← Baking it Down with Sugar Cookie Marketing 🍪
Baking it Down with Sugar Cookie Marketing 🍪
233. Baking it Down - Podcast Guest Christina from Boujee Baker Boutique
01:27:37
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- [00:00]
A
Welcome to the remote 3 person baking it down podcast this week. If you thought last week wasn't technical enough, Corey and poor Christina have said let's let, let's edge up and see if we can make it even more difficult to manage all this. But this is the Baking it Down podcast with our first remote in guest interview per the people's request that it not be just Corey and myself endlessly.
- [00:25]
B
Thank goodness. After two years we needed some flesh blood and it is Christina and she is owner of the Bougie Baker boutique and she actually has her own cookie business too. Is that correct?
- [00:38]
C
That is.
- [00:39]
A
So before we jump into our interview, Corey, can you tell us what marketing nuggets are?
- [00:45]
B
Okay.
- [00:45]
A
Okay.
- [00:45]
B
Welcome to the Baking it down with.
- [00:46]
A
Sugar Cookie marketing and podcast.
- [00:48]
B
We're actually a group that's on Facebook about 50000 Baker Strong. And you never will guess it is sugar cookie marketing's birthday Happy birthday group.
- [00:57]
C
The group has turned five.
- [00:59]
A
It's toddling about, it's tripping over itself. It really truly is.
- [01:03]
B
I think we've gotten swing of things after five years. There's been a lot of marketing nuggets, lots and lots of know hows, definitely many podcast episodes. But the group has just been so phenomenal to see how it's grown. It's shifted. The industry's changed, people have come gone, come back, gone again, come back again. So now we've reached five full years. But this podcast is actually a spinoff on that group. So whatever happens in the group, whether it's something a trending topic, you know, we had like websites closed down recently so we did a podcast on that. If we see something coming up or like people need a little, you know, like handhold, a hug after crazy holiday season.
- [01:44]
A
Come here, Come here.
- [01:45]
B
Come on, mommy. That is what this podcast is about. But this is is the new version of the podcast. So you know, me and Heather can be some stale crockers after, after two.
- [01:58]
A
Years people be like, no, no, we just haven't listened to you in about a year. And don't worry, the numbers report back.
- [02:05]
B
So that's why we said let's bring some fun blood onto the podcast. And you won't find anyone more fun than Christina, let me tell you.
- [02:14]
A
And bless Christina soul. And I'll tell you why. Christina's remote, although she still lives in Northern Virginia with us. I got back from a 10 hour trip one way. It was a 20 hour round trip. But on the way back I actually left my car to get the tires replaced. Got these Brand new snow tires. Snow's got nothing on me now, allegedly. And I'm two hours from home and the TPMS light comes on and it says you've lost 10 psi in the last mile. Which means I have flat tire on my absolutely brand new shoes. My rubber. So I'm pulling and it's, you know, okay, there's Northern Virginia, which we all know where there's a gas station every two seconds and massive shoulders because traffic is so pervasive. And there's the mountain road I was on and it was not Northern Virginia. And I was like, shoot one. Do I know how to change a tire? Yes. Is it attractive? No. Would it cause me an earlier Botox appointment? Yes. So I was like I said, I wonder how fast, how far and fast I could drive before I get into Northern Virginia with a gas station with a diet Coke machine and be able to fill up this tire. But I nursed the car back home and tire rack. And you'll probably tire rack for my cold dead hands. That is the one company I am always impressed by. They have a two year road hazard warranty. Sounds like a salesman will be my friend. It does. I feel like you work for and for the low, low price right now. If you buy four tire but they replace the tire completely and have a mobile tire installer coming on Thursday morning.
- [03:39]
B
Wow.
- [03:40]
A
So 120 bucks for the installer but the tire is free.
- [03:43]
B
Why I was gonna have to pay for the install of this.
- [03:46]
A
I was gonna have to pay anywhere unless I knew how to install a tire. Which you need a whole machine of knowledge, which I lack. So anyways. And then Corey has an FH4 appointment. And so we promised Christina we would take her out to lunch in her beautiful town of Warrenton. Where your brick and mortar is, your supply shop is.
- [04:05]
C
Yes, soon.
- [04:07]
A
In this fall weather that we are so much enjoying.
- [04:10]
B
Well, let's dive into life of Christina. We don't have to go all the way to baby Todd. We want to hear how you story.
- [04:20]
A
I learned that a while it was.
- [04:22]
B
Light, I was screaming, I was crying. You actually over the years I've known of Christina for a lot longer than I've known Christina. But she has started, you know, she had a full time job and did baking. Then she went to just baking. Then you had a cookie shed. Am I correct in saying that?
- [04:41]
C
That's correct.
- [04:42]
A
Yeah.
- [04:42]
B
For a hot minute. And then she said, you know what? This isn't hard enough. Going to open a supply shop which.
- [04:48]
A
Is wildly impressive that your hair color matches Your shirt, which color matches your shop. But I feel like, you know, you have been through many a trench and you are like, I love trenches. Let me find another one and let me just dig it deeper and see how complicated I can make.
- [05:03]
B
So give us the rundown. The backstory of the Bougie Bakery boutique and your cookie business and how you came to the decision to, like, almost combine both. Dare I say, but not necessarily combine it. But you can explain it better than I can.
- [05:16]
C
Sure. So I started Stormy Acres Cookies right around when sugar cookie marketing came about. So we just actually hit our five year birthday as well, which is crazy. And I guess that started in October of 2020 and then June. I quit my career to pursue cookies full time, which may or may not cause some marital issues, but we've worked through it since.
- [05:46]
A
Another trend. You're like, I really want to do marriage counseling.
- [05:50]
B
Let's see how that goes.
- [05:51]
C
Lots of marriage counseling. No, it's great, though. And then had a cookie shed because my husband was tired of having all of my products everywhere in the house. So we just bought an old worksite trailer, gutted it. He redid the entire inside, and that was my. Where I did cookies. I did everything in there except bake, so. And then I was like, I really want to grow. I don't want to go back to corporate America. Let me start looking into having a store. But sugar cookie is. Yeah, I don't see how you could be profitable just having a storefront and doing cookies. They take way too long. So I had this crazy idea to open up a supply store with all of our favorite brands that allow for me to purchase wholesale so I can resell. And then you have a one stop shop for everything that you love. All your favorite brands in one place.
- [06:49]
B
So that question for you, you have a. Is there like an oven in the back of your supply shop that you actually bake out of?
- [06:57]
C
I have a full kitchen in my. So I technically have two spaces in my. Where I'm at in Warrenton. One space is a commercial kitchen and the other space is a retail store.
- [07:08]
A
Are they very.
- [07:08]
C
I lucked out.
- [07:09]
A
Can you. Can you. Is it all in one building or is it in.
- [07:12]
C
Yeah.
- [07:12]
A
Oh, nice. So is the shed gone?
- [07:15]
C
The shed is storage now for all of my di. For all the DIY boxes.
- [07:21]
B
Basically all the Target crates are in the store.
- [07:26]
A
So when did you. I know. And I'm just for the. The people listening. When did you open the brick and mortar? It was in the last two years, right?
- [07:34]
C
Yes. November 4th. I want to say will be open two years.
- [07:37]
A
Happy early birthday.
- [07:38]
C
Which is crazy. Thank you. Lots of birthdays. My 40th birthday is coming up at the end of this month.
- [07:43]
A
Dang, girl. You just line them right up. I know you're all out at the same time by one cake. Okay, so now you have this brick and mortar. And to give people a little backstory. Warrenton is a absolutely adorable, like old Town. Quaint, really great restaurants. I've been to Denim and Pearls. I went to Licorice Pizza. Really adorable place. And now in. Are you in Old Town? Like proper. Like where I could walk to it from those restaurants.
- [08:13]
C
Absolutely. We're just off one of the little side streets. So if you were at Denim and Pearls or Licorice Pizza, I'm a two minute, three minute walk.
- [08:23]
A
So you get a lot of foot traffic.
- [08:24]
C
Because Warrenton gets paid a decent amount. The side streets don't as much. I'm definitely more of a destination place with local bakers knowing that they to shop here. And then with cookie classes, I still have people come in and they're like, oh, I didn't know this was here. So. But that seems to be very common in the brick and mortar.
- [08:46]
B
Sure. The great thing about Christina and how she's pivoted her business is she can host classes in this place as well as now. When you take a class from her, she's like, okay, if you look around you, if you would like to buy anything on the wall, I also sell that a huge portion. And I want to say even though I live close to Christina, I still order online. She's got super fast shipping. So when it comes to how diversified she's made her portfolio of revenue, she has. You can order online, you could come to classes, you can buy in store. She also still sells cookies. So she has all of those revenue sources. And I don't think she sleeps at all. That's. I've done the math. It doesn't equal she sleeps.
- [09:25]
A
I know the husband is really into skydiving and I think that your whole life is just feels like you're jumping out of planes. Planes constantly. She said, you know what?
- [09:32]
B
I'm nervous.
- [09:34]
A
Now. The interesting thing now just to kind of bring it back to marketing and business is you don't. We don't in northern Virginia have a ton of supply shops to just drop into. I know you and I know Franz and I think there's something in Maryland, but I never go to Maryland. So.
- [09:48]
C
The Dessert Depot.
- [09:49]
A
The Dessert Depot. So it's really those three and you guys have massive. And in Northern Virginia, you have to factor in traffic. They're massively far from each other when you consider traffic. Because to just get from Fairfax to Warrenton, that's a day trip. And I like to spend a lot of time out there. But you have a whole market of really kind of from Leesburg, Warrenton, Fauquier county, even that side of Prince William county would all end up at your shop.
- [10:15]
C
Yeah.
- [10:16]
A
So how did you choose, and I kind of heard this in your intro. How did you choose which brands you were going to be able to resell? And do you sell any store, Stormy.
- [10:24]
C
Acre products there, like so Stormy Acre or Bougie Baker?
- [10:30]
A
Bougie Baker, like your branded products. And is that something that if that's in the pipeline.
- [10:38]
C
As far as choosing brands go. I initially went to my first cookie con when it was at Ohio and I talked to all of the vendors there. See, checked in, see who allowed wholesale. And that was kind of my starting point. There's a couple companies out there that I would love to carry that just don't offer wholesale. So. But I do try to keep it all small business. And here in the States, there's a couple Canadian companies, couple Australian companies, but I try to keep everything here in the US and it's all small business, which I absolutely love. As far as my own products, just the DIY boxes. So I purchased those. Yes, I purchased those from the previous person who did them, wanting to continue them on. And finally I have a designer and stuff in the works. Yes. You know, people are the first announcement of that.
- [11:37]
B
Okay, so grab one of the boxes. Is it behind you?
- [11:40]
A
If I can see and just show them.
- [11:41]
B
Because these are the cutest DIY kit boxes. If you've wondered like how you can really make a DIY kit and experience. These boxes are actually super fun for kids. There's, there's games on the inside. There's actually the DIY kit instructions on the top and on the back is a whole coloring thing.
- [11:57]
A
I love the Suzy C. Vibe.
- [12:01]
B
We don't need to have it. I love these boxes because one, they're very, very cute. So instead of just a white bakery box with a sticker on it. While I do do that for classes, this is fantastic for an all encompassing event for the people who buy the DIY kit.
- [12:16]
A
It's Christina, take us to the inside of the other one. Let's, let's go. Oh, and while she, while she's showing. That's super cute. That's like ridiculously cute. And I'm all about the cheap white box. But when you want to make that premium packaging, this is going to be like getting that cereal box where the kids can play with it and just really soak up some time. Because it's more than just a cookie now. It's this whole box is a part of the product. Why am I so blurry?
- [12:39]
C
And not only that, too. When you have to actually, like, print and cut out instructions, that's additional work. So while these boxes may be a little bit more expensive initially from your average baker box, you don't have to do all the added work. You just fill it and go. And that's why I'm super excited about the new boxes that we're working on, because they're going to be a little bit more generic and kind of go with the seasons.
- [13:05]
A
I like that. Kind of seasonal. So they have a longer run time. So you're not stuck with a year's worth of Halloween boxes. Now, I know everyone's thinking, salivating one, you can see the boxes if you watch the YouTube channel. If you don't watch a YouTube channel, you'll never get to see the boxes. But if you're wondering, Boogie Baker is in the vending blending. So that is back to kind of asking this thing. Which one supports the other one? Which one drives more leads? Does having the brick and mortar drive more leads to the bakery business, or does a bakery business drive more leads to the brick and mortar, or do classes drive leads to both?
- [13:44]
C
That's a really hard question to answer. I think it's a little bit of everything, to be honest. A lot of my. Because I've been doing cookies for five years now, I feel like a lot of my business for cookies comes just from referrals.
- [14:00]
A
Yeah.
- [14:00]
C
And I'm. And I have a lot of repeat clients classes. I try to advertise as much as possible. So I have noticed an uptick in those for the fall, winter. Summer is always super slow, so. And then I still feel like I'm just trying to get the website off the ground, like people to know that I'm here. So that's why the bendy, blendy cookie con, like trying to jump in, just, you know, head first.
- [14:29]
A
I think the big takeaway kind of from saying that is there's never enough ways to get your name out there. I think sometimes bakers are like, well, I did this one thing. It didn't really work, so I guess it's not for me. But like she's saying, I went to CookieCon. I did grassroots. I. I loitered in the shopping area. Then I do this thing Christine has, even to a cookie class we've taught here in McLean. It's like this girl is everywhere, hitting the pavement. She's reaching out to wholesalers. I know that you, the Canadians, you're not. You're calling these people and really putting yourself out there. And in Morington, which has got this like super quaint old town feel, which is kind of rare in Northern Virginia, you're in there and really involved with that, which I think that would be the big takeaway is there's never enough doors to knock on before you finally call it quits.
- [15:12]
B
Yeah.
- [15:14]
A
Yeah.
- [15:14]
C
And I get a lot of that too, from my past career. I was in sales, so initially this was all pre Covid. I had to go and knock. And I talked with small business owners. So that set me up very well for understanding how to run a business. Not all of it because I work.
- [15:32]
A
Too much, but suddenly I'm present with Christina. She said, how can I get on this podcast? Like, it's never like you waiting for people to knock on your door. It's you saying like, hey there, I'm here. What can I do?
- [15:42]
C
What can I do?
- [15:42]
A
How do I get in the venue, what I gotta do here? And I think that that is really what separates people from kind of a passive, like, I don't know, I guess I do it on the side to like, this is a full time business and I'll do anything not to have to sit in corporate American traffic anymore.
- [15:56]
C
Accurate.
- [15:57]
B
Yeah.
- [15:58]
A
So now I just have to ask. I know you look bougie, and I think that's where the name Bougie Baker Boutique comes from. But where did Stormy Acres come from? She was like, really stormy. And it's outside. No.
- [16:13]
C
So when my husband and I first met, he had a dog named Storm, and it was like his baby. And our little farmhouse that we have, we have about five acres, we have chickens. Hopefully we'll have alpacas in a couple years. Oh, girl, you're so crazy. And we called our farm Stormy Acres. And so when I sold my first cookie, I was like, I have to make sure I'm legit. I need to get an entity. I need an llc knowing from my previous role. So I had to think of something quick. So Stormy Acres LLC was how it came about. And I don't want to give that name up because I'm known around the community so much about it. So that's why I'm just slowly pivoting to the Bougie Baker boutique, home of Stormy Acres Cookies, basically.
- [17:01]
A
So do you mention it? Oh, go ahead, Corey.
- [17:03]
B
Oh, I just wanted to get into Christina's brain.
- [17:07]
A
The.
- [17:07]
B
The many of us, including me specifically, hate to be told no. We hate to put ourselves out for rejection, but it's almost like you don't have whatever that. That gene is. You were born without that gene where you can put yourself out. And almost like you. You take no as like, a challenge to be better, to pursue more. And is there anything that's happened in your life that you were like? When I hear no, it's a challenge. I love hearing no. I wake up and I tell myself no in the mirror in the morning, and I. It wraps.
- [17:41]
C
I mean, I was in sales for five years selling payroll to small businesses. I heard no way more than I heard yes. So it's just something you get accustomed to. And especially in certain sales careers, you have quotas, and if you hit a certain quota, you get to go on free trips.
- [18:00]
A
Oh, I agree.
- [18:01]
C
That was my drive, so I always wanted to go on the free trip. Thankfully, I have a husband in sales now, so I still get to go on a free trip.
- [18:10]
A
You tell him, honey. There's no such thing as no.
- [18:12]
C
You find those yes.
- [18:13]
B
As we're going to Italy.
- [18:15]
C
Yeah. So, I mean, that's. I feel like just my whole life I was told no, or you can't do this, or. And you just kind of. You get a little hardened from it, and it's a growth opportunity. You're going to hear no, no is normal.
- [18:33]
A
Oh, that's a good one. Noah's normal. Maybe I'll call that the name of the podcast.
- [18:36]
B
Yeah. No is normal. And I think so many times when I hear no, I'm like, they didn't like me. It's not like they didn't like me. They didn't like whatever I proposed, and maybe I didn't package it right when I said it to them, and I just need to repackage it in a better way, but I take it so, like, no, they don't like, I'm gonna.
- [18:52]
A
Go get in bed right now for the next 48 hours, recover from this rejection.
- [18:56]
B
But it's so hard to hear no. But I think Christina has heard no and has pushed by the nose, and it's led to just such a great success because I'm sure it was not easy to open a brick and mortar. I'm. I'm positive that I can say that confidently. I feel like I saw some of your posts and you're like, I hate my life.
- [19:19]
C
It's definitely not easy. It's not easy to. Opening it, I think was the easy part, to be honest. It's continuing running it. That's the hard part. Finding good help is the biggest challenge, and that's where I struggle a lot with my time. Like, I got. I get one good employee, and then something happens and they are going on. This isn't their forever career. I get that.
- [19:47]
B
Right.
- [19:47]
C
But them finding another good person, weeding through all the bad or not great, you got to vibe with them. You're going to be in close quarters, and so that's really the challenge. So then having to manage everything myself when I don't have an employee, it's like, oh, my goodness, I need somebody. But you don't just want to hire. Just to hire you. So. Yeah, yeah.
- [20:12]
B
Because honestly, whoever you hire is the face of your company. For those who are interacting with you on social media, coming into the store, that is who they see. Even though you are the one who opened the business, whoever you hire is a representation of you. And if they are, you know, they don't love the business as much as you do, that's the. The people's impression that they're left with. Even though you're like, Christina, I'm so happy she's online. She's always smiling. The person that they interact with is the one that they remember the most.
- [20:37]
A
Right.
- [20:38]
B
And that is difficult because I think everyone's having a hard time, you know, with hiring. But do you also, you know, you're running the store when you don't have the help, but you're also baking, too, so you're having to fit those all in the same 24 hours, which is crazy.
- [20:54]
C
That's why we're open only four days a week. So I can have the other three days. One is to do classes on Sundays, and then Monday and Tuesday are my don't bother me, I'm in the kitchen days.
- [21:06]
A
So you got a fully packed week. Really? Technically, Yep. Wow. Now, what's one thing you did in your cookie business that you'd never do again? And what's one thing you did in this brick and mortar that you like, Lesson has been learned. I'll never do that again. Like, what are your. Don't do this. Just heed my warning signs.
- [21:25]
C
In the cookie business, I would say not wanting to say yes to everybody, like, it's okay to say no.
- [21:37]
A
She's like, I love no.
- [21:43]
C
Because then you get overwhelmed. Or saying yes to those orders that you're not like, I don't love this theme because then your heart's just not into it and your work shows because of it. As far as the bakery or the bougie baker, if I had to do it all over again, I would not have spent so much money on revamping the store.
- [22:11]
B
Oh, really?
- [22:12]
C
To be totally honest. Oh, yes. There's a lot of stuff I feel like I spent a lot of money on that I didn't need to.
- [22:19]
A
So tell us some of the things.
- [22:20]
B
That you did to revamp the store, because it is definitely your color. So I know you definitely painted the black.
- [22:26]
C
I paid someone, I paid the contractors to paint it. I didn't need to do that. My lights are really pretty in here. I could have done track lighting, which would have been much better from lighting perspective, because while these are really pretty, they don't provide a lot of light. In the kitchen, I had them take out all these cabinets, like these high cabinets places. And this island, it was more like a peninsula. Like, it was attached to a wall, but it was in the. I would have just kept that. Like, I did not need to spend all that money on that.
- [22:58]
A
That's a rough one to even, like, condemn yourself for, because you never know until you're like, shoot, I'm in here. And I. That would have been fine.
- [23:04]
C
Yeah.
- [23:04]
A
But it was an interesting perspective from a brick and mortar. Now, if you could go back in time, would you have started the brick and mortar earlier or later? Like, if now that you've got these two babies, would it be like, was it like, you might later. Okay, interesting. I'm curious to see why I would.
- [23:19]
C
Have saved a lot more money to do it. I mean, I had to take out a loan, but I just. I would have waited for the perfect spot because I was going to be in Warrenton no matter what. Like, that was. I live 12 minutes from my store, so I wanted to be in Old Town. If I had to go back, I would have.
- [23:40]
A
Sorry, guys.
- [23:45]
C
I would have waited longer so I could save more money and do a lot more research. Yeah.
- [23:54]
A
So the big takeaway is startup costs are always bigger than expected, which I think most brick and mortar stores can say yes.
- [24:02]
C
Yeah, especially I already had a kitchen built out here, and I still spent, I want to say, close to 50 grand on renovations.
- [24:11]
A
Wow. It's expensive. And then, okay, kind of back to the. Like, when it is a corporate contract, regardless whether it's cookies or whether it's commercial build outs, it's just expected that that's Going to be more involved financially than kind of a consumer based thing. Right. And that's 100%. It's kind of par for the course of corporate because now we have a money generating space versus if you remodel your kitchen, you're not generating money there. I think some bakers are like, I don't get why you charge more for corporate. Well, it's a different type of business. It's a completely different type of demographic. And when the business turns around, let's say Corey bakes cookies for a yoga studio. The yoga studio is using product to gain more business. It's kind of like that.
- [24:51]
C
Yeah.
- [24:51]
A
People like to say it's unfair, but I'm just saying that's kind of the expectation here. When you have these brick and mortars and you do these corporate type orders, which people would love to get involved with. Now, has your capacity, your production capacity been able to increase with a dedicated space because you.
- [25:08]
C
100%.
- [25:09]
B
Yeah.
- [25:10]
C
Yeah. But I have, I have a 20 quart mixer, I have a full size freezer and a refrigerator freezer combo. So when I, I do dough maybe once a month, once every other month and freeze it. So I make 80 pounds of dough at a time.
- [25:27]
B
Shoot, that's so. That's crazy.
- [25:29]
A
You just have a massive space dedicated to this now. Do you do any of your baking at home anymore? Is home just home now?
- [25:37]
C
Home is relaxed time. Like it is me checking out. So for the most part, unless I have admin work to do in which I do that on the couch.
- [25:45]
A
Sure. Now I know you have like back to your personal life. I know you have like a gaggle of dogs, a collection of the biggest dogs I've ever seen in my life. And they all follow her around like she is their pride and joy. And now. And that's because you're like, life is too simple with just one dog. Why not? We have five, right? You have five dogs.
- [26:05]
C
Five. Yeah. Well, we've always pretty much had two together. And then when we moved down to Virginia from New York, we got a dog together. And then how did we get. Oh, and then it was like, well, what's one more? Three to four was fine. Four to five is a big jump.
- [26:25]
B
Really? Really. I would think one to two, what's the jump? But you're like, nah, four to five.
- [26:31]
A
That's where the pressure really comes in. That's where you really had to. So. But now, but you guys live on this farm, so it has capacity in Northern Virginia where we all three live, it's hard to find land. So when somebody has that many dogs, they gotta have land or it's gonna be what the animal control is gonna knock soon. But now you.
- [26:50]
C
We definitely would not have huskies if we did not have land.
- [26:54]
B
Yeah, she's got. She's got the ones who gotta brush a lot. That's all I know. I. I just know huskies are loud and they need to be rushed. So back to they do.
- [27:03]
A
If you don't care to tell us about your personal life, you were in New York. I know you met your husband out there and you guys moved down here. Just walk us through how that all happened and when it happened and, like, his. I think a lot of bakers wonder how husbands or spouses integrate with, like, businesses, especially because you have two. So I would love to hear kind of your backstory of how you two met and then how it's kind of evolved along the way.
- [27:25]
C
We met in New York. I want to say it was 15 years ago now, which is mind boggling. I don't feel that old.
- [27:34]
A
You don't look that old. Men, basically 13 in this podcast.
- [27:38]
C
Yes, Matt. We knew each other for a long time before we started dating. He had just gotten out of a long term relationship. I was in a relationship at the time. We were friends. Fast forward like a year and a half later, things didn't work out with me and my ex. We started. He finally talked me into going out to barbecue and I said yes. It was the probably best yes I ever said. Oh, you were saying, I love me some barbecue. And then he got a job opportunity down here, so we moved down here. We started dating. Got. Let's see. Started dating. I moved in within three months. We were engaged within six months, and we were married. It'll be 13 years. November 12th.
- [28:34]
B
Wow.
- [28:35]
C
11, 12, 13.
- [28:36]
B
Dude, another.
- [28:37]
A
Another fall thing for you.
- [28:40]
B
Yeah, she's like prime time.
- [28:42]
A
A ton of candles on. Every dog's been born in October.
- [28:45]
B
Okay, so when you first. When you guys met, you both had careers that were outside of baking. And then when you guys have met, you have since entered into the cookie world. How did that go? Was he like, you're a looney Tune? Like, what are you talking about? Cookies? What were you a baker like, your whole life?
- [29:01]
C
Yes, I love to bake. My whole life, I had just never done cookies. So when Covid happened and I was like, I need to get out of this Groundhog Day, I was like, I knew a couple people that had done sugar cookies. So I'm like, let me try this. And I was pretty Decent at it and started selling my cookies. And he's like, you're really good. You know, you should sell more of these. And, well, little did he know I had Kevin. Those weren't his cursed words, like, may. Maybe a little earlier than May. I was like, so I think I'm gon of quick paychecks. That was the company I worked for. I still love them. They're great. And he's like, well, I don't think that's such a great idea. And I'm like, you told me this would be a great idea.
- [29:47]
A
He's like, I didn't think you'd listen to me.
- [29:50]
C
I also had a management transition, and me and my manager just did not. We butted heads a lot, so it put me even more in a funk. And I was like, listen, I need to try this. If it's not successful after a year, I'm a really good sales rep. I can go back into sales. Yeah. I don't have a college degree, by the way. I did not go to college. I worked my way up at the other company to get into sales.
- [30:14]
A
Like a hustle. Like, you're like, I'm gonna get the sale. I'm gonna get this job. I'm gonna make this cookie thing where, like, that sheer grit and determination kind of really puts you in an edge where you're like, it's no risk. I can always go back and do whatever.
- [30:26]
B
Yeah.
- [30:27]
A
I think you kind of lack fear. If I'm not, must have.
- [30:30]
C
I would agree. And I think Joe, my husband, has a little bit to do with that, too. He has cystic fibrosis. And when we first met and I googled it. Not a great idea. I was told his life expectancy was 35.
- [30:46]
A
Wow.
- [30:46]
C
At that point. So. Yeah. So he's always kind of taught me, like, live life to the fullest and enjoy every moment and just go for what you want.
- [30:58]
A
So now, the reason why I said to her, I think she jumps out of planes is because Joe's hobby is skydiving, Right. Does he go all the time?
- [31:05]
C
Yeah, he's actually at a camp right now in North Carolina.
- [31:09]
A
And now how many. I know you're not a certified jumper, but I know you've jumped, right?
- [31:14]
C
Yeah. I've done five tandems. My latest one was just in. We actually did it while we were in Italy.
- [31:19]
A
Oh, my. That's really neat. Have you ever tandem with your husband? Is he a.
- [31:24]
C
No, he's not a tandem instructor, nor does he want to be. And I don't think I'D be that comfortable with it.
- [31:29]
A
Yeah. Imagine you get in a little fight on the drive down there, and you'd.
- [31:32]
B
Be like, you better pull that shooter up.
- [31:36]
C
Yeah. So I really enjoy it. I'd love to go get licensed, but I just don't have the time to dedicate time.
- [31:42]
A
We know you do not have the time, girl. You're like, no, I'm raising five more huskies, and then maybe I'll see if I can squeeze in, but go back.
- [31:50]
B
So you're like, I'm gonna take this risk. He says, I don't think you should. You say, I don't hear you. I'm gonn this risk. So you start Stormy Acres. Is that. Is that correct? And this is. You're baking out of your kitchen at this point, but everything's everywhere. So tell me how the conversation goes to the cookie shed.
- [32:07]
C
Well, that was. That was one issue was my stuff was everywhere, so. And I said, well, what if we built like a shed or got something? I forget where I saw it. I saw somebody convert a old work site trailer, and there's a place in Manassas that. That sells old work site trailers, so. Oh, my neighbor actually did deer processing out of. On his house because we live out in the woods, so there's lots of hunters. And he had recommended it. He's like, why don't you get like an old work site trailer? And I was like, oh, that's a great idea. So I did. And that was the start of it. And it's still. It was just. It was a big financial change. We don't have kids. We have always lived a comfortable life. We travel a lot, or we used to travel a lot when I actually made money.
- [32:56]
A
Let us live in the dream world we live in.
- [33:01]
C
So it was a big lifestyle change, but we worked through it and with the help of a marriage counselor. Yeah, he's very supportive. He's not very involved in the business. He helps when I say I need something fit or I give him the finances because he actually went to school for accounting, so he will somewhat handle the finances. But beyond that, he's not very involved. So. And I'm okay with that. It's not, this is not his baby. This is mine.
- [33:31]
A
So I love in charge, in control.
- [33:35]
B
I think you like the control. Like, don't tell me what not to do. I'm going to do what I want to do.
- [33:40]
C
Yeah, you tell me. No, I'm definitely going to do it.
- [33:42]
B
Yeah.
- [33:44]
A
We've taken anything from this podcast.
- [33:46]
B
I think you knows that now, too.
- [33:49]
A
Definitely don't make more DIY boxes that are custom. Definitely don't know. Yeah. So anyway, so having gone to the marriage counseling, which I think is such an interesting component and maybe not talked about enough, kind of the spousal support or the spousal condemnation of these kind of massive projects, you know, I know everyone kind of looks and like, oh, you're cute little cookie business. But in reality and you definitely being proof of the pudding, you have a brick and mortar, you have lease, you have loans, you have another business. It's a massive undertaking. Does. Do you think if he didn't support you in the way he does, it would be feasible still? Do you think you could strong arm.
- [34:25]
C
It on your own? I don't know. It would be really challenging to be honest. But ultimately, in order for me to be happy in my marriage, I need to be happy in all of it. So I think he's. He came to terms with. Okay, this makes her really happy. She's not cranky when she comes home. She's always in great spirits. Except when she doesn't get sleep.
- [34:54]
B
She never sleeps.
- [34:55]
A
She's not a grace.
- [34:58]
C
I do, I will take even if I need a day to like just catch up on sleep and sleep 12 hours, I'll do it. But for the most part I'm pretty good. I've learned to figure out my schedule to get at least like six to seven during regular time and four to five during the next two months.
- [35:15]
A
Yeah, this will be a busy time for you. Even in terms of just the store. I know you're a vending the vending blending. So you're not looking at sleep for about 24 hours that day. Tell husband. Say what? She's going to be cranky. But no, you can take a nap in the middle of the day. Expect to see you there at night though. But yeah, that's. This will be your busy season for both businesses. Right. Because when you sell to bakers, their busy season and as a baker your busy season align.
- [35:41]
C
Yes. And that is actually why I had to get rid of one of my Instagrams too. Like, or not get rid of it, but just I had to focus on keeping everything in one place. So which has been interesting. But it's, it's working a little backstory.
- [35:55]
A
Christina's actually a member of the cookie college as well and has been in for years. So we've actually kind of been able to watch her kind of come up with these like. Yeah, yeah. And so the interesting one, you know, websites are always a struggle, but having you know, because she's got the problem. She's like, do I have two websites? One for my cookie business, one for Bougie Baker Boutique, and then now I have double the cost of hosting, double the cost of management, double the upkeep, and then double the social media, or do I combine it? And to watch you kind of navigate, that has been pretty interesting. So it lasts. A couple weeks ago, she was like, hey, running to Instagram is killing me.
- [36:29]
B
I'm dying.
- [36:30]
A
So she's like, you know, she's like, hey, to the group. If I could consolidate these, which would look like, what would you expect? And it's been a very interesting process to be able to watch you kind of navigate two very closely aligned businesses, but not so aligned that your target market's the exact same.
- [36:44]
C
Oh, gosh, no. The target market is totally different.
- [36:47]
B
I know, I know.
- [36:49]
C
But it does work in both ways, because what I do from a decorating from cookie perspective to my local people, I do think that benefits my other target market as well, because I do a. I do a lot of farmers markets and decorating and how I package stuff, so it also advertises what I sell in the store as well. So it does. It does work both ways, which is good.
- [37:16]
A
You have the one. You're the only person I know who can answer this question with both perspectives. You teach cookie classes. You also sell baking supplies. You also sell cookies. So you're the only one who can answer this question. Does teaching cookie classes turn people into bakers or turn people into clients who order cookies from you because it's too hard?
- [37:38]
C
Turns them into bakers?
- [37:40]
A
Really?
- [37:40]
B
For sure.
- [37:41]
C
Really?
- [37:42]
B
Yeah.
- [37:43]
A
That is interesting to know.
- [37:46]
C
I mean, I have a good amount of people that have come to classes because they have ordered cookies from me before, and they wanted to try diet, and they're like, oh, my gosh, I now understand why these things are so expensive.
- [37:58]
A
Yes.
- [38:00]
C
And then I've had quite a few that have come to my classes religiously and will have started their own business, like have. So I'm good with it either way. I.
- [38:12]
A
You're gonna either order cookies for Christina or you're gonna order cutters from Christina.
- [38:16]
B
She knows she's gonna get you.
- [38:18]
C
It's a win. Win.
- [38:19]
A
That's a genius idea. Yeah. Oh, I had a question about this. Let me just think real quick.
- [38:22]
B
Oh, yeah.
- [38:23]
A
When? Oh, yeah. When you teach cookie classes, which you teach them at your brick and mortar store, do you offer a discount for people who come to class and then want to shop the store or that you're like, I do smart. What's the I do? Maybe I need to take a class.
- [38:36]
C
10%.
- [38:37]
B
I like it.
- [38:37]
A
I like it. So they can just load up. Do you find that a lot of people will take the class and then go and get the supplies to go.
- [38:43]
C
Home and do it a decent amount? Yeah, I would say. And then you have the ones that just wanted to come for fun. They were just looking for a girl's day out or mommy, daughter, date or something like that. That as well. So it's. It's hit or miss sometimes a class. I will have almost everybody who wants to shop for something. And then the occasional class I'll have maybe one person.
- [39:07]
A
That time of year stuff. If you're in Christmas, I'm getting. A lot of grandparents are in town. They're just looking for something fun to do. But if it's like those dry J months, like a June person, they're here to make income.
- [39:16]
C
Like, they're here.
- [39:17]
A
I'm going to learn this. I need to get out of corporate America too.
- [39:22]
C
So. Yeah.
- [39:23]
B
Well, I also want to ask, tell us some of the brands that Bougie Baker Boutique carry. So people who are listening who are like, I kind of like her.
- [39:31]
A
She is super fun.
- [39:33]
B
I think if I want to order from her, what's some brands that they could expect to find for you? Because I see a lot of gel food coloring behind you.
- [39:38]
A
I do believe those.
- [39:39]
B
Those little bottles are very prettily stacked.
- [39:44]
C
So let's see. We carry a ton of different brands. I was gonna try to pull it up really quick, but that's not working. So Clear bags, Kaleidocuts, Killer zebras. The Cookery Parchment creation company, which is like the embossed parchment sheets. The sugar art. Ms. Cookie Packaging. The cookery. I said the Cookery Cake Mockery designs. Americolor, Truly Mad Plastics, Genie's dream royal batch. And I'm probably missing a few.
- [40:21]
A
All right. Yeah. If you go to our website, which is bougiebakerboutique.com and I'll put it in the show notes. I always wanted to say that. Put it in the show notes. Yeah, put it in the show notes and you can really see there's just an absolute. And this is kind of. And I love it when Vendi Blendy Vendy's are one of these, like One stop shop guys. Because I really love it.
- [40:39]
B
I love. That's my favorite thing.
- [40:40]
A
And she's got.
- [40:41]
B
She's got cookie cutters, which is fantastic. And I know the Cookery is actually in Canada so that you can get her stuff, you know, stateside.
- [40:48]
A
And she's fast at shipping.
- [40:50]
B
The girl.
- [40:50]
C
The girl.
- [40:51]
B
I don't. As soon as you put in an order, she's like throwing it in a box.
- [40:54]
A
Christina. Corey says, I don't understand how she can ship so fast. She's like. Corey's like. It's like the minute I click order, it's like in the mail. And I know I've been to Warrenton. You have the post office on Main street, right? Are you like.
- [41:05]
C
We do, but we have a shipping store that I can drop UPS packages off as well. And they're a small business and they make a percentage. So I will. If I know UPS isn't stopping to pick up here, I will go there probably almost every day and just drop off packages. It's like a five minute detour.
- [41:23]
A
That's what Corey says.
- [41:24]
B
She just shifts. I said I would drive over there, but I honestly get the.
- [41:28]
A
The box to my door.
- [41:30]
C
Corey, I'm not shipping your stuff until like a week later.
- [41:35]
B
You've done this to yourself. You're just super best at shipping.
- [41:40]
A
What do you think of all these products you have in your shop? What do you think is the number one thing that you sell to Baker's from your website?
- [41:47]
C
Probably a mirror color just because. Yeah, I feel like so many people use it. But now I would also say the DIY boxes are for sure. Now I don't have another company. Sorry, go ahead.
- [41:59]
A
Oh, no, go ahead. What I was gonna say.
- [42:01]
C
Oh, I was just gonna say I don't have any other companies actually that I'm wholesaling them to. Not for me. Lack of trying.
- [42:10]
A
You heard that other companies.
- [42:12]
B
Yeah.
- [42:14]
C
But. So everybody's been coming to me for them. So that's. Which is a very good positive.
- [42:19]
A
Now what I'm going to tell you guys. Vendee Blendy insider info is the Canadian postal service is striking. And then there's the cost of shipping to America. So a lot of the Canadian vendors aren't returning this year for the sheer cost of it. So if you have somebody like Christina and she's working with these Canadian suppliers, that might be the only way to kind of get this Canadian product if you're US based. So keep that in mind come November 28th. You've heard it here first. Look at you two just looking at.
- [42:46]
B
Me like, oh yeah, you're giving us vending blending tips and tricks. Insider little tidbits.
- [42:54]
A
So, Christine, I do have a question.
- [42:55]
B
As far as the vending blendy goes. I know. Because you're wholesaling a lot of things. Is there anything that won't be included on the Vendee Blendy just because of your contracts that you have in place?
- [43:06]
C
I will have everything in the vending blendy. There's just. I just not all of them. I can have the full 25%, so.
- [43:15]
A
So if anybody wonders, the vending blending requirement to become a vendor is that the whole shop has to be on sale. However, aster when they have these wholesale contracts, they're not allowed to always violate that. So we work with shops that do wholesaling and have exemptions for that to look a little different. So they are typically offering 25% off on their products. And then the wholesale thing is kind of to them and they kind of spell it out to you in their post. Made on the Vendy Blendy Day.
- [43:42]
B
Okay. Yeah. I'm so excited.
- [43:46]
A
Well, let's just jump right into that. The Vendy Blendy is. I'm sorry, unless there was any pertinent information, we wanted to grill Christina because she has to answer because she's on the podcast.
- [43:55]
B
She's on the podcast.
- [43:57]
A
Do you have anything else, Cory, that you're curious from a baker's standpoint or from a cookie standpoint or from what's going on in Warrington standpoint that you want to ask her?
- [44:04]
B
I'm going to do my takeaways. I thought it was very, very interesting how you segued into a brick and mortar. I think a lot of people say it's all or nothing. They've never even considered like, you know, cookie shed or, you know, any of those in betweeners. But you actually kind of set yourself up for success because you didn't just full, you know, you. You took the. Calculated the risk and you took it step by step. And I think that's. And you outgrew the shed. And you said, here's the. The next actual thing that actually makes sense. And it's this brick and mortar. I also think it's genius to combine your brick and mortar supply shop and a bakery in it. That's just absolutely pure genius. So when you're in the back, someone comes in, you have both sides are making you revenue versus just having a supply shop. And you're like, wow, I gotta get home. I really gotta bake these orders. And you can't because you've got a man, the supply shop. But you could just be in the back and going both ways. And that really utilized the space in a genius way. So it's always making you income. And I know starting a new business is difficult in getting the word out there and that's why you're here to today. But what I mean, I've ordered from the Bougie Baker boutique and like I said, her shipping, I don't know how she does it. I don't want her to stop though because it's just insane how fast she gets things out.
- [45:17]
C
But if you ever need also in the same town or in the same town. So it's like one day. But it's also, you get it, you.
- [45:25]
B
Get the box, you get the box going. I don't know what you do. I think you're running around the shop just, she said this, she needs an American.
- [45:32]
C
I got roller skates on, just rolling back and forth, forth.
- [45:37]
B
But it's just been great. So like it's a no brainer to order from the Bougie Baker boutique because she is fast as what she does.
- [45:42]
A
And she's a wholesale shop.
- [45:44]
B
So that's why I like wholesale shops. Because I might want, you know, a cookie cutter that I need for an order, but I'm also running low on Americolor gel. So I can just tap into that, just grab those, grab a few things and it's all from one shop. I'm not paying a bajillion different shipping charges and they're not arriving at a zillion different times. So that's why I love me a good supply shop. And she's just been fantastic. And like I said, if she ever slows down on her ship thing, I'm going to drive over to Warrenton. Thank.
- [46:10]
A
She's probably like, yeah, I've asked you guys to meet me for lunch a billion times. Drive over to Warrenton. I was not. Shook yourself. My big takeaway from it is what I really like that you're doing is we always know, like this is what I should be doing or this is the best possible version, but the best possible version doesn't always fit. Right? Like, so you're saying, okay, listen, yes, in a perfect world, I'd have two Instagram accounts, I'd create two TikTok accounts, I'd create two different types of content for two different TikTok accounts. And I natively post to each and all this stuff. But at the end of the day, she only has so much time. She's obviously juggling absolutely everything in the world. And you're like, hey, I'm willing to compromise on the absolute best case scenario for a good enough Scenario. And I'm still proud to take that good enough scenario because I think sometimes bakers get in their own head like it's not exactly perfect, so I don't want to touch it at all. And you're like, hey, you know, that.
- [46:57]
B
Was what I was.
- [46:58]
A
I tried it. It wasn't a perfect fit for me. So I'm going to find a hybrid solution which I think most of success lives in this hybrid solution of as good as it gets. Why it still doesn't make me miserable.
- [47:09]
B
Yeah.
- [47:09]
A
And I think kind of we're entering in burnout season where everyone's like, it has to be perfect or I'm gonna hate myself and I'm gonna hate my product and thus I'm gonna hate my business. And thus I'm gonna shut down. When in reality. And somebody in the cookie college posted it and they were like, I forgot to follow up on an order and I lost the order. Hey, dude, don't, don't beat yourself up. Sucks. But also part of life, it's part of running a business is forgetting to respond to an inquiry. And it doesn't make you a bad person, it makes you a human person. If you let it eat you up from the inside out, you're not gonna wanna do this business. But if you're like, like, shoot, I, if I would have and indifferent, I would have done it this way. I didn't. It is what it is. Let's move on, let's move forward. And I think you're pretty good at rolling with the punches. Cause you are like, this sucks. But I keep going. And that sucked. But I'm keep staying the course. Like, that's impressive.
- [47:53]
C
Just got to keep moving. I mean things are, things are going to fail. Things aren't going to work. It's a matter of, okay, that happened, move on. Like, don't dwell on it. You can. Because dwelling on it's not going to change anything. But your actions will.
- [48:10]
A
Oh, I really like that one. A lot of good one liners here.
- [48:17]
B
Has been ready for this girl.
- [48:19]
A
Okay, moving on to the Vendy Blendy. The Vendy Blenny. I actually have my first Facebook live on it. It's the intro to the Vendy blendy all the 101. If you have no idea what this made up, word is you should tune in in at 6 o' clock Eastern Standard Time this Thursday and every Thursday for the next five weeks. Because I'll be doing some Facebook lives about how to squeeze the most juice from the Vende Blendy. Very. So speaking of. Christina was a Vendy Blendy last year. You're a Vendy for the Vendy Blendy last year. If you could give people a tip, an insider tip, as a shopper from the seller's perspective for the Vendee Blendy Day, what would you tell them? I know we're putting on this podcast.
- [48:54]
C
Can I give two tips?
- [48:55]
A
Yes.
- [48:57]
C
Okay. First.
- [48:58]
A
First tip.
- [48:59]
C
Definitely start early because stuff sells out.
- [49:02]
A
Yeah.
- [49:03]
C
Second tip would be make sure you are awake for the final hour.
- [49:09]
A
Now, Corey is never going to listen to that second tip, but listen to Christina. Me and Christina, Christina and I, we will not be sleeping. We will be grumpy. We will be curmudgeons. But that last hour, we call it, I don't know, embodied chaos, I guess.
- [49:22]
C
Clear the shelves.
- [49:23]
A
Clear the shelves. And that is the hour that you want to stay up for. And if you want to know why you should stay up for that final hour, you should tune in on Thursday at 6:00pm Eastern Standard Time. So the Vendee Blendy. Just a quick recap. You can go to sugarcookingmarketing.com forward/vendiblendy and read all this and get the list of vendors. Vendees I'm opening, so help me, the Vendee Blendy application for new vendors. I'll be opening that today, but we have invited our past Vendys from last year and we've had 39 returns. So the. The event is a go. It is a wild 24 hours on November 28th. So that's black Friday. It starts at midnight Eastern standard time and it ends 24 hours later where everything is absolutely deleted and we never speak about it again until the next year. Which is my favorite part. It's like a therapy session for me. Delete, delete, delete, delete, delete. And you say, what do you mean? Like, you don't talk about it. It does not exist. Well, I'm in a Facebook group. You are not. I paid a guy, a virtual assistant to remove you from the group. A lot of people self expunge themselves from the group, but the rest of you, you, you will be removed. And that kid works all night long. And when I wake up, there's only four people left. Me, Corey, him and his assistant. And then I remove them too. So it's like, it's like a thing that goes. But yeah, the Vendy Blendy is a blast. All Vendies, which Christine is one, are required to offer 25% off their shop with an exclusion of wholesale. But still they kind of really figure out a way to work around that. And then we have door prizes. Now, Christina, are you offering a door prize this year? Which is optional. You just don't have to do it.
- [50:50]
C
But I could couldn't tell you what it is. I'd have to go look at the form.
- [50:53]
A
Don't worry, I couldn't tell you what it is either. I have to go look at the form. I. I will be doing the breakdown of the vendors and their door prizes next Thursday. So this Thursday is the intro. Next Thursday we go through the vendor websites. But airs a blast. It costs you nothing to join. And if you want to join but like, okay girls, I get it. I want to be in on this go request to join the Facebook group called the Vendy Blendy and pending because that's all it requires to do. No cost to you. You just get a bunch of shops offering 25% off and door prizes. I think the door prize count was over 10,000 in value at this point. Yeah. So it's shaping up to be another good year. You know what's crazy?
- [51:31]
B
My husband was talking about the vendibundi yesterday and he's like, you know what you should do? If it's called the vendibundi, you should say it's happening in November and that they're pendies. I said, are you new here, sir? Hello.
- [51:42]
A
Who doesn't listen to the podcast, please right your hands.
- [51:45]
B
Okay.
- [51:45]
A
It would be nice.
- [51:46]
B
I said, rude. That's been around for a minute. I said, but I like where your head's at.
- [51:51]
A
I told Christina when she said, can I be on the podcast? I said, unfortunately, you'll be in every part of the podcast because you're oddly in every aspect of this. So moving into the cookie college. Christina, you are in the cookie college. What's something you tell people about that who are on the fence about signing up and maybe we're thinking about getting it at a discount during the venue bloody.
- [52:11]
C
It is well worth every penny from the cookie classes. I mean that alone, I don't think I've done really any of the other classes. Whoops.
- [52:23]
A
I want to hear this beautiful voice telling you to download Google Chrome.
- [52:27]
B
Okay?
- [52:29]
C
But the cookie classes alone make it well worth it. And also everybody in there, it is just, it is people that, that a lot of them are experienced and they all want to help each other. And it's not just those one off, you know, random people that just kind of started or is like doesn't have something positive or Helpful to give. It is truly people who do this for a living. Quite a few brick and mortars in there, and. And the people that have been in there for a long time are those people that are going to help you.
- [53:09]
A
Yeah, I like that, Christina. Kia Mike. I know somebody's working on opening a brick and mortar. Kim. We have a lot of brick and mortars in different. Various. Like, Kim's a franchise, you're a bakery supply shop. And then you got the people just selling baked goods. So there's definitely a lot of help there. I don't think anyone has condemned anyone else. Like, no, you shouldn't do that. It's a very positive experience and it's a very constructive one because obviously Cory and I are hell bent on no one being rude. Because there's a way to say, hey, that's probably not the way I do it, but here's how I'd approach that. And it's very important that if you sign up and you entrust me with your experience in the cookie college, that it's something that you're like, wow, that was really great. And I find that most people are like, shoot, I miss those people in that group. It was really, really, really helpful. And everyone was really nice to me.
- [53:54]
B
Christina does have, like, a perspective that not many people have, because I see a lot of home bakers just turn into a bakery, but Christ just says, you know what? I'm gonna do a little something of that and I'm gonna do a little something else. So she's got just the most unique perspective almost. When Christina has a question, I'm like, she's so unique in her questions.
- [54:14]
A
She's like, you've been the topic of many a twin lunch conversation. Did you see this question? It's really interesting what she's doing.
- [54:20]
B
So interesting. But that she provides that when people have those kind of questions, a lot of times us home bakers who are teaching classes are like, should we bring things to sell in the class? And Christina's like, heck, yeah. That's the prime time to. And she has 100% that she can bring because she's experienced it all in this very unique pathway that she's created. I can't honestly, like, nail anyone to what Christine has chosen because it's so unique.
- [54:46]
C
I mean, that's a good thing, though. So, yeah. And I hope I can inspire somebody else to do it. Maybe not so close in Virginia, but somewhere else would be good.
- [54:56]
A
Place or somewhere. Don't go to Warrenton and start anything. So moving into the St Elmy about it segment. Sorry, I keep turning myself off and on. And Corey, tell us what this is why I try to find it.
- [55:08]
B
The stlme about it section is where you guys can actually text in your questions. And today I'm going to make Christina answer them because she is. She is a marketing wiz. Whether she says it or not, she's really good at what she does. But if you had any questions that maybe you don't address on the podcast or you have like a one situation, you're like, I just would really like if you guys could delve into it a little bit. That is what this segment is about. And you guys have done phenomenal texting in your questions. Heather, how many questions do we have this time?
- [55:33]
A
We have Faux fo.
- [55:35]
B
So I'm gonna let Christina choose one out of four. One person will win, and that's because you texted in. You didn't take no as an answer. You said, I'm gonna text in every single week till I win, which is fantastic. And you'll win. What do they win? Heather? It is.
- [55:47]
A
It is month. It's a month in Cookie Design Lab, which I have to add this because today is the sugar cookie marketing's birthday, where if you make a post using the hashtag care yoki is the biggest pun I could come up with on a short notice. You could enter to win a bamboo a one min that we're giving away. But Cookie Design Lab, Amelia. Amelia. She was like, hey. Also, I want to offer, I want to tack onto that a year of Cookie Design Lab SDL software for the winner of today's little happy birthday contest. So Cookie Design Lab is a really, really sleek way to make cookie cutters really, really quickly. I really do like it. Really, really. But Fusion360 is so overwhelming that, like, for me to tell somebody like, you should get into printing your own cookie cutters and download Fusion360 would be like, I'd be like, what did you just tell me me to do? It's like the version. It's like the difference between downloading Photoshop or using Canva. And Canva is so quick, so easy, so intuitive. And Cookie Design Lab is that for cookie cutters? So you can check out cookie design lab.com to check that out. They have a seven day, like, membership. Like, if you're like, I just need to print off a cookie cutter, I don't want to be here. I'm here for a good time. Not for a long time. But back to the segment number one through four, which One Would you like to pick? Hello, you've got mail. Let me pull this over onto my screen. Okay. Hi twins and Christina. As far as closing arguments, this is about last week's podcast about the jury. I was like, closing arguments. I never close my arguments. I argue all the time. As far as closing arguments, they cannot say whatever they want. They really only should be repeating the facts and evidence presented at trial. I think they can give a little more insight and context. Love the podcast. It's literally what my normal day job is. A legal assistant with the prosecution's office. And I handle homicide cases. Cases only love hearing from a juror's perspective. P.S. the defense attorney is nice and funny because he wants you to like him and his client. Okay, my Tacoma, Washington winner. And don't worry, Heather Campbell Berkshire. I also owe you a response because she won last week's STL me about it. Email me at heather sugarcookiemarketing.com and I'll hook you up with that month trial. Nothing to answer there, but what do you take on that? Corey, you said that.
- [57:50]
B
I think that. I think that's interesting since I did not know that they could just say whatever they wanted. It seemed like I guess they did condense their side versus the other person's side. And I will say the guy was like, well, the defense was a like, well dude.
- [58:02]
A
And I said, wow, if I ever.
- [58:03]
B
You know, find myself in criminal lawsuit, let me hire.
- [58:07]
A
If I ever go to a bar at 2am I will call this guy. Okay, here's another actual marketing question. That was a great thanks guys for listening to. I liked the tell all myself personally. Hey there ladies. I recently started gathering with a group of ladies this month who all own small businesses. We have different types of businesses, not just baking and we're all at very different stages in our business journeys. We have different topics and focuses each month. The meeting we're going to have next week, if you're reading this on the podcast, then it's today. Lol. We're talking about ways to help ourselves during quarter four, which includes marketing techniques and strategies as well as doing social media audits. If you had to pick three topics, each one being able to be about an hour or two hours hours long, which three topics would you dive into during a meeting with other small businesses? I'm going to start one that I know everyone would hate to be stuck in if I taught it. And I would say it's SOPS processes. I think a lot of times we we're reinventing the wheel as A small business. When if you just took some time and said, here's the process, when this, when, if this, then that, and kind of set up these things and then see within that process that you actually written down, you scripted out where you can implement automation, you're really buying time. And you, you're able to create almost a workbook, a handbook. So when you are Christine and you're hiring somebody, you can just say, hey, here's how we do this year. And it's not everyone doing their own process in a unique way that changes every time. It's very. A set standard. So that's what my topic would be on. What would your guys's topics be on?
- [59:37]
B
Christina, you take it. I know you got one. I know you goodness.
- [59:42]
C
Especially for the holiday season is just anything. I mean, I guess it kind of piggybacks off Heather's. But just preparing, planning ahead of. Okay, I have kind of work your way backwards almost like. So I know that my last day before I take a solid pretty much month off is December 23rd. So I'm going to work my way backwards. I have this market, this market to do. I need to. When do I need to start planning? I do advent calendars and I do about 50 of them them every year. So you can do the calculation of cookies. So I know that in about two weeks I start prepping for that, if not sooner. So I'm a big. I've learned to be a big prepper, not a doomsday prepper.
- [60:33]
A
Could we also call it doomsday prepping though? Could Christmas be doomsday prepping?
- [60:38]
B
Doom and glam or the Grinch?
- [60:40]
A
Yeah, I like what you said. What you said, find the day on the calendar, work back. Jessica Genzel actually taught a Facebook live on that a couple years ago and I think it's on our YouTube channel. It's called called reverse calendarizing. And she took it and she was like, here's how to take this date and let the date, the due date, schedule out your calendar for you. Again, you're working, like Christina said, way ahead of time to get in front of this stuff. But that's almost what it has to be, otherwise you will be drowning. And like we say it's cookie money printing season. The super bowl of cookies is also coincides with cookie baker burnout season and where people are like, yeah, this is just too overwhelming. I can't do it. And we took a poll in the sugar cookie marketing group a couple weeks ago and someone's like, oh, in December, I actually take fewer Orders. That's how I'm able to maintain. And some bakers like, well, in December, I take the most orders and then I float myself through the year. So it's kind of what works for your brain. Of which we all have different ones, although Corey and I seem to share a half of each. We said that it's just one person's brain and two people's bodies, unfortunately.
- [61:36]
B
So we're operating at half capacity, unfortunately.
- [61:39]
A
We have to be together to be able to. I've been trying to shake her my whole life, but then I wouldn't know what to do with my hands. Okay, last one. Hi, twins. I'll be a vendor at the holiday bazaar taking place in mid November at a local high school. I'll be selling cookie kits, both DIY and pyo, all fall themed. My thoughts are to have two different size DIY kits. A six and a 12 count cookies with four icing colors in both. The pyos will be singles for the little kids. I'll also have a small selection of decorated single cookies that will show off my skills. My question is, how many theme variations should I have for these themes? DIY kits. My thoughts are to have three themes. Fall, Thanksgiving, football. I don't want to have so much that is overwhelming. What do you guys think? I appreciate all you do for this community. Thanks. Super advised and signed, Jennifer.
- [62:23]
B
I want to give that one to Christina. She actually does markets all the time. She's the market guru.
- [62:29]
C
She.
- [62:29]
B
I think it. You've done markets throughout the entire year this year. And I know you've done it in years past so much. So what do you think about that?
- [62:38]
C
I would probably not even do three DIY kits. I would. Three different themes. I would keep probably a fall and that's it. Because fall, you can throw a football in there if you want. You could throw a turkey leg in there if you want. If anything, I would maybe do like a mini kit version because I see a lot more people doing those more and more with like the two cookies, one or two bags of icing, and like a little tiny thing of sprinkles. I almost ordered those. Even pumpkin ones that you had as a 3D photo.
- [63:11]
A
I love them.
- [63:12]
C
I'm like, Christina, you don't need to add any more to your lineup.
- [63:15]
A
So your big takeaway is streamline themes but increase size options. So she's saying, I'm doing six cookies and 12 cookies. But then they said both get four icings. But I think you're saying, do what three cookies and six or seven cookies, one with two icings, one with four icing things. But the themes really stay the same so that now customers are not overwhelmed by options in terms of content, but rather options in terms of size. And you really streamline that down to two?
- [63:44]
C
Yeah, absolutely.
- [63:45]
A
Do you feel like when people come to your vendor market and they come to your booth, it's like they're there for a short time. They're like, hey, you know, how are they integrating? What are they buying? Like, how do you watch their brains churn?
- [63:58]
C
I have a bad habit of liking to bring everything I possibly can, which does not always benefit me. I think it overwhelms people. So I have tried to kind of dial it back, and I do. One thing that sets me apart from a lot of other bakers, even market vendors that come to the same market but maybe on different days, is I'm obnoxious with my packaging. I like the fancy Bowdabra bows, the tags, the boxes. I. But people are like, oh, my gosh, I love the way you do this. Like, it just draws them in. And it also helps fill up your table a lot more. From a visual perspective.
- [64:43]
B
For sure. Yeah. Because I. The thing about. I want to say, to Christina's point of, if you have three different DIY kit boxes and there's six and 12 cookies in each, and no one buys the football one, and you've made. Made, like, six or seven of those now you have so much excess product, whether you could say, hey, I think most people will like the fall thing. It's pretty middle of the road. And then I can put the football ones and the football player in a smaller pack. A twofer. You know, where you get this and. And those people who want the specialty ones, they can still get that, but they can still get the middle of the road. So you're not having so much excess product, especially if this is your first market ever and you don't know how people are going to respond it. You don't want to have so much excess where you're just now going back to your Facebook page and be like, I have to sell these at a discount because, you know, fall is over.
- [65:28]
A
And now we're heading into Christmas.
- [65:31]
C
Yeah, you'd rather sell out than have a lot of extra to take home. And trust me, I have learned my lesson with that. You do not.
- [65:41]
A
You're hearing it from the mouth of babes. First, the girl's done tried everything. She's learned the hard way. She take it. She's giving you the notes in it. And Then she's still going to do something crazy. I can just feel it in my mouth.
- [65:50]
B
Yeah, for sure, for sure. That's a fantastic question, though. And then your pyl is you can. You could maybe make those the football ones. And if you live in a football town, that's going to be the one that you lean into. I just know, like in Northern Virginia, fall is what is right now because.
- [66:05]
A
We experience all four seasons.
- [66:06]
B
But like right now it's fall, so people are like skyline driving it and those ones would be a big seller here versus, like the football season kind of ones. At least for this area, I think. Of course, I don't know even like football at all.
- [66:19]
A
Travis Kelsey.
- [66:21]
B
Yeah, go.
- [66:21]
A
Taylor Swift's boyfriend. My last question.
- [66:25]
B
Go ahead, fiance. No longer boyfriend. Give it the times, man.
- [66:31]
A
Swifty is screaming right now. Last question is for me, so I'm going to read it. 801 Utah is the area code. However, it's me, Kim Sims from Texas. So Kim was a guest on this podcast a month and a half ago and she actually owns a brick and mortar in Texas. And she says, hey, ladies. Specifically, Heather. Hi, Kim. How does one find a Vlad? And who she's asking? Vlad is a contractor. I used to do website code edits or kind of fix things when things go wrong. I think that you said you found him on a virtual assistant website. Oh, my camera went, sorry, guys, I'm going to switch to the other one because I know people are like, I really want to see Heather's face. But because I have more than one option. Okay, there we go. I switched to the lower quality branding.
- [67:10]
B
Difficult difficulties we knew it was going to have. Oh, I looked not as bright as she once was.
- [67:16]
A
This is as bright as I can get. Okay, back to this. She says, how does one find a Vlad? Vlad is my contractor, my website contractor. I think you said you found him on a VA website. I know there's sites that you can find inexpensive VAs for smaller timestamps sucking tasks. Any recommendations? I'm learning that just because I can do things myself doesn't mean I should. And I don't have time for everything. Work smarter, not harder. Bonus question, because I wonder every are the other text you don't read on the pod saved for the next week or are they just entering with no questions? Which is perfectly fine. Thank you in advance for putting my mind at ease. So first, the Vlad one. I found Vlad. I've used the website called Upwork.com for just forever. I really like it because you post your job and you post the rate that you want to pay and then the contractors come and bid. You can go to each contractors profile and upwork and see their ratings because again you're giving these people access to the back end of your websites which is always fear.
- [68:08]
B
It's a trust, It's a trust fall right there.
- [68:10]
A
I always tell people you're going to be getting in bed with the people so you got to really make sure you can vet them. And like a person like Vlad who I found and I've consecutively used exclusively for years now, he had a really high rating. He had been on upwork for years. Of course he's always like, can you leave me a good review? Can you leave me a good review? Because it's that important. Important to them. Now you'll have new contractors that have no reviews at all. I'd stay away from those. And then the, the contractors that can actually counter bid if they feel like you're a little on the low end of things or they can if you want to start work your way up. Now I feel like what you pay for is what you get. So I kind of start with a generous offer like $50 and then I have the option to tip or we can create milestones. The reason why I like upwork is they keep the money in a holding pattern. So I'll actually fund the contract, the project and they'll hold it. So Vlad knows and I'm going to pay because he can already see the money's already been set aside and then we can actually set milestones. Now my projects are so little that and I trust this guy pretty well at this point I'll just pay him up front and then he'll just do the services and we have a chat feature where I can chat with him about questions. He has logins and stuff like that. So Heather, question what can upwork, what.
- [69:13]
B
Would people go to upwork for? What are some other ways? So you said the back end of a website, coding things going wrong. What else?
- [69:19]
A
So Christine is a great example. So she's trying to take a website and make it do two things. And I know she's constantly fighting. Are you on WordPress? Is that right? Or Shopify?
- [69:26]
C
No, I'm on Shopify.
- [69:27]
A
Okay, so even with Shopify she could say like she, I really wish I had two giant buttons. One said I'm a baker and one says that I'm a cookie class taker or something like that. You could say hey Vlad, here's what I would like, you know, here's what I think the project's worth. And then he could say like, hey, here, I can do this. I actually had Vlad do your Shopify website. You didn't want the products page to go to checkout. You wanted them to go to a, an extra large. So I said, hey Vlad, this is gonna be weird, but I'm gonna actually move in the other direction. I need to make this impossible to order from so you can find stuff like that. Now I use Vlad for bigger projects, but kind of what Kim's asking is I also have the virtual assistant that I have removed people from a Facebook group. Yeah, I actually found him in a subreddit for finding virtual assistants. Now if you're on Reddit, you probably had to have an account that's been aged a little bit. So if it's something you're thinking about doing, go make a Reddit account account. Now comment on Taylor Swift's relationship to Travis Kelce. Get some points because it awards you points for engaging with the content. And then when you're ready, go find these subreddits for finding virtual assistants. My virtual assistant and I've worked with him for years as well, he's from India so he's able to, he's happy with the rates that I pay and then I do that kind of that menial task where I would be pulling out my hair. But the reason why the Vendi Blendy works so well is he's awake when I'm asleep because he's in India. So he is starting his day removing people from, from the group. We actually have him do membership for the baking group. He writes, he takes all those email addresses and puts them into a spreadsheet. And I like having both. I like having a hyper specialized guy who does web development and then I like having my virtual assistant who will just do. And he'll be like, he'll constantly say.
- [71:05]
B
Do you have all the, the YouTube? He put all the Facebook lives onto YouTube. So that was something that would have taken a bajillion hours. And he's like, no, I just let it run in the background on his computer.
- [71:16]
A
You got to understand when you're not the host of a Facebook Live, you can' just click the download button like the host scan. So he actually screen recorded about 150 hours. I mean he just let, and I set him up on the software we use and paid for it, but he just, he just let us continue to record it. And then he followed. I created a, like, I used the screen recording software called Loom and I said, hey, here's exactly how I want you to do this. Here's a spreadsheet I want you to use. And I come back a couple a month later. I said, you have a month deadline for this. And then he's like, here you go.
- [71:46]
B
And I'd also encourage you, just me and Heather have done this in the past in our marketing group. A lot of times we have to write blog posts that are specialized asking. In a local community group, a lot of people have this expertise and they'll do it on the side. And it's a great way to grow your relationship with people who are actually local to you too, that actually can do the business. And if you ever want to meet with them, like, you know, these are just virtual assistants, but they can be right down the road.
- [72:09]
A
So it's great for.
- [72:10]
B
If you have a newsletter you want to go out and you're like, you know, I'm not consistent with it, but if I hired someone to do it and you know, it's this local mom and she knows all the great playgrounds and moms happen to be my, my best bread and butter who always order cookies, that would be a fantastic way to grow your name in your community while helping and putting money back into the community. It's my favorite thing to do specifically.
- [72:30]
A
And I love Vlad. He's Ukraine based. And I love my virtual assistant, he's Indian based. They're not going to write copy. They actually don't write emails the same at all. They. My Indian virtual assistant, he'll write very conclusive with complete sentence. And Vladimir, Vlad's like, yes, no, left, right, email code. So when you want something that sounds like your target audience, you should hire somebody within your target audience.
- [72:53]
B
Right.
- [72:53]
A
And then, you know, now in these days, whether you want AI to be involved or not, I'd probably tell somebody, hey, I want it to sound like a mom of three kids. So write in accordance with that. Right. My website copy for a busy mom of three kids and five dogs. And you know something where they. It's going to sound a lot different. So you got to understand where you have hire these different contractors is going to dictate kind of the work. Right. So I like what you said. If you're writing a blog post or having someone write newsletter copy for you, I'd probably hire a lady down the street. Yeah. And then, you know, I think that, I think people maybe kind of think virtual assistants or contractors are real expensive. But like I said, Vlad, add those buttons for $50 worth the investment for me than having to trip over that myself. And then the. The virtual assistant from India he he has a set rate and we just agreed onto it. And and don't be afraid to counter be like hey that's a little high for the rate I'm going to offer here. And then don't be afraid to tip because I want this guy to stick around with me. So you can kind of do that bartering and kind of find out what works best for both people. Yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah. Great. Very neat. So let's go to these sponsors Christina go.
- [73:59]
B
Just kidding out. Now I'm losing connection.
- [74:06]
A
Cookie design lab. I already read them. They honestly a really neat software. You can go check it out at cookedesignlab. Com you can sign up with Google they have a seven day trial they have a monthly membership or the discounted yearly membership but if you want to save on that use code twins and save 15% off. There are a in the vendibundy baking me crazy Also in the vending blendy you can use code favorite twin or code Heather.
- [74:30]
B
Just kidding.
- [74:31]
A
It has to be favorite twin. As you all know it's heather for 10% off and that's a baking supply shop Royal batch which Christina also sells. Also on the venny blendy use code twin to save 10% there on Christina. Which baking meringue powder do you use?
- [74:47]
C
I have just started using royal batch for customs but it is expensive.
- [74:53]
A
This fancy one gets royal batch.
- [74:56]
B
You guys are so crazy.
- [74:58]
C
Classes and pre orders. I use genies. I mean I've used genies pretty much since the start so that's kind of like.
- [75:05]
A
Do you know Wilton's love here Hobby Lobby sunny side up.
- [75:08]
B
Well it's because well wills they kind of did away with theirs. Hobby Lobby just changed their whole brand.
- [75:14]
A
So it's not working the same it once was. It's not supply chain stuff. It's like the whole generate goal. I told Corey she should do you just.
- [75:21]
B
I found one. I've ordered it. We'll see. I I'll test it before I say anything but they said the best thing since life red.
- [75:27]
A
Okay Christine, do you have one say which one?
- [75:31]
C
Fluff. Fluff and stuff.
- [75:33]
B
Oh I did order some fluff and stuff to try.
- [75:35]
C
Yeah I heard really good things.
- [75:37]
B
I know. I love the name fluff and stuff that rolls right off the.
- [75:41]
C
Also in Virginia.
- [75:42]
B
No way. No way.
- [75:44]
C
Yeah, they're out in Lake Winchester. Icing images. Yeah.
- [75:47]
A
Did you know the Sprinkle factory is in Virginia? The Sprinkle Factory ladies in Fredericksburg.
- [75:53]
C
Oh, yeah, yeah. Look at Virginia.
- [75:55]
A
Little Virginia reference.
- [75:56]
B
Reference talks about Virginia.
- [75:59]
A
You guys are missing out on. Daisy makes also a ven the venny bloody code twins. 10 to save 10% off there. It's all things cake pop, so. Oh, Christina, you offer cake pops?
- [76:11]
C
No, never tried them. Don't want to.
- [76:15]
A
It's a battle. But as Corey kind of gets into, the two things Cory's passionate about in life are Christina's shipping ability. And Daisy makes cake pop molds. Because I don't know why you act like that descended from heaven. But if you guys are interested in getting into cake pops specifically Christina, maybe we can pressure and adding something else complex to your life. You could go check out days. It's too easy.
- [76:36]
B
Her life's too easy.
- [76:37]
A
Now there's Eddie, the edible food printer. And he's not discounted, but I read in Primera yesterday, the guy Mark, who kind of runs the whole program, he writes this heavy hitting. He's like, you'll be missing out if you don't have an Eddie. And you'll be watching baker's post there corporate orders all Christmas, and you'll be wondering, why isn't you. So consider getting an Eddie printer. I was like, wow.
- [77:00]
C
Would recommend.
- [77:01]
B
Yeah, yeah.
- [77:02]
A
You have any?
- [77:04]
C
Yeah.
- [77:05]
B
Remember when she came over to our house? To your house?
- [77:07]
A
Yes. Yeah. Was that your dry run of seeing if you wanted to buy one?
- [77:14]
C
Pretty much, yeah. And I was sold. And somebody asked me the other day, they're like, what would you do if it broke? And I'm like, I'd buy another one. Like, it's. It's very much well worth it to me, like a hundred times over. I've had the same one though, for four years. Three and a half years. Years.
- [77:33]
A
Four years. So I kind of feel like they is also five years old. I. I don't think that product's been.
- [77:39]
B
Here for a long time.
- [77:39]
A
So you see a lot of these bakers kind of taking into the fourth year, and he's kind of still going strong.
- [77:45]
B
I got a question for you. Do you use the carousel or do you manual feed with your Eddie?
- [77:51]
C
It depends on what I'm doing. If I'm doing corporate orders, I'm definitely carouseling it all the way. I have the extra large sassy tray shameless plug for them. Yeah, Amazing. But if I'm doing like one off stuff, I will use the sprinkle tray.
- [78:08]
A
Oh, okay.
- [78:09]
C
Which is my fave.
- [78:10]
B
Yeah, yeah.
- [78:10]
A
Which is Fredericksburg, which is Virginia. Okay. So you guys here first.
- [78:14]
B
We got a lot of good going on.
- [78:17]
A
And then Bosch and Nutrimile, they're actually running a. No, they've just ended their last sale, but they do have it, and I'm not allowed to talk about it until Black Friday, but they do have a pretty. Pretty aggressive Black Friday sale. But if you want something from Boston Nutrimile right now, use code sugar cookies, and you save 20. And it pays us 20 that we pay to run the venue. Bloody app.
- [78:35]
B
Nice.
- [78:36]
A
Nice.
- [78:36]
B
All right, now it's winter.
- [78:39]
A
Corey, you have something to do. No, I want to hear what Christina.
- [78:41]
B
Said because she was like.
- [78:42]
C
She was.
- [78:42]
A
I hyped it up. When we. When we added Christina to the Zoom meeting, she was like, just. I have one question. I'm like, what could it be like, you know, technology. But she was like, the twin dressed. Can I say whatever I want? And we're like, yeah, girl. Can't wait.
- [78:55]
C
Let's get to that part. I've got it.
- [78:57]
B
No, I been thinking about the whole time.
- [79:00]
C
Okay, well, I actually have two, only because one is sitting right in front of me. The other one, I have on my favorite mascara. I have used the same mascara for I can't even tell you how many years. I get so many compliments on my eyelashes. Too faced. It's called better than. I don't know if I can say this word.
- [79:20]
A
I know exactly what.
- [79:21]
C
I know exactly.
- [79:22]
A
You think it's good. I'm going to buy tomorrow, then it.
- [79:25]
C
Is the absolute best. And if you find that it gets clumpy, just use, like, one of those.
- [79:30]
B
Yes, a spindle thing.
- [79:33]
C
Yeah, that thing that you would kind of fluff your lashes or use when you try stuff on at a makeup store.
- [79:40]
A
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [79:41]
C
Just run that through. It is literally the best mascara on the face.
- [79:46]
A
I told her. I said, if you're. I'm staring at your eyes right now.
- [79:50]
B
Yeah, it looks great, girl.
- [79:51]
A
Great. She flies, the wind starts glowing everyone's hair.
- [79:56]
C
Cue fan, please. No, I'm kidding.
- [80:00]
B
My.
- [80:01]
C
My other thing is the moth. Yeah. Have you guys tried it yet?
- [80:05]
A
I bought one for my little sister, and then she bought one before. Unfortunately, I have not this smartphone that can have those. But you guys use them. Why? Because you use them to create content or just to watch TikToks?
- [80:17]
C
Yeah, no, to create content.
- [80:18]
A
It's way easier.
- [80:19]
C
Easier than moving my Archon mount everywhere.
- [80:24]
A
Do you have your phone with you? Can you give us a demonstration?
- [80:32]
C
It just sticks to it, and it actually will stay pretty tilted over. If I need it up a little higher, I'll just Set it on top of like a box.
- [80:41]
A
Very nice.
- [80:42]
C
But it gets the content right there and it's not, not, it's not invasive. It's not like you're having to put.
- [80:49]
B
Your nog in your big old head. That's I'm talking about my head, my big old head plus the, the thing that holds the phone and I'm like hitting it with my head. It. That is a little bit disconcerting and it's hard to learn and like if you're like a very movement oriented baker.
- [81:02]
A
You'Re going to hit it.
- [81:03]
B
So these little things I honestly like it for. I do a round. It folds up.
- [81:07]
A
It, it folds up.
- [81:08]
B
It's great for like around town content because I like to film like if I go to a restaurant or something. But I hate, hate, I hate having to set up the phone like against your water. And then people are like, you're like, everyone's in the background. So like just having it like while you cut your, you know, your stake for the B roll content.
- [81:24]
A
You've been producing a lot of B roll content there. Ms. Berkeley Park.
- [81:27]
B
Thank you.
- [81:28]
A
Thanks for the invite. Those are two absolutely great twin twists. Mostly because I could buy them tomorrow and I like that. Corey, do you have a twin?
- [81:37]
B
Do I have a twin?
- [81:39]
A
Yes.
- [81:40]
B
I have a question. Twinterest and maybe someone knows I have this order for it's like four or five cookies and they need a smaller box that's a flat lay box because it'll be like gifted almost like what you, you would say like a real estate set would and they would gift it to the first time home buyers. I need a small box that kind of fits 4 3.5 inch cookies in there that isn't like just a bakery style box. So if anyone had any idea, I know BRP has some things like that. My problem is I don't want to order 52 of. I just want someone to be like I have this box, it fits this one in cookies, something like that. That's my twin turret.
- [82:17]
C
But it can't be just a simple bakery box. Like you can't like you know they want 12 by.
- [82:24]
B
They want it flatter and like so they can put a bow around the side and you can see the whole thing. So it's got like a clear window box, a little window but not so 2.5 inch. You know where they're kind of hidden in the bottom of it. They want it like front and center so they can gift ripped it out.
- [82:39]
A
That's a complex question, buddy.
- [82:41]
B
Yeah, complex Question.
- [82:43]
A
Yeah, I know you will. You have a Twitter star. Twan I hate to say it. It's tire rack.com road hazard warranty two years.
- [82:51]
C
I mean any I need new tires. So that's perfect, dude.
- [82:56]
B
You're welcome.
- [82:57]
A
Thank you for enjoying my twin dress. And I will be getting your mascara. And Corey is a brat, but okay. So this isn't the first time I've had to use a road hazard warranty. As long as if you buy the tires from Tyrack for two years. For two years. If you run over any nail and it punctures the tire and if the tire is irreplaceable either because this happened in the sidewall and you can't repair that as easily. Tire rack you. I submitted my claim which was super easy to do. It auto pre approved. It said hey listen, just go to our website, order the tire, upload your receipt and then we just need you to upload the. That company has put the new tire on and that's all you have to do to prove that you got the tire replaced. So that tire, it was formed $400 and I got it for $0. And then the their installation which it's you kind of unique to the area, but if you're in northern Virginia, they're based out of Manassas. A tire rack van comes to your house and puts the tire on while you're working. Wow.
- [83:51]
C
Wow.
- [83:52]
B
I'm forwarded to a tire rack.
- [83:54]
A
Listen, a bunch of people smell real good, will have great eyelashes and fresh tires. And they have this podcast to thank. In conclusion. Christina, thank you so much for being here. Our guinea pig, our first remote guest on the podcast. How do you think it went?
- [84:10]
C
You're also still being great. I love it. Oh yeah, no crap.
- [84:17]
B
The listeners. The listeners are the worst.
- [84:21]
C
No, I love it. I don't listen every week, but I do well. I will catch up on episodes and I was super excited when I started hearing guests on there. I also happened to happened to see Kim and Heather after their episode with you. I went to the breakfast with them. So I was super pumped. I was like immediately I need to get on it. How do I get on it?
- [84:43]
A
I like it. I love that. Christina, like here's the thing. And bless everyone who ever emails me so for being patient. If I don't respond okay, I'm getting a lot of them. But Christina's like, I'm back in here again. How do we do this?
- [84:55]
C
I said, girl, you know what?
- [84:56]
A
Yeah, let's do it.
- [84:57]
B
Let's do it. Well, thank you so Chris much.
- [85:01]
A
Christina the close. Can you give us your websites? If somebody wants to order from you, tell them how to find you on whatever channels you want them to find you on.
- [85:11]
C
So Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, which I'm not super active on yet. Bougie Baker Boutique. And then website, just bougiebakerboutique.com. bougie is spelled b o u j e e versus the other way, because I just had to be extra and I like the way it looks. And then if you're in the sugar cookie marketing group, if you go to the list that has discounts, there is a Bougie Baker discount in there.
- [85:43]
A
Oh, too nice to remember what it is off the tip of your tongue.
- [85:47]
C
I want to say it's SCM, but I don't know.
- [85:52]
B
Christina has 1 million things to remember and.
- [85:57]
A
You know, everything.
- [85:59]
C
I can go to Handy Dandy Shopify really quick.
- [86:04]
A
It is Bougie bigger boutique packaging, and it's SEM 2025.
- [86:08]
B
2025.
- [86:10]
A
Nice.
- [86:11]
C
And if you're in the college, there's a different one, so you have to look for the sales thread post.
- [86:16]
A
Thank you.
- [86:16]
C
Because there's a better discount in the college.
- [86:18]
B
It's almost like she's really.
- [86:20]
A
We should sign it. We'll pay you for your shout outs later. Okay. But yeah, Christina, we will definitely be going to lunch. We owe you that for sure. Maybe you're tired of denim and pearls. You want to go to season 52. But whatever, you'll pick and we'll pay. And this has been such a great experience.
- [86:35]
C
Yes, it absolutely has. Thank you, ladies so much for having me. Although I am very sad I did not get to meet Munch. That was my sole reason of why.
- [86:42]
B
And because she loves cats.
- [86:43]
A
She loves them.
- [86:44]
B
I mean, she loves dogs more, but she loves cats.
- [86:46]
A
She hides it well behind five huskies.
- [86:48]
B
She had a cat for a long time.
- [86:49]
A
I'm gonna get you over here.
- [86:50]
C
We have two. We have two now. We had four at one point, so we have two now.
- [86:54]
A
Crazy.
- [86:55]
B
You're w. And then an alpaca down the road.
- [86:57]
A
I know. You definitely snuck in. And we'll get alpaca soon, too. Like, she's like, yeah, life's too easy right now.
- [87:02]
C
I just need to add manifesting the alpacas.
- [87:04]
B
I'm manifesting it for you. I don't want.
- [87:06]
A
If you get. I would like to be invited over to pet the alpacas, please. Yes.
- [87:12]
C
Okay, great.
- [87:13]
A
Guys, I'm going to end this, and then I'll upload this to YouTube if you want to see her other twin twist, which you should see when you go subscribe to the YouTube channel Sugar Cookie Marketing and otherwise. We'll be here. Back again next week, but tune in to me on Thursday. Please don't make me talk to myself and hear more about the Vendy Blendy.
- [87:29]
B
I'll be heckling you in the comment section. Thank you.