Baking it Down Episode 237: Once a Year Cookie College Stealios

Podcast: Baking it Down with Sugar Cookie Marketing
Hosts: Heather & Corrie Miracle
Date: November 18, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode is all about the once-a-year Black Friday deals on Sugar Cookie Marketing’s (SCM) Cookie College membership and other related resources. Heather and Corrie take you through the ins and outs of their programs, highlight the enormous value up for grabs during the annual “Vendi Blendy” event, and provide deep dives into the most useful, underrated, and actionable courses inside Cookie College. The episode oozes their trademark blend of sisterly banter, practical marketing lessons, and realistic, upbeat motivation for cottage bakers who want to run a more efficient and profitable business.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Vendi Blendy and Black Friday Deals Overview

[02:22–11:49]

• Vendi Blendy is a 24-hour, once-a-year sale in the SCM Facebook group, featuring deals of 25% off or more.
• The Cookie College is on sale for $64/month (normally $76), or $576/year (normally $912). The yearly plan is touted as the best deal ever (12 months for the price of 9).
• By joining during the Black Friday window, bakers guarantee access to all current and future content at the lowest price.

Notable Quote

“If you don’t sign up during Black Friday, you have just overspent a ton.”
—Heather [03:02]

• The goal isn’t just sign-ups; it’s to help bakers make their money back PLUS a dollar through profitable skills like teaching cookie classes.

2. What’s Inside the Cookie College: Unlocking Value

[11:49–15:59]

• The Cookie College offers hundreds of classes, kits, and digital downloads designed for small bakery business owners.
• Courses are broken into four types: most popular, most slept-on, efficiency-focused, and easy-win/bite-sized courses.
• The content is incredibly organized (“organization is the key to a successful business and marketing campaign”).

Notable Quote

“Organization is the key to a successful business... If you can’t organize it, it can’t scale.”
—Corrie [04:12]

3. Most Popular and Most Impactful Courses

[12:30–16:59]

The Top-Recommended Courses:

• Photography Course: “People buy with their eyes.” The signature course guides bakers on staging, lighting, and editing photos—using both their phones and DSLR cameras. It is credited with directly boosting sales for members.
• How To Teach a Cookie Class: Real-world demonstrations, scripts, supply lists, and step-by-step instructions. “You will regret not starting sooner.”

Notable Quotes

“If you take better photos, you make more sales. It is as simple as that.”
—Corrie [12:33]

“That script and PowerPoint is fantastic. Me and Heather don’t do well off-script!”
—Corrie [17:29]

4. The “Slept-On” Courses – Hidden Gems

[19:13–30:00]

• Eat That Frog: Focus and productivity. Helps overwhelmed bakers identify their most important next steps.
• Asana Course: Project/life management. “Changed my life,” says Corrie.
• Google Calendar Course: For client reminders, birthdays, and business dates—great for “top of mind awareness.”
• Digital Download Kits: Monthly themed resource bundles—cookie tags, backers, graphics, and more, all in one branded package (exclusive to Cookie College).

Notable Quotes

“If you tried Asana you’ll say, ‘How did I do without this before?’”
—Heather [22:09]

“Could you imagine a heartfelt note for their anniversary? You’ll be their lifelong baker.”
—Corrie [26:23]

5. Community & Support – The Private College Facebook Group

[31:00–34:46]

• Exclusive group for students—no “random opinions,” just real, in-the-trenches bakers sharing wins, troubleshooting, and support.
• “The number one utilized source of the college is this Facebook group. It's the ability to have coworkers… when you enter the college, competition melts off.”
• Real, actionable feedback and emotional support for cottage bakers who might otherwise feel isolated.

Notable Quotes

“The number one utilized source of the college is this Facebook group. It’s the ability to have coworkers.”
—Corrie [32:17]

6. Actionable, Bite-Sized “Best Bang for the Buck” Courses

[35:46–39:00]

• Photo Organization 101: Easy, fast access to your best work for marketing.
• Inbox Zero: Achieving a clean, actionable inbox for better customer service.
• How to Set Up a 3D Printer (Bambu A1 Mini): No-nonsense, step-by-step. Empowers last-minute custom cutter creation.
• Emphasis: incremental 1% optimizations across many processes add up to massive productivity gains.

Notable Quotes

“If you are organized, your customer service gets better…and your life gets easier.”
—Corrie [39:52]

7. Becoming “Better Than the Competition”

[58:43–63:36]

• Photography, copywriting, efficient forms (Google Forms/Jotform), batch post scheduling—these “small” improvements set you apart in a crowded market.
• Even posting twice/month keeps your “open” sign on for new clients.
• Baker’s Business Basics: 13 foundational video lessons included or sold separately—perfect for serious hobbyists ready to go pro.

8. Detailed Black Friday Deal Recap

[64:34–69:12]

• Cookie College $64/month or $576/year (best value), includes everything—courses, class kits, digital downloads, group support, etc.
• Cookie Class Kits: $44/month (active year only).
• Baker’s Business Basics: $14.40 (never before discounted 60% off).
• Digital Downloads: $4/month (normally $10, now 60% off).
• $1/month Transfer Club (240+ transfer designs for royal icing, etc.)

Notable Quotes

“You might be saying, girls, are you popcorning me? ... It’s just a better bet to do the Cookie College.”
—Heather [69:12]

9. Vendi Blendy Sale Details & Door Prizes

[69:32–76:18]

• 24-hour Facebook event: 63 vendor partners, most offer 25%+ off and door prizes.
• Over $18,000 in prizes this year: 10 Bambu A1 3D Printers, 5 Bosch Mixers, gift cards, and more.
• No purchase required to enter prize drawings.

10. STL Me About It: Listener Q&A

[76:18–84:45]

• Q1: Instagram blue check verification—worth it?
  • $14.99/account/month; gives support and perceived legitimacy, but may not be worth the investment for small bakers just starting.
• Q2: Using attendee photos for marketing—cover your bases in event terms, but always read the room and get consent for photos.
• Q3: Animal Crossing tangent, but a heartfelt “thank you” read from a listener who joined last year and transformed her business.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On dealing with new tech like 3D printers:

  “I hate learning new things. But after seeing what the little A1 Mini can do, I said that’s a great door prize.”
  —Corrie [48:29]

• On incremental improvements:

  “What if you took 30 things and made them 1% better? If I can make emails a little more organized, sell one extra ticket, print my own cutters… all those 1% changes add up.”
  —Heather [49:18]

• On the importance of community:

  “The problem with being a single bakery business that starts from your home is… it’s very lonely. You feel picked out, very alone.”
  —Heather [32:17]

Time-Stamped Highlights

• 00:55–02:22 | Vendi Blendy countdown debates
• 02:22–11:49 | Black Friday Cookie College deal explained
• 12:30–16:59 | Most popular classes: Photography & Teaching Cookie Classes
• 19:13–30:00 | Slept-on courses
• 31:00–34:46 | The private college Facebook group culture
• 35:46–39:00 | Photo organization, Inbox Zero, Bambu printer setup
• 49:06–50:34 | Optimization mindset — do 30 things 1% better
• 58:43–63:36 | Competitive edge: looking more professional
• 64:34–69:12 | Black Friday deal breakdown
• 69:32–76:18 | Vendi Blendy logistics & prize hype
• 76:18–84:45 | Listener Q&A: Blue check, event photo rights
• 90:02–90:26 | Listener thanks and success story

Extra: Group Collab Segment

[90:43–98:06]

• Instagram Collabs—huge for reach, engagement, and sales inquiries. Example: Donna’s post, eight new IG inquiries in a month from collab participation.
• “Thank You Cookie Collab” announced for Friday, encouraging bakers to post photos of someone holding a thank-you cookie with a meaningful story for max engagement.

Notable Quote

“Your biggest fans are your biggest fans because they know, like, and trust you — and posting about your gratitude and personal stories builds that.”
—Corrie [96:31]

Tone & Style

• Fun, fast-paced, candid, packed with twin-level inside jokes and real-world examples.
• Clean language, genuine encouragement, and lots of “just do it, you’ll thank yourself” moments.
• Deeply practical—a resource for those “hands-full-of-flour” bakers who need actionable, honest, and non-intimidating business advice.

Who Should Listen to This Episode?

• Hobby bakers eyeing business status.
• Cottage bakery owners overwhelmed by “all the things.”
• Existing Cookie College members wanting to maximize or refresh their learning.
• Anyone curious about optimizing time, systems, or marketing for selling baked goods online.

End note:
If you’re tuning in the week it aired, don’t miss the Vendi Blendy Facebook group for Black Friday. And sign up for the Cookie College—if you can only do one thing for your business this year, Heather and Corrie (and dozens of testimonials) urge you to take advantage of the annual steal.