We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nina Ross. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nina below.
Nina, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
Every year, my family would have cookie parties around the holidays. It was always my favorite time of the year because friends and family would visit, we’d bake cookies, eat and catch up on the past year. The only rule was to make your favorite cookie and every year, no matter who showed up, there were no duplicates. It was so interesting to see how creative people can get with their favorite dessert. The cookie parties gave me the idea of creating a customizing cookie business when I was about 8 and I was always waiting for the right time to start.
I would always bake throughout my life but with jobs and school, it was the first thing to go on the back burner. In 2020, the pandemic shut everything down. My full time job became part time and since there was nowhere to go, I had a lot of time on my hands. It was a stressful time in my life and I went back to baking as a form of self care. I would have 2 or 3 dozen cookies at a time and since I didn’t want to eat it all, I would drop it off at friend’s houses. They would always mention how they loved having fresh baked goods delivered right to their door. I realized that I didn’t need to wait to have a storefront to start the business of my dreams.
For the rest of the summer, I created a menu, website and everything else I needed to get off my feet. The business officially opened in September of 2020 and I never looked back. The concept was a cookie business where customers can mix and match their favorite doughs and toppings to make cookie or cookie dough and we delivered free of charge.
Nina, 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?
Because of the cookie parties, I always baked since I was young and knew I wanted to start this business. When I went to college, I decided to major in business management and marketing to understand the work and logistic of starting a business. This foundation helped me start Nina’s Cookie Explosion.
Nina’s Cookie Explosion is a cookie business in the Baltimore area. Customers are able to mix and match their favorite doughs or toppings to make the perfect cookie or cookie dough for them. We currently, deliver in the baltimore area free of charge, ship nationwide, participate in markets across the state and sell our cookies at a local cafe, Koba cafe.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Before I started my business, I went to a friend who has a business herself. She told me before I start anything, read The E-Myth Revisited and I am so glad I did. The book showed you how to start your business in a way that it will grow at your speed and your potential. I recommend it to all business owners.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Consistency is so important when growing a business in many aspects. Being consistent and making sure every cookies looks and taste the same builds trust with our customers. So does being consistent in customer service; no matter who is working. Customers want to know that they are having a seamless and nice experience every time they see your company. Finally, being consistent in markets and locations. We like to participate in different and new events but I always make sure to have one or two consistent markets throughout the season. This allows us to build rapport with our customers every time we see them.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ninascookieexplosion.com
- Instagram: @ninascookieexplosion
- Facebook: @ninascookieexplosion