We were lucky to catch up with Jena Irish recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jena, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Too often the media represents innovation as something magical that only high-flying tech billionaires and upstarts engage in – but the truth is almost every business owner has to regularly innovate in small and big ways in order for their businesses to survive and thrive. Can you share a story that highlights something innovative you’ve done over the course of your career?
As a previous teacher, it is still a passion of mine. One of my favorite parts of my business is designing cookie classes for adults and children. I love getting to share my techniques and hang out with fun people all at the same time! I partnered with the University of Texas during the summer of 2021 to provide individual cookie kits for incoming freshman at their orientation. In 7 weeks I made and delivered 970 cookie kits, totaling 1,920 cookies + 2,360 bags of icing!! Each week I delivered kits and taught a small group of students who wanted to follow along.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I have always loved anything crafty, I definitely get that from my mom. Growing up we would always be scrapbooking or making something *very* extra for a school project. After being gifted a set of custom cookies at my bridal shower in 2018, I quite literally taught myself how to do it. One thing about me is I don’t give up! It took a while for me to get the hang of it but once I realized people actually wanted to buy my cookies I was SO excited!! The rest is history– I left my teaching career in May 2020 to take on cookies full time. My business thrived during Covid. I used contactless pick up via the bench on my porch and everyone was loving my cookies! Fast forward to today, my business is thriving, I have 2,400+ followers on Instagram and my calendar is always jam packed. If you’re looking for custom decorated sugar cookies, I am your girl!
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
I would say 90% of my customers are referred to me by other customers! They have either tried my cookies at an event, or seen photos of their friends cookie creations. Shout out to my loyal customers!
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Social media can be tricky! I was lucky enough early in my business to get a lot of exposure from an Instagram friend Austin Food Adventures. She has 178k followers and promoted my cookies in her stories! SO many people found me through her and ordered cookies. I also reached out to local news stations to try and get a segment and finally Fox 7 news picked it up. Tierra Neubaum with Fox 7 News did a combined segment on my cookies and the local restaurant where I host pop ups. Its all about exposure. Keep reaching out to people who can make that happen!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://luckybakeratx.square.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luckybakeratx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luckybakeratx
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jena-irish-873159268/
- Other: https://www.fox7austin.com/video/1302630
Image Credits
Headshot by Matt Montolvo Photography, https://mattmontalvo.com/