We were lucky to catch up with Eboni Hughes recently and have shared our conversation below.
Eboni , appreciate you joining us today. The more we talk about good leadership the more we think good leadership practices will spread and so we’d love for you to tell us a story about the best boss you’ve had and what they were like or what they did that was so great?
“Your Job Is What You’re Paid To Do, Your Calling Is What You’re Made To Do.” The Words Spoken To Me By Aundrea Dumas. Mrs. Dumas Was A Local Bakery Owner In Conyers, Ga. I Began Working For Her My Junior Year Of High School. Working With Mrs. Dumas Was One Of The Best Experience’s In My Life, She Not Only Taught Me Skills And Technique, She Taught Me The Basics To Running A Business, Which Was Information I Didn’t Know I Would Need.
Mrs. Dumas Is Filled With Passion And Determination And It Showed In Everything She Created. When I Established My Business In 2018, I Knew Exactly Who To Turn To. She Gifted Me With Vital Information On Starting A Business And Walked Me Through Every Step. She Has Been An Amazing Boss, Mentor, And Leader.
Eboni , 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?
The Cookie Jar Unleashed Is A Small Batch Kitchen Creating Handcrafted Cookies, Cakes , And More. Always Handcrafted With Butter, Sugar, And Love. Since I Was A Young Girl, I Always Enjoyed Cooking And Baking,I Would Always Help My Mom In The Kitchen During The Holidays, And I Was Always In Charge Of Dessert. Over Time I Went From Box Cake Mix To Creating The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies From Scratch.
As My Passion Began To Grow, The Cookie Jar Unleashed Was Established In 2018 During The Wake Of Covid-19. I Was Home All Day And Baking Was My Escape From What Was Happening In The World. I Would Create A Different Dessert Everyday And Post It On Social Media And Soon People Were Inquiring About Purchasing My Sweets, And That Was The Birth Of The Cookie Jar Unleashed, Me Releasing My Gifts To The World.
When I Started In 2018, I Started With 3 Cookies;Chocolate Chip, Red Velvet, And Brookies. I Was Baking Over 300 Cookies In My Moms Kitchen Back In Atlanta For Friends, Family, And Customers. Since Then I Have Relocated To Lakeland, Fl. And Created Over 2 Dozen Cookie Flavors, Decorated Sugar Cookies, Mini Cakes, Blondies, And So Much More. I Am Always Taking On New Projects And Learning New Skills.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
The Cookie Jar Unleashed Has Scaled Up In Many Ways Over Two Years. When I Started The Business In 2018, I Had 3 Cookie Flavors,No Understanding Of Pricing/ Food Costs, I Was Struggling With Photography And Social Media. Fast Forward To Today. I Am Creating Over A Dozen Cookie Flavors A Month, I’ve Added Brownies, Cakes, And So Much More To The Menu, Specializing In Unique Flavors. Social Media Is Still A Struggle, As The Market Is Always Changing But I’ve Gained Stamina In Building My Clientele, Videos, And Profiles.
The Cookie Jar Unleashed Is Not My Full Time Business, But My Goal In The Future Is To Have A Bake Truck Where People Can Enjoy Hot Cookies Fresh From The Oven, Attend Birthday Parties And Events, And Simply Travel The World With My Fun Sweet Treats.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Building My Reputation Within This Market Was Easy At First. Most Of My Clientele Was Family And Friends But Relocating To Florida, I Had No Audience As I Was Starting Over And Rebuilding. I Began Joining Local Markets And Pop Up Shows Which Helped Highlight My Business In The Community And Allow Me To Meet My Customers Directly. I Maintain My Reputation In The Market By Constantly Evolving. Im Known For Fun, Whimsical Flavors, And Even Flavors That Will Remind You Of Your Childhood With A Modern Twist. Some Of My Most Popular Sweet Treats Are Blueberry Lemon Cookies, Strawberry Crunch Cookies, And Banana Pudding Blondies.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/thecookiejarunleashed
- Instagram: _thecookiejarunleashed
- Facebook: The Cookie Jar Unleashed