We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Hannah Ostrom. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Hannah below.
Hannah, appreciate you joining us today. So, one thing many business owners consider is donating a percentage of sales or profits to an organization or cause. We’d love to hear your thoughts and the story behind how and why you chose the cause or organization you donate to.
Every dessert we offer is made and baked fresh each day using high-quality ingredients and a lot of love. It’s part of our commitment to giving our customers the best possible experience. However, as with any fresh-baked operation, we often end up with a small surplus at the end of the day. These desserts are still delicious and perfectly enjoyable — and we believe good food should never go to waste.
Rather than discarding them, we’ve partnered with a local homeless shelter, The Agape House, to donate our leftover desserts every week. This way, our treats can bring a little joy to someone in need while supporting our goal of reducing food waste in a meaningful, community-focused way. It’s a small gesture, but one that aligns with our values of care, connection, and responsibility — both to our neighbors and to the environment.
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’ve always dreamed of owning my own business, and baking cookies has been one of my favorite things to do for as long as I can remember. So when I discovered Crumbl, it felt like the perfect fit — a chance to turn something I love into something I could share with my community every day.
What truly drives us is creating an experience that goes beyond just great desserts. We want everyone who walks through our doors to feel at home. Whether it’s the smell of fresh-baked treats, the friendly faces behind the counter, or the thoughtful little touches, we work hard to create a warm, welcoming environment where people feel appreciated and cared for.
We also believe that small acts of kindness go a long way — whether it’s taking the time to connect with a regular customer or helping a busy mom out to her car with her desserts. Those moments matter just as much to us as the quality of what we bake.
Ultimately, we’re here to bring joy. Through fresh, delicious desserts and genuine hospitality, we hope to create a space where people leave a little happier than when they arrived.
Any advice for managing a team?
I honestly believe that one of the most important things in business is your people. Your team is everything. Without them, there is no way I could run this business — they show up, work hard, take care of customers, and keep things running every single day.
That’s why it’s so important to me that they feel appreciated and valued. I never want anyone on my team to feel like just another employee. I want them to know how much I see and appreciate their effort, their attitude, and all the little things they do behind the scenes that make a big difference.
At the end of the day, when your team feels good and supported, they pass that same energy on to your customers. It’s all connected. So for me, taking care of my team isn’t just good business — it’s the right thing to do. And I’m really proud of the people who make this place what it is.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
When we made the decision to open a Crumbl, we had to scrape together everything we had to make it happen. It took everything — our savings, a lot of determination, and securing an SBA loan to get the funding we needed. It was a stressful and challenging process, but we believed in the vision and knew that with hard work, it would be worth the risk.
We truly put everything on the line for this store — financially and personally. But we were committed to building something meaningful, not just for ourselves, but for our team and our community. That belief in what we were creating is what kept us going, even during the toughest moments.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://crumblcookies.com/index.html
- Instagram: crumblmom
- Facebook: Crumblmom
