Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tracy Mattson, owner, and chef of COOKIE...take a bite!, located in Santa Rosa, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I own COOKIE...take a bite! - an independent, local cookie bakery that hand-crafts gourmet, artisan cookies in Santa Rosa, California. I believe everyone deserves a good cookie, so we strive to create the best-tasting cookies that are a decadent, tasty treat. Fortunately, EVERYONE loves cookies! We have kids, men and women of all ages as customers. Our quality products cater to adult sensibilities & a kid's sense of whimsy alike!
One of my favorite products we make is our Build Your Own Cookie Tin! Pick five flavors, include your note and shipping address, and we will take care of the rest! We bake everything to order, so the recipient is sure to get fresh, great-tasting cookies! We use local and organic ingredients and strive to create the best-tasting cookies with the most amazing customer service. Simply, we are in the business of creating JOY!
Tell us about yourself
One of the main motivators of starting my own business was to demonstrate to myself I had the Moxy to control my own destiny. I was working in the restaurant business as a Pastry Chef, working long hours in a stressful work environment where there just wasn't enough time in the day to balance work and home. It also took a physical toll. While recovering from foot surgery (the TV food shows don't show this side of the business – burns, broken bodies), I decided if I was going to work this hard, it should be for myself!
I brainstormed about how I could stay in my industry and make a living. A gourmet cookie business would allow me to use my restaurant palate creating artisan cookies without going broke with start-up costs. COOKIE…take a bite! was born.
It was important not to look back and have one of those "I should have" moments. I figured the worst that could happen was that it didn't work out. Obviously, I didn't bet the house on the business but built it sustainably. I am the tortoise in the race to business success😊 It isn't easy to self-motivate each day...Remembering that I am in the business of bringing joy to our customers one cookie at a time helps keep me going!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
The one aspect that I am most proud of is the fact that I started a business from nothing ten years ago, and today I have my own shop, employees, and ship cookies all over the world. Bringing my employees up in the ranks and creating a positive and family-friendly environment is very important to me too.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Cash flow and managing employees are the two toughest aspects of small business ownership. Having great employees is my one of my greatest accomplishments and keeping them motivated and focused is one of the hardest aspects of my business. Second, as we tend to be seasonal, cash flow is a constant worry. Each year I plan and strategize, but it seems like there is never enough cash year-round to make things easy!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Do your research, talk to as many people as possible to shape your vision, be humble but be determined.
- Plan for the hardest financial situation, so you are prepared for the long haul.
- Have faith in yourself. It is easy for others to point out the negatives and not appreciate your vision, but if you have done the work and mapped it out, go for it!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.cookietakeabite.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cookietakeabite
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cookie_take_a_bite/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-mattson-3724264b/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.