Baking it Down with Sugar Cookie Marketing 🍪

Episode 235: Private Class + Vendy Blendy pt. 1
Date: November 4, 2025
Hosts: Heather & Corrie Miracle

Episode Overview

In this upbeat and info-packed episode, twin hosts Heather and Corrie Miracle "bake down" two central topics for cookie business owners:

1. Vendy Blendy pt. 1 – All the vendor, event, and marketing insights for their annual Black Friday event, Vendy Blendy, which features deep discounts on cookie decorating tools, ingredients, classes, and supplies.
2. Private Cookie Class Prep – An honest look at preparing for and managing a private, in-home cookie class booked through a client named Mary.

Their signature energy, twin banter, and focus on real-world advice for cottage bakery entrepreneurs shine through. Whether you’re here for inspiration, vendor recommendations, or lessons in handling custom classes, this episode is packed with practical strategies and marketing wisdom.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fun Updates and 3D Cookie Cutter Printing

• The duo discusses personal wins with new 3D printers (Bambu series) and how it’s saving time and money in their businesses (02:12).
• Corrie is enamored with the ability to print custom cookie cutters quickly:

  "Do I want to spit out a cutter in the next five minutes? Sure, why not?" – Corrie (02:28)

• Practical tip: Avoid printing in small, enclosed rooms due to plastic odor; invest in printer cases for quality and safety (02:28–02:54).

2. Vendy Blendy Pt. 1 – Inside a Cookie Business Black Friday Event

[Starts ~04:00]

What is the Vendy Blendy?

• Annual, one-day-only online "vendor marketplace" sale for bakers, hosting 60+ shops focused on cookie decorating supplies, tools, packaging, classes, digital downloads, and more.
• Vendors are carefully selected; many are returning favorites but there’s an injection of new shops each year.
• Shops offer rare and exclusive discounts (25%–50% off) on their products.

Organizing the Event

• The event is now in its 5th year. Growth is evident:

  “This is the fifth year of the Vendy Blendy and the first year where people’s shops had heard of it before we came a-knocking.” – Heather (04:56)

• Vendor closures (esp. on Etsy) have pushed the hosts to seek new participants and diversify offerings (05:26).
• Vendy Blendy now boasts a comprehensive, ever-updating landing page:

  “Every question that we typically get, I’m going to add to this website.” – Heather (07:23)

• Key insight: Don’t underestimate the value of a highly informative landing page, frequent reminders, and leveraging social proof.

  “There’s no such thing as posting too much—and then having a landing page to direct those people to, to give them all the information they need.” – Heather (09:11)

Vendor Highlights & Discounts

[07:54–34:14 – see full shop rundown]

• Energetic, detailed walkthrough of 40+ participating shops, including returning names and exciting newcomers.

• Standout shops include:

  • Cake Ball by Gina – “So consistent with their cake pop output...beautiful to stare at” (10:29)
  • Designer Cookies – Coming back after hesitation, rebranded, sought after by customers (11:28)
  • Prism Sugar Co. – Dye-free products, 100% baker-run, with $100+ prizes (12:23)
  • Karentology – Known for versatile, cute boxes that fit a range of baked goods (14:05)
  • KaleidaCuts – “From what I understand, KaleidaCuts does not run 25% off. Not that I’ve seen, my friend.” – Corrie (15:22)
  • Sprinkle Factory, Sweetest Tiers, Be Still Bakery, Lollies, The Cookery, Ms. Cookie Packaging, Backers Co., Cookie Design Lab, Bougie Baker – Covering everything from STL 3D files to custom stencils, boxes, and color guides.

• Many shops are offering best-ever discounts or unique bundles for the Blendy—these are rarely available elsewhere.

• Marketing insight:

  • DMs on Instagram proved valuable for B2B outreach, riding on the group’s existing 32k followers for social proof (06:03).
  • Heather and Corrie debate the pros and cons of catchy (if confusing) event names like “Vendy Blendy” vs. clearer but less-memorable options.

    “Do you want a funky name that’s memorable or do you want a name that’s very common but highly competitive?” – Heather (08:08)

  • Query management: Frequent questions mean your communications are missing info—preempt by addressing these on your landing pages!

Vendy Blendy Logistics

• Launch date: November 28th, 2025
• Prizes: Over $1,000 in door prizes (mixers, gift cards, etc.), games, Facebook Lives, and collaborative events.
• Strategies for attendees: “Secrets of shopping The Vendy Blendy” Facebook Live offered: insider strategies for snagging the best deals (28:02 & 57:14).

Memorable quote:

“Stick around. You’re going to like what you see. November 29th, you won’t ever hear about it again.” – Heather (59:51)

3. Private Cookie Class Booking: Lessons, Prepping & Mistakes to Avoid

[Starts ~36:57]

How the Lead Came in

• Private class booked after Mary reached out via Instagram DM, seeing Corrie’s cross-promotion between her custom baking business and her classes (37:31).

  “Mary came through me through an Instagram dm: ‘OK, I saw you teach classes. Do you teach private classes?’” – Corrie (37:31)

Key Takeaways from Setting It Up

• Separate business brands can work, but only if geography or co-ownership demands it. Otherwise, stick to one unified brand to avoid confusion (38:07).
• Private class logistics:
  • Offered Mary two booking options:
    1. Flat up-front payment for all seats (minimizes processing fees; risk is on Mary)
    2. Private Eventbrite link for her group (more work for hosts, but risk of unsold tickets is on attendees). They chose Eventbrite to test the process (39:12).
  • Price: $85/ticket, $35/DIY kit add-on.
  • Strict minimum ticket sales (10) by a cutoff date, clear payment policies—critical for profitability and managing expectations (41:34).
• Proactive communication and regular updates for Mary kept momentum and clarity, avoiding last-minute issues:

  “Give yourself enough run time, but also to give send intermediary updates... I sent her always, and I prefer to do this always, a recap of what our agreement was at the bottom.” – Heather (42:37)

Class Prep Challenges & Solutions

• Teaching in a client’s home brings unknowns: small dining room, no TV/PowerPoint access, unclear on seating, and coinciding with a chili cook-off! (44:57)
• Solutions:
  • Portable folding table and document scanner (IPEVO) for live demo streaming (45:28)
  • Printed instruction sheets as analog curriculum
  • Pre-freezing cookies and icing for maximum freshness and simple transport (49:11)
• Honesty: Not their preferred teaching environment, but embraced for podcast learning and story value.

Honest Reflections

• Hosts admit: negotiate tough requirements, don’t assume clients understand logistics, and expect the unexpected:

  “Obviously, we’re going to make a mistake, and we’d be happy to tell you about it next week.” – Heather (49:49)

4. Thank You Cookie Collab / Community Events

[50:24]

• November 21st: #SCMCollabTY collab—make and gift a "thank you" cookie to someone meaningful, take a photo, and share their story on social with the hashtag.
• Use as a social marketing boost, community engagement tool, and a way to brighten someone's day:

  “Here’s the most never spoken word in English like language and it’s ‘thank you.’” – Heather (52:13)

5. Listener Q&A, Twin Banter, and Cookie Business Life

[53:17+]

• Listeners win STL software and other prizes by texting in stories (e.g., cat vs. Christmas tree) or sharing business insights.
• “Trench learning”—the value of mistakes and trial-by-fire in launching new things (66:08).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• "Do I want to spit out a cutter in the next five minutes? Sure, why not?” — Corrie (02:28)
• “Every question that we typically get, I'm going to add to this website. I'm going to make it highly informative.” — Heather (07:23)
• "There’s no such thing as posting too much—and then having a landing page to direct those people to, to give them all the information they need." – Heather (09:11)
• “Give yourself enough run time to understand that Mary's fighting the same battle you are to sell your classes, but also to give send intermediary updates.” — Heather (42:37)
• “Stick around. You’re going to like what you see. November 29th, you won’t ever hear about it again.” – Heather (59:51)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:00–04:00 – Friendly banter, 3D printing, business/personal life
• 04:00–36:04 – Vendy Blendy pt. 1: origin, shop list, marketing, logistics, tips
• 36:57–49:49 – Private class booking: prepping, pitfalls, communication, on-site plans
• 50:24–53:17 – Thank You Cookie Collab: details, community marketing
• 53:17–60:00 – Q&A, personal anecdotes, prize drawings, humorous business struggles
• 60:00–73:00 – More Vendy Blendy logistics, giveaway plans, product recommendations, twin banter

Tone & Style

• Lively, humorous, sometimes irreverently honest but always constructive.
• Family-friendly (the "make Grandma proud" podcast!).
• Transparent and practical business education for bakers—mistakes embraced, details not glossed over.
• Frequent, genuine encouragement to embrace challenges, experiment, and grow as a cookie entrepreneur.

Final Takeaways

• Vendy Blendy: A must-attend for bakers and decorators seeking unique supplies and real bargains; marketing it relies on clear, consistent communication and leveraging social proof.
• Private classes: Set clear policies, keep the client updated, and be ready for unforeseen circumstances; the magic is in preparation and flexibility.
• Marketing & Community: Relentless communication, fun events, and collaborative challenges foster deep, loyal community engagement—essential for small business growth.

Next Week:
Part 2 of Vendy Blendy plus a full recap of how the private class actually went—mistakes, eyebrow raises, and all!

For more, visit the group on Facebook or www.sugarcookiemarketing.com/vendiblendy for detailed event info and upcoming lives!