What It's About
Proof that the answer to life challenges is more cookies.
Business Model
Skills Required
Complexity
Profit Potential
Words of Wisdom
It's important to think about how to grows your business during the early planning stages. Here's what Courtney and Lindsey have to say about the subject: “If you know that you have a good product and a good market, evaluate your manufacturing methods upfront to ensure you can meet the demand or be prepared to have some looooonnng days to meet your customer needs.”
Fun Fact
The chocolate chip cookie was not invented until 1938! Like many culinary discoveries, the chocolate chip cookie was actually created by accident. American chef Ruth Graves Wakefield and her husband Kenneth ran a tourist lodge called the Toll House Inn (yes, that Toll House!). One day, when Wakefield was baking, she ran out of baker’s chocolate and decided to use Nestlé semi sweet chocolate instead. To her surprise, the chocolate didn’t melt, and the chocolate chip cookie was officially born!
Notes from Chris
Episode 1207
Baking has always been part of Courtney and Lindsey Norton’s marriage. In fact, right around when they first got married, Lindsey learned that baking could be a ideal way to relieve stress. This soon became a running joke with Courtney’s buddies at his office. Whenever he would bring in delicious baked goods to share, they would tease him by asking “What do you did to her this time?” After a while, those comments turned into, “Hey, you need to go stress your wife out some more!” Courtney’s co-workers couldn’t get enough. Around the same time, the couple had been thinking more and more about starting a side hustle. They were working to get out of debt, and they knew that an extra source of income would make a big difference in their quality of life. Their thoughts turned to Lindsey’s excellent baking abilities. The town of Cookeville, Tennessee, where they lived, had a desperate shortage of cookie chefs. Decorated sugar cookies and old-fashioned chocolate chip were popular, but lead times at other companies to get the tasty treats could be well over a month. Even though sugar and chocolate chip were popular, no one was offering a wider selection of gourmet flavors. The couple found a hole in the market, and they were ready to fill it … with peanut butter, coconut, and caramel! They called their new business Nookies Cookie Co, as a combination of their last name, Norton, and the word “cookies.” And then they said: Let’s bake this happen. Their first-ever order came only two days later from a woman they went to church with. She ordered four dozen. From there, they quickly set up an Instagram page (@nookiescookeville) and were soon up every night making sweet treats. It helped that Cookeville was passionate about supporting local business, so the community was ready to rally around this new venture. Since launching in August of 2019, the couple has worked tirelessly to build their business and make it through their first holiday season. They had tons of orders pouring in between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and they also decided to do a Valentine’s day special. Not only did they introduce fun flavors like chocolate covered strawberry and raspberry cheesecake, they also decided to make them heart-shaped! Even with their expenses, they still ended up rounding off their first year with about $3,000 in profit. They’re now averaging around $1,500 each month from Nookies. Courtney and Lindsey could not be more excited for the future of their business. They’re now reinvesting in some equipment to keep the ovens running without working themselves as hard. It all keeps getting sweeter every month!
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
- Follow Courtney and Lindsey's journey on their, Instagram page (@nookiescookeville).
SEE ALSO:
- Corn Syrup Allergy Leads to Booming Baked Goods Biz: After a doctor diagnoses her husband with a corn syrup allergy, a healthcare analyst mixes up a line of healthy, sweet baked goods that turns into a stable second income.
- Social Worker Bakes Cupcakes for The Walking Dead: After a stressful divorce, this social worker and mom needs to make money. She begins by selling cupcakes at the local market, then goes on to establish a sustainable business.
- Mortgage “Baker” Whisks Up Profitable Storefront: A mortgage specialist mixes her love for baking into a sugary, profitable side hustle.
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Resources
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Quote of the Day
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