What It's About
A late night cookie delivery service that brings warm, fresh-from-the-oven cookies right to your front door!
Business Model
Skills Required
Complexity
Profit Potential
Words of Wisdom
Julia and Richard talked about starting a late night cookie delivery service for over a year before starting to really work on it. Eventually, they decided to do some market research to see if it was an idea that might fly. They prepared a survey that went to students at two local colleges, and not surprisingly, students were responsive to the idea. This gave them the confidence they needed to figure out how to make it happen.
When in doubt, ask your audience! They know what they want, and having that knowledge can help you tailor your product or service to their needs.
Fun Fact
Julia recently took a phone order from a mother in Florida who wanted to send cookies to her son for his 29th birthday. When Julia asked what message the mother wanted to include on the box, she started to cry when crafting the note.
When they started out, Julia and Richard had no idea they could have such a positive impact on people. Those kinds of experiences—the hugs from customers, the faraway orders to loved ones—have given them the fuel to keep going.
Notes from Chris
Episode 116
Imagine that it’s a Friday night and you’re sitting at home. All of a sudden, you realize that something is missing from your life. It’s not purpose, it’s not a reason to get up in the morning, it’s homemade cookies. But then, there’s a knock on your door...and a nice delivery man or woman is standing there with a smile...handing you a warm box of homemade cookies. This magical world is possible if you live in Portland, Oregon. It’s all the result of a husband-and-wife team who followed a sweet, buttery dream into the dark. Is there something missing in your city? Generate those ideas, but don’t let your cookie crumble! If you don’t take action on your ideas, they’ll just end up half-baked.
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
After Dark Cookies: Check out Julia and Richard's website, and learn more about their moonlight cookie slinging brigade.Editor's note: After Dark Cookies is no longer in business.
- Insomnia Cookies: The late-night delivery service that inspired Julia & Richard to open After Dark Cookies
- Subscription Box Service Delivers Candy from Japan: An expat living in Japan packages candy twice a month and sends it around the world to hundreds of people who pay $29/month.
- Candy Heart Hustle Becomes Six-Figure Second Income: After being unable to find branded candy hearts for a client, a marketing executive decides to create her own.
- Belgian Fine Chocolate Comes to America: After living in Belgium for 13 years, a Louisiana freelancer starts a seasonal side hustle making fine chocolate out of his home. It brings in close to $8,000 in the first year of business!
Resources
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