We recently connected with Andi Kirkegaard and have shared our conversation below.

Andi , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How has Covid changed your business model?

Covid ABSOLUTELY changed my business model and, quite frankly, for the better! Before Covid, I was creating decorated sugar cookies to order and teaching in-person cookie decorating classes. In March of 2020, myself (and the rest of the world) quickly realized that any in-person contact was not going to be a thing. So I really struggled with what to do about my little cookie business since I couldn’t stick with the in-person business model I had been operating within. After about a month of planning, I made the decision to take my cookie decorating business online and I created virtual cookie decorating classes that could be available to anyone, world wide, from the comfort of their own home. It took so much hard work, trial and error and perfecting, but by the 3rd Quarter of 2020 I launched several widely successful online cookie decorating courses that took the sugar cookie decorating industry by storm! I was, and AM to this day so very proud of overcoming the adversity I faced with Covid and my ability to adapt my business model to fit an unprecedented global pandemic. It is still a business model I have in place today and I continue to produce successful online cookie decorating classes for the masses!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I have been a fine artist my whole life. I have always loved to paint and draw for as long as I can remember. Back in 2017 I was having a hard time and was looking for a new hobby to bring me out of my slump. I remember seeing a cookie decorating video come across my Facebook feed and I was completely mesmerized.

I felt it was absolutely the sign I had been waiting for and it was like the Universe said to me “COOKIES! You should try decorating sugar cookies.” Turns out that painting with food coloring on royal icing is not too different than painting with paint on a canvas and I was instantly hooked. I took my love of art from canvas to cookie and I never looked back!

Over the years, I went from making custom sugar cookie orders to teaching in-person cookie decorating classes and then during The Pandemic, I pivoted and started teaching online cookie classes that were widely successful. To this day, I offer a wide library of over 30 online cookie decorating classes that range from beginner to advanced so anyone, whether they are just starting out or what to really push their decorating skills has something exciting to learn with my online cookie decorating classes.

I think what sets me apart from others in my industry is my hyperrealistic attention to detail when it comes to decorating on cookies. Most of the time when people see my work they say, “is that really a cookie?!” because I create little edible works of art that defy the imagination and what people typically think of when they hear the word “cookie”.

I think something I am most proud of is that fellow “Cookiers” in my industry will tell me that they could never do what I do. But then they take one of my online decorating classes and are so shocked at what they can create thanks to my thorough teaching style. I make advanced edible cookie art accessible to anyone at any skill level and my goal is to bring out your inner cookie artist! From the very beginner to the more advanced cookie decorators, there is something for everyone with my online Kirkie Kookie decorating classes, recipes and workbook guides, all available on my website kirkiekookies.com.

It has been such a sweet and unexpected ride. Never in a million years did I think that COOKIES would change my life the way that they have and I am grateful every day I stumbled across such a unique and fulfilling hobby that became my full-time job!

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

Cookies absolutely started off as just a side hustle for me. Or rather, not even a side hustle as much as a hobby. I started decorating cookies just for FUN and posted on social media that I had picked up a new hobby and within less than a week, I had people within my network of friends reaching out to me asking if they could place an order for decorated cookies. It was so nerve racking because I didn’t consider myself a baker as much as an artist that found a new medium to work with. So the imposter syndrome was REAL. But I couldn’t ignore the buzz from those around me wanting my product. So I researched and practiced and perfected my craft and it didn’t come without it’s fair share of mistakes. If I had a dollar for every tray of cookies I burnt, the icing that went bad, the decoration that didn’t end up looking stellar…wow. I would have a lot of dollars, haha! But it was the best learning lesson for me and it really pushed me to take this little hobby, let it grow into a side-hustle and then it QUICKLY became my full time job. Seeing how much people believed in me and my product was wonderful, but the real win for me was finally believing in myself and owning my power in this industry. It was so beautiful for me to see how a little side hobby turned into a thriving, full-time career with a little help from passion, creativity, determination and a lot of hard work!

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I think what helped build my reputation in my market is my innate skill for realism as an artist. I was able to bring my 15 years of experience as fine artist into the cookie world which really helped my work stand out from the start. It helped get me noticed on social media and significantly helped me grow my instagram following. And then once I started teaching classes, I became known for my thorough teaching style and my bubbly personality. People kept coming back to my classes because they were having FUN and felt inspired and motivated to take on a challenge. I really love teaching and I am so passionate about showing those fellow decorators in my industry that even the most impossible cookie decorating CAN be possible if you stick with me! I always tell my students “You’ve got the skills, and I’ve got your back!”

I feel I have the reputation of really encouraging my students and creating a welcoming, un-nerving learning environment to bring out the best results that my students never thought possible in the world of cookie decorating.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kirkiekookies.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirkiekookies
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kirkiekookies

Image Credits

Kimberly Mitiska Photography.