We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kelsey Moreira. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kelsey below.

Kelsey, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Hey there! Our mission at Doughp isn’t just a tagline; it’s the heartbeat of everything we do. See, my journey with Doughp from a huge turning point in my life. After struggling with addiction and feeling like I’d hit rock bottom, I finally made the decision to get sober in 2015. I rediscovered my love for desserts and baking cookies became my therapy, my way of finding solace amidst the chaos. I wound up bringing this cookie dough recipe out to the world through Doughp after inadvertently finding a way to make it safe to eat raw AND able to be baked!

As I continued on my journey of recovery, I realized that Doughp could be more than just delicious cookie dough; it could be a symbol of hope and second chances. That’s why our mission at Doughp isn’t just about selling sweets; it’s about creating opportunities for others who are fighting their own battles. Every spoonful of Doughp is a reminder that no matter how tough life gets, there’s always a chance to turn it around and find the sweetness in every moment. Through #Doughp4Hope, we donate a portion of every purchase to mental health & addiction recovery nonprofits, we raise awareness with our customers, and we provide robust mental health policies for our staff.

Our mission is so deeply personal and meaningful to me. It’s not just about making dough; it’s about making a difference, one bite at a time.

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?

Hi! I’m Kelsey, founder & Chief Inspiration Officer of Doughp. Let me take you on a journey through the world of Doughp and how I wound up running a mission-driven cookie dough business. It all began at a pivotal moment in my life – after battling addiction and hitting rock bottom, I made the courageous decision to embark on a journey of sobriety in 2015. Rediscovering my passion for desserts, I found solace in baking cookies… and sometimes NOT baking that cookie dough, too. :)

From this personal journey I quit my 10-year tech career and started a cookie dough business, Doughp! It’s a haven for safe-to-eat raw cookie dough that can also be baked into delicious treats. But Doughp isn’t just about satisfying cravings; it’s about spreading hope and second chances. Through our #Doughp4Hope initiative, we donate a portion of every purchase to mental health and addiction recovery nonprofits, raising awareness and providing support for those in need. We’ve donated more than $120,000 to date.

What sets Doughp apart is our commitment to making a meaningful impact beyond the kitchen. We’re not just selling sweets; we’re championing a cause, one spoonful at a time. I’m immensely proud of the community we’ve built – a tribe of dough lovers who believe in the power of vulnerability and the sweetness of second chances.

To potential clients, followers, and fans, I want you to know that Doughp is more than a brand; it’s a movement. It’s about embracing imperfection, celebrating resilience, and finding joy in the journey. So come join us in indulging in a little sweetness while making a difference in the world. Together, we can bake a difference and spread love with every bite.

And if you’re wondering where to find Doughp, we’ve got you covered! With more than 100 unique flavors of cookie dough, you can find us online at our website, where we ship nationwide. Additionally, you can find our sweet treats in the freezer section of around 2,500 grocery stores across the country. So whether you’re craving a classic flavor or eager to try one of our innovative creations, join us in spreading love and sweetness, one bite at a time!

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Ah, building our social media audience has been quite the journey, and it all boils down to one simple principle: authenticity. From day one, we made a conscious decision to let our audience in behind the scenes, giving them a glimpse into the real people running the Doughp brand. We believe that people want to support not just a product, but the individuals behind it – the dreams, struggles, and triumphs.

We’ve always strived to be as authentic as possible, sharing the highs and lows of our entrepreneurial journey, and letting our followers see the faces and stories behind the brand. We’ve found that this authenticity resonates deeply with our audience, as many of them are aspiring entrepreneurs themselves, eager to support and learn from our experiences.

In addition to authenticity, we’ve focused on providing value-added content that goes beyond just marketing fluff. We share insights, tips, and behind-the-scenes looks at our processes, always striving to provide content that educates, inspires, or entertains our audience. We firmly believe that if you’re always asking people to buy, they’ll stop listening – so instead, we focus on finding our “why” and sharing valuable information related to that.

So, my advice to those just starting to build their social media presence? Be real. Share your journey authentically, provide value to your audience, and never lose sight of your “why.” People want to connect with genuine stories and personalities, so don’t be afraid to let your true self shine through. And remember, building a social media presence takes time and consistency, so be patient and stay true to your vision. You’ve got this!

Have you ever had to pivot?

In 2020, when the pandemic hit, Doughp faced a major curveball. We had a storefront smack dab in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, dishing out our delectable cookie dough. We had just started to focus on ecommerce in the Fall of 19 but it was picking up steam in the spring of ’20. Then, bam! The pandemic hit and we were given a mere 12 hours notice that we had to kiss goodbye to our storefront for the timebeing. Talk about a scramble!

We were burning the midnight oil at the store, producing & packing our online orders that had started to skyrocket from the shutdown. Then we got the news that we would *immediately* need somewhere else to keep our online business going.

But we’re not ones to back down from a challenge. With grit and determination, we rented a U-Haul and hightailed it outta there the next morning. Miraculously, we found a bakery in Vegas that let us take over their place and whip up our dough.

Scaling our online biz was a rollercoaster ride, to say the least. From a humble 30 boxes a month in November ’19 to a mind-blowing 3000 boxes a week by April 2020 – talk about hustle!

When the storefront was finally allowed to reopen, the tourism scene was a ghost town. We had to make the tough call to close up shop and focus solely on our booming online biz. Yeah, it hurt to say goodbye to the store we poured our hearts into, but it was draining us dry, both cash-wise and operationally.

But you know what? It was the right call. Doubling our revenue compared to 2019 proved it. It was a wild ride, but we came out stronger on the other side, ready to take on whatever comes our way!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.doughp.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/doughp
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doughp
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelseymoreira/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/eatdoughp
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@eatdoughp