We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gabrielle “gabby” Collier a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Gabrielle “Gabby”, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear your thoughts about family businesses.
I love family businesses. There’s something special about seeing recipes, gifts/talents, and crafts passed down to generations, with each one hopefully building on the last, finding new ways to innovate, while staying relevant. However, family businesses can face challenges. A lack of professionalism, blurred boundaries, or leniency with performance can sometimes lead family members to approach the job less seriously than they would elsewhere.
My own business owes its success to family support. My husband, sons, sisters, mom, nieces, nephews, cousins, grandson, in-laws, and aunts have all helped at one time or another. Whether it was helping with huge setups/breakdowns, packaging, and/or helping with sales, they’ve all been there to support me. My sons, in particular, started working at ages 6 and 8. I wasn’t paying a babysitter, so they had no choice but to tag along. Although, there were times I wished I would’ve hired one! Over time, I’ve watched my sons grow from shy, playful, wanting to take a break every 15 minutes boys to professional, outgoing, young men who understand business and know how to work hard and earn an honest dollar. While we’re a family business, I run a tight ship! I bring over 20 years experience in customer service and quality assurance management to the table. My family often jokes and calls me a “dictator,” but professionalism, top-notch customer service, and efficient processes are what keep our operations running smoothly, even in a small business setting.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Sugar Fix Pralines is a dream come true for me, Gabrielle “Gabby” Collier. It all started in 2005, when I moved from New Orleans to Gulfport, Mississippi, after marrying my husband Eddie. As a new resident, I was craving a true creole-style praline, but I couldn’t find anything that reminded me of my grandma Estelle’s signature recipe. Despite years of trying to recreate it, it took me nearly a decade to get it just right.
After my second son, Gabe, started kindergarten, I found myself pondering what was next for me. I had spent twelve years as a stay-at-home mom, volunteering in various roles like PTA president and team mom. But I felt there was something more I was meant to do. That’s when I realized—I was called to make pralines. I perfected my grandma’s recipe and began sharing samples with neighbors, teachers, and fellow parents. The response was overwhelming, and soon people weren’t just asking for more—they were placing orders. That’s when Sugar Fix Pralines was born.
Growing up in New Orleans, pralines were a part of my life from a young age. These sweet treats have their roots in France, named after the French diplomat César, duc de Choiseul. While the original French praline was made with chocolate, almonds, and hazelnuts, New Orleans chefs substituted pecans, a local staple, to create the pralines we know and love today. Sugar Fix Pralines continues this tradition, offering the traditional praline, but we also offer pralines with a twist! We offer them in a variety of exciting flavors, from rum and bourbon to peanut butter and chocolate.
What sets Sugar Fix Pralines apart is our commitment to quality. We use real butter, milk, sugar, and fresh pecans, and every batch is made with love. The result? Pralines that are creamy, soft, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Our customers often tell us that our pralines take them back to a simpler time, evoking memories of their own family kitchens and the joy of homemade treats. Whether you’re tasting our traditional flavor or one of our unique varieties, you’re not just enjoying a candy—you’re savoring a piece of my heart and my family’s legacy.
Since opening in 2015, Sugar Fix Pralines has been more than a business; it’s been a way to share the flavors of my heritage and the love I put into every batch. Thank you for being part of this sweet journey!
Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?
I started out selling my pralines at local farmers’ markets, and often, when I offered samples to regulars, I’d hear responses like, “I don’t eat sugar” or “I’m on a diet.” Now, looking at these people, you wouldn’t exactly think they were on a diet or avoiding sugar, but I still felt like it was just an excuse. I knew that if they tried my pralines, they’d love them. So, frustrated, I decided to put a slogan on my chalkboard sign. Every week, I’d write something new—usually a slogan or pricing—but this time, I needed to get something off my chest. I knew it could either be brilliant or offensive, but at that point, I figured, what did I have to lose? I wrote, “Errrrbody on a ‘DIET,’ but ain’t NOBODY losing weight, so just eat a Sugar Fix Pralines!” As soon as I finished, I heard laughter from a distance. I wondered what was so funny, and then it hit me—my sign had worked! Market regulars, feeling a bit convicted, started giving our pralines a try. To this day, that slogan and sign are the most popular part of our booth. People snap pictures in front of it, laugh as they walk by, shouting, “Ain’t that the truth!” or simply stop by and say, “I came here because of your sign.” My frustration turned into a bold risk, and it paid off.
Have you ever had to pivot?
Throughout my entire business journey, there have been numerous pivots, marked by ups and downs and many lessons learned along the way. When I first started, my intention was to run the business part-time. Being a mother and wife was my top priority, and I didn’t want anything to interfere with those roles. I didn’t want to miss a game, parent-teacher conference, volunteering at school, or any precious moments like bath time or helping with homework. I also wanted to make sure my husband came home to a clean house and a home-cooked meal, though, at times, I fell short.
As my business grew locally, I found it challenging to balance my responsibilities as a mom and wife, often feeling guilty when I had to miss an event or when takeout became the norm because candy-making had to take precedence. The silver lining was that my family and I adapted together. As the kids got older, they pitched in, helping with setup, packaging, and selling, which made things a bit easier. But now, with my sons heading off to college, I’m left wondering: What’s next? Do I go full-time? Open a brick-and-mortar location? What comes after this?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sugarfixpralines.com
- Instagram: https://www.threads.net/@sugarfixpralines
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sugarfixpralines?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@sugarfixpralinesllc?
Image Credits
Betsy Mabee, photographer