We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kyri Hamilton, PhD. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kyri below.
Hi Kyri, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
The year was 2009. I resided in Georgia. My life, as I knew it, was drastically changing and there was literally nothing I could do to stop my world from disintegrating before me. Nineteen years of my life, abandoned!
Clinging tightly to my two children, Courtney and Jordan, spiraling with each passing day on a merry-go-round of crippling chaos. Life had its way of turning expectations into painful memories. Yet, the tribulations propelled my decision to seek an opportunity to encourage others.
I set out on the road not taken. I put the heavy baggage down and started fresh…started new. I refused to embrace embitterment as the lot for my life and the course of my future. I decided to focus my energies outside of myself and make other people happy.
Enthusiastic about “getting out of myself,” and spreading agape love, I reached out to a couple of friends who were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and solicited numbers of people in their platoons and squadrons. This is when my mission began.
With my son (then 12 years old) by my side, my whisper grain mill in hand, I began to make homemade KOOKIES. I made a variety of treats…banana, blueberry, pumpkin, cinnamon breads and Kookies. My son, Jordan worked with me every step of the way. He prepped and packaged the merchandise… a perfect mother and son assembly line. With great satisfaction, I shipped coolers full of treats to Iraq and Afghanistan. My son and I routinely embarked on this self-sacrificing mission every month, while my daughter was away attending school at the Culinary Institute of America studying to become a Chef.
Eventually, we transitioned to sending only KOOKIES. We packaged, put them on dry-ice and shipped them to the Soldiers. The gratitude and encouragement communicated in return aided in mending my heart. I felt a renewed spirit and a restored joy.
In 2012, I moved to New Jersey, but was employed at a Community Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. My job duties included working to help meet the needs of patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. I worked with a team of amazing clinicians and colleagues. I noticed they worked tirelessly without complaint. In my eyes, I felt that their work often went without gratitude, appreciation and thanks.
As a gesture of love, I once again began to bake Kookies and took them to my team as a token of appreciation. Word about my Kookies spread like wildfire. More days than I can count, people would line up outside my office to get Kookies. My Kookies were a showstopper.
People would say, “Doc, why don’t you sell your Kookies?” “We will buy them.” “Come on, sell them, stop giving them away.” This went on for nearly two years.
Finally, I yielded to the demands of my Kookie fans, and decided to accept orders. Orders poured in like water from Medical Reps, New Jersey Transit Bus Drivers, and my Co-Workers. I would leave work in Brooklyn, drive home for two hours and bake all night to fill the orders. The next day, I returned to work with boxes and baskets of Kookies people ordered. Working all day, driving two hours home and baking all night was demanding, but I found so much joy in baking and seeing everyone so happy. Life was better because other people were happy because of me.
Our strategy is simple. Make gift giving easy, but more importantly, promote showing appreciation, service, and selflessness. We want our customers to feel simply amazing, without the fuss, frills or gimmicks of other boutiques or major retailers. We want Kyri’s Kookies to feel like an honest go-to, while also raising the bar of appreciation and creating impact in business owners’ customer experience management programs.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
I am Brooklyn, NY born and raised. I learned the baking techniques from my Great Grandmother (Nana) on a small Georgia farm as a little girl. In the kitchen, feet mounted up on the stepstool, I stood next to Nana as she showed me how to bake a cake from scratch. With Nana’s very clear directions, I began milling the grains into fresh flour and beating the butter. “Kyri,” she said, “you see how the butter starts out yellow?” “Yes Ma’am,” I responded. “That’s when you add your sugar and keep whipping it until it turns from yellow to white. Then add the eggs one by one and keep whipping it until it’s nice and fluffy. Then add the flour,” She instructed. “Yes Ma’am.” I said softly.
Today, with the inspiration of my Nana, our Kookies are made with intention, purpose, and the desire to make an impact for individuals and businesses.
Kyri’s Kookies say thank you without uttering a word. Every Kookie bite represents a piece of gratitude. The gift of Kyri’s Kookies reflects a simple, yet selfless way to give thanks to someone special when words aren’t enough.
Each signature gift set arrives in a beautiful keepsake wooden box, making it a VIP experience. It’s the kind of presentation that says excellent work, thank you, or even thinking of you.
What’s the first impression of Kyri’s Kookies? A positive one indeed, but the Kookies are where the real fun begins. The love and attention we put into each batch are what people really taste. Yes, the organic rolled oats, semi-sweet chocolate morsels, and fresh fruit are an obvious factor, but the unrelenting effort put into each box is what makes each Kookie stand apart.
We continue our mission of encouragement in every purchase, with a donation to soldiers, healthcare professionals, teachers, and first responders. It shows gratitude for all of the hard work while making Kyri’s Kookies the gift that keeps giving.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Beyond the buttery cookie dough, rich chocolate chunks, organic oats and plump, ripe berries that transform classic flavors to a uniquely delicious. We provided a healthier alternative to major retailers, with a nostalgic; mouth-watering taste that stirs memories of baking with grandma. These beloved memories are what our customers remember and even the most high-powered CEOs long for.
Our reputation within the hospitality industry, specifically luxury concepts, across the Marriott® Hotels, Hyatt® Hotels, IHG and Hilton Hotels & Resorts® speaks for itself. It has been built from our premium, statement-making gifting, resulting in unexpected, yet deserving feelings of excitement, gratitude, worthiness, and happiness.
Our Notable Recognitions- Featured Kookie of the prestigious Critic’s Choice Association and named the Kookie of Choice in 2022 with features at the 27th annual Critics’ Choice Awards.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
On my journey to completely step into my passion, I was diagnosed with a rare Stage 4 Ewing Sarcoma cancer in October 2019. This menacing disease was threatening to destroy my right pelvic wall and lymph nodes. The prognosis was poor. My friend and client, Dr. Ramsey Joudeh was sensitively honest with me. He let me know that I was in for the fight of my life… FOR MY LIFE. The amazing medical team at Emory Sarcoma Institute in Atlanta, Georgia informed me that my treatment plan was not “normal.” They explained that to eradicate the sarcoma I would have to initially endure intense consistent chemotherapy. The process would involve me being admitted into the hospital for 5-7 days at a time and being infused nonstop 80-120 hours at a time. Once chemotherapy was completed, I transitioned into Proton Radiation Therapy for 6 consecutive weeks during the height of COVID-19.
On May 22, 2020, I heard the words I had longed to hear. “Ms. Hamilton, you are in REMISSION.”
As a gesture of my gratitude, I decided to present a few members of the clinical team with “Thank You” gifts of Kookies. I mailed some and personally delivered some to others. Once again, I hear, “why aren’t you selling these?” My sister called me and told me that I really should be baking and selling my Kookies for a living. Confirmation continued to echo from various individuals. My best friend said to me, “you really should start baking again.” After careful prayer and consideration, I presented the idea to my husband. He enthusiastically supported my future endeavor and assured me that I could count on him 100% to help follow my passion and start baking Kookies again.
I immediately contacted my Son and Daughter and told them about my heart’s desire to start baking Kookies again. Sharing in my joy, they both gave me their blessings. My Son, who was in New York following his passion for cooking, returned to Georgia to aid in building our company.
Two years after hearing I was in remission, I never imagined I’d be at this point; both the daily struggle to move, and the daily struggle to walk, remain. Every single day I am fighting and pushing myself. The harsh reality is the cancer treatment left significant nerve damage. However, the passion placed in my soul is what drives me daily to add value to our customers’ personal and professional lives. I honestly believe baking my Kookies is saving my life. Baking my Kookies gives me the opportunity to express my continual gratitude for life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kyriskookies.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kyriskookies/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kyriskookies
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyri-s-kookies
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj6iXkUecoOv4QBi3Buk8_Q
Image Credits
Lauren Liz Photography