operating procedures. So a lot of people say, how do you run a vendiblond eat? How do you run these cookie trips? I use the brain processing power the first time and then I create an sop. In fact, with these cookie claps, since we're being more consistent with them, I created an sop. I just type in the date of the collab and it backdates all the tasks I need to accomplish that by the end of the.

[D]

And that is why she is my efficiency person.

[C]

I think twice. Okay, what do you guys do?

[D]

One efficiency tip.

[B]

For me, it's organization. Because it starts, it starts and ends with organization. Kind of standards of practice.

[D]

Louder for the ba. Says the planner.

[B]

Exactly. Right? Yeah. So at the beginning of every week I go and I look at all my orders. I'm like, okay, what do I need to order from Amazon? Do I need to go get more boards? What do I need to go buy from the grocery store? Here's the photos that come with it. Here's what the person is when it's picked up and like the details, the rest of the details of the order so that I know and that comes from my bakery days when I had, like, tickets. And that's what I was working off of. So now it's just. And I tape it to my cabinet right above where I'm doing all of my work. So I see it all week long. And I know except for that one time where it's. It was spelled correctly on the sheet and not. My brain did not.

[D]

The brain does weird things. I thought Isaac was spelled one way. It is definitely not.

[A]

And me, I would say to do lists, like, write out each step as you're doing it. So in the future, you know each step, but also refine. So Tuesdays are my baking days. I wanted it to be on Mondays. It never worked on Mondays. Refine it and be okay with it. It's not working. Recognize it. Figure something else.

[C]

I like that one. People were like, sometimes I look and I'm like, I'd love to organize your house. And I was saying that to my boyfriend, I'd love to organize your house. And he was like, well, you're gonna just throw everything away. I said, no. I'd actually like to watch how you interface with your house and see how it could be optimized. Because if you throw something away that somebody's using, you've not optimized. You've created chaos. You may have go back complete chaos. So, yeah, it's kind of that seeing what works, what you hope for. Be like that. That all it was in it. So I'm going to try again and see if I can adjust. Instead of changing who Kim is as a core person, changing what's around Kim so that Kim could be your true happy child.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

Okay, here's another question. This is really a question directed to me because I know what this is about. Per the cookie collab, which is actually this Thursday. Are you guys participating? Participating?

[B]

One set of cookies is baked and ready. Just need to do photos and go to beans and burgers. The other one, I got to decorate and, like, do everything on Wednesday when we get back home.

[C]

My backstory for the cookie collab. It is on this Thursday, which is Thursday. That's not a Friday. That was a typo. That was me being okay with being perfect. But it is intentionally shifted from 10am Eastern to 11am Eastern so that our West Coasters can not have to wake up early and see my loving face. That is the Main Street Cookie Club. Somebody yesterday in the cookie marketing group said, how can I get corporate ers? And I said, repeat this until it works. Yeah, wash, rinse, repeat. What's funny is Corey picked graffiti Cat pizza. They listened to it on the podcast. They went.

[B]

Influence to go to Occoquan.

[C]

It works. Did you guys end up eating there?

[B]

We didn't. I got gelato there.

[D]

Yes.

[B]

Because we were waiting on the table at the Secret Garden.

[C]

I've actually never been to Secret. Was that good?

[A]

It was delicious.

[C]

Wait, question.

[D]

Is it only outside seating?

[B]

No, it's indoors and outside.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And I'm in.

[A]

No. Up the staircase.

[C]

Yes. My mom said. I was like, I can't find this secret place called Secret Garden. She was like, it's up a staircase. Course. So anyways, that collab is on Thursday now. Corey is so funny. We talked about it. She's going to feature this Graffiti Cat pizza. But over the weekend, the owner found the cookie that his employee had taken and made the whole post thanking Corey, mixing bowl, cookie company and tag feed everything. He beat us to the punch. He's going to be thrilled with Thursday. She features the company. Now. If you don't know what I'm talking about, go to the events tab in the sugar cookie marketing group. I've actually already posted the templates of which you said thank you because you're out of town. Turns out you. You're here.

[B]

Yes, well, and I've already scheduled it. We were doing this last night. I was. I scheduled like typed it all out. I don't have the photos yet. But it's. That's in the draft. Now all I have to do is.

[C]

Go add the photos.

[D]

Oh yes.

[C]

Perfect. The question from this great user662 says for the cookie collab. I noticed you all do not respond to any comments on your own collab post until it's over. Is there a strategy behind that? No. I was actually at therapy session so I got out at an hour later.

[D]

Here's the thing. You can only make so many comments. What my goal is for the collab is I want to go through and make sure I'm commenting on everything. Everybody else's first participate so I can make sure that they're getting just as much juice because they're doing the same for me.

[C]

But this is such a strategy. After we do what we're required by law, which means that I post a photo and then go engage with these other people who have very interesting write ups for their collab features. I'm going to go back to my post and reply to each comment in a way that makes people come back. Yeah, because again, this is a twofer thing. We want to help other bakers. It's cool to see what other people doing. But I also want my post to reach the maximum amount of people. Now, this is called manufactured engagement. The fact that Heather from. Well, turns out she now likes Graffiti Cafe. It's a bit before yesterday. She's coming and saying, corey, that's crazy. I can't wait to try it in an imaginary world where they're not here. She's never gonna be here necessarily to try it this week. Maybe one day. We Live in Washington, D.C. the other half is that Corey's audience who does live here will be like, I can't wait to try Graffiti Cat pizza. And then Mr. Graffiti Cat Pizza is like, corey, that was turned out so well. I did see a spike in people coming. I mean, literally, they've gotten two more. Absolutely. All right here. And he can say that. So what we want to do and what I encourage everyone to do is for that hour, engage with the other bakers. But then, yeah, at any time throughout that day, go back to your comments and comment back to the other bakers. Now you're going to know when it's a new baker. Yeah. You're going to know when the local's like, I love that place.

[D]

And when it's cookie code, Texas Company.

[C]

Okay, yeah, not down the street, but we'd love to see you. And then say, yeah, I love this pizza. In fact, my favorite is anchovy or something weird to kind of keep that engagement. And then I could say, you know, have you ever been to D.C. if you have, what are some places you've checked out? Yeah. Okay. Yeah, Right. Because that's how we want to get that post. Because every comment, every interaction, every, like, every reply, every somebody, every time somebody returns to that post, it signals like, this is something about this post. Pretty good. Something about this post is keeping people on this platform. Let's show this post to more of Corey's Graffiti Cat Pizza audience. Local. Yes. And that is a strategy behind that. So that cookie collab. Thank you so much for texting in 662. What do you guys think? The area? 662.

[D]

Oh, I think in Montana.

[B]

You always.

[C]

Montana.

[B]

I do feel it's like out west, though.

[C]

Out west. Georgia. Are you Georgia?

[A]

I don't know.

[C]

I think it seems peachy. Mississippi one day. Olivia. I did a Montana roll call in. Nobody coming up.

[D]

Yeah. I don't know why my heart is in Montana.

[C]

Maybe I was watching Yellowstone. Okay. If you guys want to text into the podcast, it's 571-556-5644. One day I'm going to just give my own phone number. I know I'm going to accidentally say that wrong.

[D]

I don't even have her to memory.

[C]

Yeah. And if you want to win a month of cookie design lab, who is also back for the Vendi Blendy. When should we start talking about the Vendy Blendy on podcast? When does it segment come back to the news letter?

[B]

Well, we're almost in September.

[C]

We are.

[A]

I would say September.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Mid mid September.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Okay. For those vendies who have gotten in my inbox, which I love seeing from you, I will send out first to the past vendors. We always let them have first right of refusal. Yeah. Remember we had the Vendy awards last year where people who showed up, showed out Vendies get an extra post this year. First time we've done this. And then I will open it up to new vendors. Yeah. New Vendies. Baptism by Vendy Blendy. Oh, the Vendy Blendy this year in. We'll talk about it more. Mid September, voted by the current consensus on Black Friday. It is a single day of sales. In fact, it cost you nothing to participate. You're actually given 25% off or maintaining that 25% off. Is that a good discounted?

[D]

They're like, no, we like the 100%.

[C]

I think we should really raise. We give 25% off. The vendors actually give 25% off. We. And they actually pay us to give 25% off. Now we don't keep that money. As much as I'd love to go to season 52 for the rest of my life. We put it into a pool that is these big door prizes which last year thoughts. I took a poll.

[D]

I was like, hey, what does everyone.

[C]

Think we should do this year during the rest of us. She's like a Freddie.

[A]

I was like, girl, sit down, sit down.

[C]

Last year we gave away you asked. We gave away 10 Bosch mixers compliments of the Vendys pulling that money together and then each vendor has the option to give it to them.

[D]

But it was chaotic.

[C]

Love it. I mean, that's the beauty of it. If you're overwhelmed and crying, did you really have a good time? You're like, what was this? So, yeah, that will be a one day only event. We'll definitely don't worry about it. If you haven't heard of it, you're gonna now. Okay, quiz question. Let's move into the sponsors. Ladies. Do the sponsors someone take by memory.

[D]

We shall help.

[A]

So primera. Okay. Yeah, got it has Eddie the edible fruit printer.

[C]

Do either of you guys have an Eddie?

[A]

Yes.

[C]

Do you have two between you?

[B]

She has one and I have one. And in fact we're going to be using them simultaneously at an event in October. We're both doing photograph cookie photo booth.

[C]

Ashley. Yes, Ashley. Heather, because your name is mine then.

[B]

I think your name is Anna.

[C]

Heather taught a Facebook live in the cookie college on that photo booth software. Regrettably I missed that email where she said can you stop getting people to email me about it, post it to a central location? Which I did. I did.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

I was like, oh, that timestamp is over a month old. Yeah. Okay, go on. Code. Discount code.

[B]

No for.

[C]

Now. Somebody did ask this in the group this past week. They said is there a discount code? Ready now? The first ever, like no, no, no, actually there is. It's a military discount and it is 5% off which is $150. Said a lady in the comment section.

[D]

That's like a printer car.

[A]

Yeah, there you go.

[C]

Okay, next up, bake it.

[B]

Bake.

[C]

Got it. Royal batch.

[D]

Royal batch.

[C]

Now is that a mering powder you use? What do you.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

Oh, you guys use baby, huh?

[B]

I, I, we're influenced.

[C]

Influenced.

[B]

It took, it took me a long time but I finally got there.

[C]

Now that's code twin. Save 10%. I'm going to try to get her back to the vending bl.

[D]

Yeah, cuz I do.

[B]

That's when I spending money.

[C]

Yeah, that's the one where everyone's like that, get out of my way.

[D]

You know when you kind of wait, you're like, oh, my bag's a little.

[C]

Empty, but I think I can make it to Lum November. Yeah. Okay, next up. This is pretty good. I'm putting you on the spot.

[A]

I used to know all of them.

[D]

This is new because I'm new to the cake pop world. Daisy makes.

[B]

Daisy makes.

[D]

So she makes cake pop molds, cake pops. This Val Val World, it's both cookies and cakes.

[C]

Do you guys do cake pops? Cakes?

[B]

I do them, but I do not enjoy them.

[C]

Listen, they don't enjoy you either. They do not.

[D]

But this Daisy makes actually makes them.

[C]

A little bit easier.

[D]

So the standard used to be this big old balls on a stick. They'd fall off, you'd start screaming, crying, gnashing, throwing up, things like that. Now it's these cake pucks so it almost is like a cookie cutter shape. You cut it out, you put it on a tray, you stick a stick in there. It's not Half as heavy. So you have like to me it's. If you wanted to get into cake pops, it's the beginner's step that would really make the difference.

[C]

But honestly you could keep it the whole time because that's those shapes and.

[D]

Then people are doing like I used to donut one and it. I turned it into just like a chocolate chip one.

[C]

Thanks for lifting me up because I.

[D]

Sweated the whole time.

[C]

Okay, cookie design line we've already covered code twins 15 off. Very very nifty. If you got the bamboo A1 mini that your twin assembled and you never turned on and she was like I gotta do it. And then last is baking me crazy which is also a vendy from the vendee money. Who's back this year favorite twin saves 10% off. So Cookie design lab bake me crazy royal batch Daisy makes Eddie. And then Bosch is actually an affiliate if you want to use a code Sugar cookies in the cookie college we gave away a Bosch and I use my own affiliate code. I know girl is strategic working Smash. I do think and I'm not allowed to tell as a bosh affiliate that they run a decent Black Friday. They do.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

I do have a question for you guys. We missed this segment.

[A]

What.

[C]

What is the cookie college?

[A]

So as someone who has been in from hour one and one, it is a amazing.

[C]

Oh, sorry. The the sugar cookie marking group's birthday is also in October.

[B]

Oh, it is a great idea.

[A]

At the same time, it's a great month.

[C]

This a big October.

[A]

So it is a a step by step how to be the best business baker in marketing and your business that you can be. It has a group of bakers as well that are just as supportive as the sugar cookie marketing group. But we are all honed in on making this business a reality and making it the best thing that we have.

[C]

Are you sure you're not Corey? Because you're sounding.

[A]

They're holding.

[D]

They can't see we got this giant script.

[B]

So you know how we have our local groups if you don't have that. The cookie college is a great place to find like minded people that are just super supportive. You have a problem, you come in, somebody's going to know the answer.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And our roomies, which I was the first one to say it. You cleaned it.

[C]

You give a roomies vibe. Yeah, I should have seen it.

[A]

And then I took off and I was like, oh, I did not mean for this to. Oh, it's a thing.

[C]

Dormitory. We should do. What is it called when you try to get people to join your little sorority. Sort of bama rush hazels and learn how to dance it.

[B]

Choreography.

[C]

But yeah, that's the cookie college. You can check that out. It'll also be Vendi at the Vendee. Blendy. I feel like it's too soon to be pitching. Well, you're the only one, pigeon ant. We didn't even bring all the threads.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

You guys have a twin Terrest?

[A]

We do. So we've thought long and hard about this. So mine is going to be where we're actually staying.

[C]

The.

[A]

The Omni.

[C]

Okay. I'm so sorry. I get a text from them last night. They got beautiful. Hey. Yes.

[D]

Yeah, yeah, go ahead.

[A]

We're getting there. We're getting there. So ours is our hotel, the Omni.

[B]

Shoreham.

[A]

Shoreham. Shoreham.

[B]

It's spelled Shoreham.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

But it was built in the 30s. It is gorgeous. The. The lawns, the gardens are beautiful. It has that 30s vibe. Even the elevators. They were like fast elevators, but they're teeny tiny. From the 30s. They're original. Like, wanted them to be fast ones.

[D]

Crazy.

[A]

A little haunted, you know, I think that's you.

[C]

I think that's you.

[A]

It was an accident, but I was like, this place has to be haunted. I got to look it up. And she's like, don't look it up. Oh, it is haunted. Just a little bit.

[B]

There was definitely a demon in our air conditioner.

[D]

That was true.

[C]

Was it going cold or was it going hot?

[B]

It was working. It was just making it sound like there was a jackhammer in our room. We could not have a conversation without, like, yelling at the pool.

[A]

Came back and. And we were from the hall. We were like, oh, no.

[C]

Did you mention it?

[B]

Oh, yes, we did. And we went out to dinner, and we came back and it was fixed.

[A]

So they are wonderful.

[D]

Tame demon. Tame.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

So please exercise that while we're gone.

[D]

Exercise it or exercise it?

[C]

I looked at the hotel for cocktail napkins. What monument are you close to?

[B]

Because you're in D.C. the National Cathedral.

[A]

Oh, yes.

[C]

Spooky.

[A]

And it's a very cute town. Like, we walked to dinner the other night.

[B]

Yeah. There's lots of restaurants.

[A]

It was just a sushi place. Sushi place.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

D.C. has a. Is a land of quiet foodies.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

And low buildings, if you can.

[B]

And that's a high threshold for us because Houston is just a huge food mecca. We have melting pot. There's so many different. Oh, really?

[A]

Oh, then you fit right in.

[C]

In D.C. that's everything. Okay, twin trist for you.

[B]

Okay, so my twin trist is from last night. We got a dessert and we ordered it off the menu. And we had to do this for research purposes, of course, because when we.

[C]

Saw it, we were like, we were.

[B]

Like, what is this and why is it called this? It was chocolate fondant. And that was it. There was no like cake or anything. You just thought it was going to.

[D]

Be just a layer of.

[B]

Yeah, we would. Just a bucket of satin iceness.

[A]

So we looked it up and the pronunciation for it is fondant. Chocolate fondant. It is part. It's French from fondue.

[B]

So melting.

[A]

So chocolate melting. What do you think it is?

[C]

Did. It's a hot chocolate.

[B]

It's a chocolate lava cake.

[C]

Oh, no way. Fancy way to say outback chocolate lava cake.

[B]

Right, exactly.

[A]

Doing pronunciations and all that. So you know the stuff that best bakers use is fondant.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

And then chocolate fondant. And you don't even say the tea. That was.

[D]

I'm going to be honest, I just, when I felt fancy, I would call fondant fondant.

[C]

I didn't know they were different. Taco lava cake. Now, I know you guys said you had questions for us. Keep asking.

[B]

First one, let's pick like three.

[C]

Sweaty.

[A]

Remember what we gave you.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Who's your favorite esb?

[C]

As my mother would say, I'm not going to pick between you both. I love you both equally.

[B]

Diplomatic answer. Diplomatic answer. Okay, let's see what was really.

[C]

You guys are the same person to me.

[B]

Do you consider yourselves famous?

[C]

No. No, I don't.

[D]

I do not.

[C]

This is so funny. Okay, in this area you're not allowed to talk about anything but work. So if you meet a stranger, they're always like, and how was traffic? Terrible. I would do for work. And I'll be like, I said, you don't think this exists, but there's entire subset of an industry of a subset of an industry of a subset where sugar cookie bakers get together to learn how to sell cookies online. And they're like, is this a cover for your only fans? But I like to tell because. Because they just can't fathom the Internet truly is the ability to find these micro niche niches and, and just really like, you know, make friends. Yeah, yeah. So people are like, you have no friends. I actually have 50,000 of them. So yeah.

[B]

All right, you, big one.

[A]

Okay, explain to us your ideal dream vacation.

[C]

Okay.

[D]

Ideal dream vacation. I don't know.

[C]

Sleeping the whole week.

[D]

Yeah. This is just on my list. Is it ideal? I'M not a traveler.

[C]

Right.

[D]

But I do want to go a cruise with clear water.

[C]

You could see her and Tana. Clear water. Cruise in.

[D]

In just like the nice little beach.

[B]

I was sending you videos from when I was like, oh, my gosh, Cory, that just needs to be.

[D]

Yeah, I just. I don't want to, like, get lost and, like, be taken into a far away land. I want to be on a boat.

[C]

No excursions.

[D]

No excursions.

[B]

We didn't do any excursions.

[C]

Oh, good.

[B]

On either of our. On either of the cruises. I didn't do any.

[D]

And I know that's quite a boring thing for me to say.

[C]

It's who I am. It's who I am. Surround Cory with a crab leg and a white sheet and a bed. Stick a fork in her. She's done.

[B]

Okay. Can your face open the other's phone?

[C]

No, we tried it. In fact, I asked an IT guy and he said if that was even possible, there's a massive security flaw.

[D]

So I have tried many a times. Yeah, whatever's in the IRS is too.

[C]

I'm sure she's trying to. She's printing off a picture of her husband and using the picture unlocker as well. Oh, I would.

[B]

I should.

[C]

I should. You guys have an open phone policy? We do have an open phone policy.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Yeah. I like this brainstorming over.

[B]

It's made me nervous.

[A]

Where are you hoping SCM goes? The cookie college? Or you just let it get grow wild, see where it ends?

[C]

That's a great question for the cookie college. You always gotta keep upping the ante because I would love everyone to never graduate this. I would love y' all to be flunks. That said, we gotta keep adding kind of new and interesting stuff. So we're working on maybe stuff more for the beginner, bigger, like pricing, how to get that knocked out. Working on some, like, STL stuff. Like a little bit more of a unique design and then incorporating more. I think we, like, redid the digital downloads for the fifth time. You know, those look great. I can't. And I'm finally found peace with the digital download. So I think it's that and then with the sugar cookie marketing group.

[D]

To me, that's always going to be a great starting point for someone. Just, I want it to be a friendly place for new people to come. And it never feels like, oh, look, it's the og. I don't fit in. I'm not. I want it to be welcoming for people who. A lot of bakers come in and out of the industry, you know, they have a kid, they take a few years break. I want this to be a place where they can land back in. And they're like, wow, what did I miss? Let me know. And they never feel ostracized.

[C]

Cora and I said if somebody took a two years break and they came back, would they still find the place to be a knowledgeable resource to get questions answered? Now you're the slave to the algorithms and you're also the slave to the atrophy of being around for a long time, especially in a digital landscape that loves transients and new and fresh. Fresh. So it is like moving into this, having guests on the podcast. I think this is a fresher face and obviously the views reflect that. So like we said, it's not like they hate our faces. It's like introduce something new, have more people on here, maybe get more into YouTube. So it's kind of like that. What are you guys? Thoughts? Thoughts?

[B]

Yeah, no, I mean I think you guys are keeping it fresh. I mean redoing the digital downloads, that's helped keeping that fresh.

[A]

I actually love that SEM is constantly changing and evolving. So we might have our own little like side things like Greg Ericle.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

But we keep coming up with new things and it's going to reflect for anyone. It's. You can, because even me, I'm not on Facebook as much as I used to be, but I can still jump in and see what's going on and I know what's going on and feel that warmth and love all the time.

[D]

Oh, that's good.

[C]

I like the home base. I like to be like, okay, come as you go, pick what you need, head on back, take it and implement it. And when I say like, like a baker goes dark, I'm like, that one's implementing it. Like they got busy because it worked. Yeah, yeah, like, and then like, okay, guys, you know, I see that, like, sorry, I haven't been around in a minute.

[D]

It's been a while really.

[C]

The goal is, and I hate to say this, the goal is that we. You learn so much, you don't need it anymore. But I would like to think you move into this kind of, you know, interesting one. And there's brick and mortar owners there. It's not as obviously pervasive is cottage baked, but at least you have somebody to ask. And I like Mike Skyring and you know, Vanessa, they're all there, you all fighting battles, you all go dark, you guys are gas. But there's there that resource, that touch point, like I can. Hey, can anyone help me?

[D]

Yeah, I do want to say I know that this podcast, whoever's listening, they have probably 2 million more questions for you guys.

[C]

Right.

[D]

So what is. Can they at you in the sugar cookie marketing group and ask you some more questions?

[B]

Yeah, absolutely.

[D]

What's your name name on there at.

[B]

Oh, just like my personal. Heather Campbell Brookshire. Yeah, it's a mouthful.

[D]

Yeah, Heather. And she's the one who's been on Food Network. So if you're like, yeah, I would really want to. What were they looking at when you made the video? What did you do to, like, set yourself apart? She's definitely the one to ask.

[C]

She's also taught some Facebook lives that are now archived on YouTube. And I call you Kim M. Sims. That's.

[A]

Yeah, it's Kim Dumelson.

[C]

Yes.

[D]

And if you're wondering is brick and mortar, if that's something that I want to do, if taking out and going to the SBA alone, what is involved in that? I know you did that Facebook Live. It was so informational just to, like, almost peel back the onion layers of your brain.

[C]

That was true. That was. Yeah.

[D]

But to show you, like, it can be done, but it's not this walk in the park either. You know, you made it look easy, unfortunately.

[C]

Here's my biggest thing about Kim. I was like, would you do it again? And she's like, do it again. I'm opening up a second. Like, it's not like, would I do it again? It's of course I would. And I do it twice and three times and four times. And that means you like it. That means it was rough, but you're like, is it mine?

[D]

But you earned it. Like, the stripes are yours.

[C]

So that was a good one. I think this is last. Let me. Let me ask you guys. I'm trying to get the YouTube channel, but I want to do interviews from remote. Like, you're going to have to fly out here. Would you be open to be the guinea big to be on the YouTube channel? Maybe even as a live of which I've never done a YouTube live where people could ask you these questions. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Yeah, I think that would be fun. Yeah.

[A]

Oh, yeah, that's right.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Yeah, I think it would be. I think it's very fun. Of course. Obviously.

[D]

Listen, I'm. It's been three years. I'm boring.

[C]

I got more new stores. It's like infuse some new interesting perspectives and I put frankly love to hear it. So I'm sure everybody else does.

[D]

I know, we could probably talk for 52 more hours. I got, like, one bazillion questions.

[C]

Say goodbye. The podcast. Goodbye. Now we're going to see.