We recently connected with Samantha Zimmerman and have shared our conversation below.
Samantha , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later
I’ve always loved baking. Some of my most favorite memories are in the kitchen with my mom or grandmothers. I didn’t truly step in to a “business” until 2019, but I wish I would have taken steps in my “early days” to really fine tune those skills. Taken the time before Army, marriage, kids to truly invest in me and my passions in the kitchen! BUT- IF I would have done that, would I have met my amazing husband and had these two crazy kids?! Probably not, so I think timing is everything in life and this is just the “season” of life to make Sami Kay Cookies truly happen!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I think it’s always a struggle talking about yourself, but here goes!
My name is Sam- I’m a wife and mother to TWO crazy kids: Taylor and Jaxon. I work full time for an EvTol company based in San Jose, CA but in my spare time I LOVE being in the kitchen! I make decorated sugar cookies! Working alongside my customers to bring their vision to life is so rewarding! I love the OH MY GOSH- they are too pretty to eat, but also the OH MY GOSH these are so good! I’ve had decorated cookies in the past that were beautiful but did NOT taste well, and I knew I could do both!
I dabbled introducing my cookies to my daughter’s preschool- if the kids eat them, they have to be good right?! Of course, in the world we live in, they got posted to social media and reposted, and Sami Kay Cookies came to life!
It’s not always easy to find the time to work on custom orders working full time and raising two kiddos, but I try and find the time for myself. This is very therapeutic for me and rewarding knowing I’ve brought a little “happy” to whatever the celebration might be!
I’ve been able to service local custom orders, but also worked with businesses throughout the US on appreciation cookies, event cookies, you name it, I’ve done it!
In the last 3 years I’ve had the opportunity to grow the little “side hustle” to a full-fledged business. Sami Kay Cookies is MORE than cookies. We host family fun events like Cookies with Mrs. Claus, but also target our local womens’ community with events in October (Ghoul’s Night Out) and February (Galentine’s Night Out) bringing local WOMEN small businesses together and allowing guests to shop local, learn a little about cookie decorating and just get a night out on the town letting their hair down from the day in and day out grind!
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
As we all know, 2020 took a major turn when COVID swept through our nation- Imagine what that did to a side hustle/trying to grow business that revolved around SOCIAL functions?! You would think that it would be the end for Sami Kay Cookies, but it was quite the opposite.
With the nation shutting down, hiring also took a huge halt and thus the company I was with had to “freeze” my role and I was unexpectedly unemployed!
I stressed about what I was going to do, how we would make sure we had enough money to come in to take care of our family at the time (my husband is also part of a small business).
As I was stressing about what to do I started getting messages on FB or Instagram about “hey- next week is my grandmother’s birthday and I can’t see her- could you send her a birthday box of cookies” or ” I really just want to send a happy to my family across the nation- could you send over a box of cookies” and before you know it- Sami Kay Cookies was picking up steam in the midst of this pandemic and SO MUCH so, we were able to pay all our monthly bills without having to dip in to our savings. You talk about an amazing moment of affirmation- that was it!
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
Honestly, I think it all comes down to customer service. Setting expectations and meeting and abiding by those expectations. As I mentioned, I work full time as well, but I always make the time to get back to my customers. MOST of my customers have either come from word of mouth or by trying a cookie at a friend’s event.
I think being fair in pricing and knowing your market and the needs of that market makes a huge impact on how your business grows.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.samikaycookies.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/samikaycookies
- Facebook: facebook.com/samikaycookies