We were lucky to catch up with Ariana Cotton recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ariana , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

2019, the world experienced something very unfamiliar. Covid 19 shock the world, nationwide. We couldn’t be around anyone, we couldn’t go out in public, and I was pregnant with my second son. One day I was scrolling on tik tok and I saw a cookie video. A light bulb went off in my brain. “Try it Ariana”. That I did, I tired it. I made my first cookie and it was a snickerdoodle cookie. I posted it to my social media and I had my first customer. From snickerdoodle, I had about 5 new flavors. Cookies n cream, chocolate chip, strawberry and lemon. And that was the start my new venture. Becoming the cookie lady. At the time my my cookie name was “Touch of Elegances sweets and treat”. Everyone has a sweet tooth. Everyone loves a good cookie in my case everyone loves a soft cookie. I’m told the are as soft as pillows. I have a friend who calls them “cookie pillows”. It wasn’t until about two years ago when our name changed to “ The Cookie MomStor Co”. I ran a contest on Facebook asking for help with coming up with a new name. One of my dear friends came up with “The Cookie MomStor Co” and that is when our name changed.

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’m Ariana Cotton, owner of The Cookie MomStor Co, and I make tasteful homemade garment cookie. Our model is “Anything that can be made into a cookie, we are making it”. Before I discovered my passion for baking, I spent the first part of my working life in the corporate world as a housekeeper/custodian. When I realized my deepest passion was in baking, I left the housekeeping world behind to devote myself to my cookies. Not only was I a housekeeper/custodian but I was once a single mother. Hence “MomStor”. My cookie business is for everyone to enjoy. But I also want woman and mother to find their purpose and calling in life. What makes them happy what pushes them.

From a kid I’ve also loved baking and cooking. I stayed in the kitchen. I loved food, who doesn’t. I loved making box cakes and cupcakes. I never thought I would have my own company and business selling nationwide.

Every day for me is exciting. Coming up with new recipes. New flavors. Having my family, children, friends, and other test them and the experience on their faces is priceless. Just the other day I had my oldest son ask me “mommy how do you get your cookies so soft”. I laughed and responded “it’s a secret, I can’t tell”. I never thought in a million years that I would have people wanting a recipe to something I created. Or even shipping my cookies that I made to different states.

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

Word of mouth.

Word of mouth the passing of information from person to person using oral communication, which could be as simple as telling someone the time of day. Storytelling is a common form of word-of-mouth communication where one person tells others a story about a real event or something made up.

Facebook, instagram, and tiktok just to name a few platforms has helped me build my audience. I post pictures, reels, videos, my customers post reviews.

Advice for those just starting to build the social media presence, separate business from pleasure. People are going to watch your every move. When running a business and building the social media presence post positive things and things only about your business.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

Make things personal. On birthdays send a birthday box of cookies and a card and a little personal gift for your customer. Make things personal for them. Loyalty cards, build a relationship with them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bakesy.shop/b/the-cookie-momstor-co
• Instagram: @the_cookiemomstorco