We were lucky to catch up with Ashley Cole recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ashley, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you manage your own social media?

Currently I manage my own social media. I would love to be able to hire a team to manage my platforms, but I’m a one woman team. I have to consider my costs so I made the choice to manage my social media. I also love the idea of being able to see my progress from start to finish. I’m definitely learning new skills daily when it comes to posts, reels, and utilizing Instagram. I’m a total novice, but I appreciate the ability to critique my work and learn from my mistakes. If you have the funding I would definitely recommend utilizing your resources and outsourcing some daily business tasks including but not limited to social media marketing and website development.

Ashley, 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?

My name is Ashley, and I’m the owner/creator of Cute & Classy Krispies, LLC. I started making rice krispy treats in my freshman year of high school and sell them for 50 cents each. Good times I have to say! One of the most popular flavors on my menu is The Classic which highlights the original krispie during the baby stage of what Cute & Classy Krispies, LLC is today. After high school I made krispies on special occasions and as requested. I kind of put the idea on hold and focused on my career as a registered nurse. The pandemic was a troubling time, and I needed an outlet from the stressors of providing care to patients as well as daily life during COVID. I decided it was the perfect time to launch Cute & Classy Krispies, and I’m so proud of my business.

My ultimate goal is to provide krispies for every palate. I understood how important it was to create krispies for the vegan community, gluten-free individuals, customized dietary needs, as well as individuals just looking for a tasty treat. It was an issue that I wanted to tackle head on for my customers. I saw the need for specialized krispies my first year of launching this business, and I didn’t want to continue turning customers away, because I didn’t have a krispie just for them. I’m so proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone, and giving this small idea a chance for big opportunities. I have been able to network and showcase my treats in my community. I put love into every krispie that I create. I enjoy the peace that it provides despite the stressors that come along with running a small business. I want everyone to know that I have the perfect krispie just for you.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Prior to launching my business I had to consider the possible challenges of solely offering Rice Krispie treats. When I look at other dessert based small businesses I notice that they provide a wide range of desserts including but not limited to cake, cookies, Rice Krispie treats, and cake pops. I was concerned in the beginning, but I realized that I had a small advantage. I specialize in making and creating Rice Krispie treats. I have the opportunity to continuously develop new ideas and flavors all while keeping the same great recipe. My tagline is “just ask the Krispy Queen, because krispies are my craft. That’s what helped build my reputation within my market, and I’m extremely grateful for that.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

I initially thought I had a pretty decent grasp of the funding needed to launch Cute & Classy Krispies. However, I quickly realized during the ideas phase that I would need to increase my funding range in order to account for supplies, ingredients, equipment, fees, permits, and licensing. I decided to create a spreadsheet highlighting a needs list and a wish list. I saved money for 6 months to put towards the initial capital. I was able to fund everything on the needs list as well as quite a few things on the wish list. I was also fortunate enough to have supportive family and friends who provided donations for the remaining requests on my wish list.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @cuteandclassykrispies
• Facebook: Cute & Classy Krispies