We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amber Garcia. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amber below.

Amber, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s easy to look at a business or industry as an outsider and assume it’s super profitable – but we’ve seen over and over again in our conversation with folks that most industries have factors that make profitability a challenge. What’s biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?

Time! Most people do not realize the time it takes to complete a custom order of cookies from beginning to end. From receiving the order request, corresponding with the client about their vision to mixing, rolling, cutting and baking the dough to mixing icing and decorating for hours to photographing and packaging the final product. When it’s all said and done you are looking at at least 2-3 days of work.

Additionally, the time it takes to complete each order definitely puts limitations on the amount of orders you can accept each week as a small business with only one or two employees. It is so important to pay yourself what your time is worth while still keeping your prices reasonable enough for clients to pay for your services.

I think a lot of cookiers fail to price their work appropriately and continue to short change themselves. I like to remind myself that my work is completely custom to each client. My cookies are not something that can be found in a grocery store and the price should reflect as such. Custom cookies are a luxury product so clients should expect to pay luxury prices for them.

Amber, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started decorating cookies during the quarantine period early in the pandemic as a way to pass the time. I found myself in desperate need of a creative outlet so I dove head first into cookie decorating as a hobby. A few months later I started posting my cookies for sale online to my friends and neighbors. Eventually I began attending outdoor markets and started accepting custom cookie orders. 4 years later and I am now creating custom cookie orders full time!

The cookies I make are 100% custom to my clients and their event or special occasion – which is not something you can find in a grocery store. I love that my cookies also double as party decorations on a dessert table or as thank you gifts in a goodie bag.

I am always so honored when someone chooses me and my work to help make their big events and special occasions even more memorable. It fills me with joy to think about them looking back at their wedding video or baby shower photos and seeing the cookies I made. I genuinely love what I do and I am so grateful that I can be a small part of my client’s happiest memories.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Managing social media is so hard! The algorithm is always changing and it can feel impossible to keep up. Social medial management is definitely a full time job on its own!

This is what has worked for me in regards to growing on social media:
1. Videos over photos. Videos / reels always get way more views and engagement. I still post photos every now and again but 90% of my posts are videos.
2. Post consistently- at least once a day. I’ve noticed that the algorithm rewards me with more views during times that I am posting consistently but if I miss even one day of posting then my views drop considerably. Posting daily can definitely be hard so I’d recommend taking advantage of the scheduled post feature. You can upload all your content at one time and schedule it to be posted daily throughout the week.
3. Respond to comments and messages from followers! This will help boost your engagement and keeps your content in the algorithm. Plus, people are more likely to engage with future posts if they know you will respond to them.

It’s important to know that your follower count does not reflect your worth! No one really knows what the algorithm wants and you never know what will go viral and what will flop. Just keep creating and sharing it with the world!

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

When I first started accepting custom cookie orders my best source of new clients was from other cookiers! The ATX cookie community is very strong when it comes to community over competition and we all look out for each other. I know that this is not the same for a lot of industries, so I feel so lucky to be part of such a supportive group. I introduced myself to some local bakers and asked them to refer me if there was ever a time when they were booked and could not take on any new orders. I have had some really great long term clients that were originally referred to me by someone else.

Another good source of clients when I was new to my business was markets. I’ve had many clients who bought a cookie from me at a pop up event and then placed a custom order for their next event.

Currently, most of my new clients find me through word of mouth. I am at a point where I’ve built my client list so that I no longer feel the need to do markets or pop up events. When deciding which orders to accept I try to prioritize clients that were referred to me through word of mouth by existing clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bluegoobakery.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluegoobakery?igsh=eG45Z3gxcjc5a3hp&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100062091743747&mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@bluegoobakery?si=rm4qJ2jCdkFS0NpG

Image Credits

Jenna McElroy Photography