Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarah & Justin Tilson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sarah & Justin, appreciate you joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
After being laid off due to Covid, Treats by Mrs. T orgininally started in December 2020 as a hobby and a way to give the community something to get excited about. I have loved to bake since I was a little girl, even decorating and selling cakes as a young mom, and making desserts for family functions. The holidays were fast-approaching, and so many of us were missing human connection and purpose. My Signature Brown Butter & Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookie is a recipe that I’ve developed over several years, so I decided to start selling them to our neighbors and community members as a way to not only earn money, but also to spread joy and put smiles on everyone’s faces. Our local Facebook group, Alameda Peeps, is the first place we advertised and right away folks were quick to support.
After a few months of job hunting and feeling apprehensive about working for someone else, Justin and I decided to look into what it would take to turn my love of baking and feeding others into a full-time job. We would sell out weekly, and word quickly spread around our small town of Alameda, at which time we decided to expand the menu and offer a variety of brown butter treats. Requests for my specialty cookies and treats were rolling in, and it was then that it became clear – we had something very special going. In June 2021 our small business Treats by Mrs. T became an official LLC!
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?
I grew up watching my grandmother bake, decorate, and assemble wedding cakes. Her steady hand and amazing skill had me mesmerized! On occasion, I would get to tag along on deliveries but that meant being in charge of holding the top tier of the wedding cake in my lap and it was terrifying! Luckily, all tiers would arrive safely each time, and seeing everyone’s reactions to her outstanding work made me feel so proud, and I wanted to be just like her.
As a child, teen, and young adult I would experiment with recipes, and practice my decorating skills. From cakes to pastries to pies and cream puffs – I tried it all, and I had the BEST time. So it was only natural that after more than 25 years in the food and beverage industry, I found my way back to what I’ve always loved – baking and feeding the soul.
While it may seem that you can find some of the cookies & treats like ours in the store, what sets us apart is our favorite ingredient: brown butter, as well as the love that goes into each and every bite, and my own personal twist on each recipe idea.
We offer treats by the half dozen, cookies by the dozen as well as individually wrapped, party platters, gift boxes, locally made oragnic cotton logo tees, gift cards, and more! We also make some very delicious cakes by special request!
Our treats are available for pickup in Alameda, local delivery and shipping across the US. Be sure to visit our website for upcoming pop-ups!
How’d you meet your business partner?
Justin, a.k.a. Mr. T, is not only my business partner – he is my life partner as well. Together for 15 years, we have been married for almost seven.
We met in 2008 during a time when online dating was not quite as popular as it is now. He was 22, and I was 28 with a 9-year-old daughter. After one date, I was intrigued but not convinced due to our age difference, so it took some time for the second date to happen. In the meantime, we chatted almost every day and he even left my favorite yellow roses on my doorstep for me to find after a long day at work. When he met my daughter, he took us for pizza and stayed to play a rousing game of pink Monopoly. She gave him the high heel and he politely obliged. When he brought her the new Cheetah Girls DVD she squealed with delight and of course I melted inside.
While we have joked over the years that we could never work together, we’ve overcome the initial trial of learning each others’ work habits, and now have a good idea of which tasks should go to whom. Co-owning a business together has strengthened our communication, and brought a sense of pride and honor to both our marriage and family.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
We are blessed to live in a community that prides itself in supporting small businesses. From the very beginning, folks showed up to help out during a time when I needed to earn some extra income. But once they got a taste of the sweet life, word spread like wildfire.
One of the main things we strive for is excellent customer service. We want our customers to know how much we appreciate them, and we want them to feel as excited about our products as we do. When you dine out or shop around, you remember the experience and how you were treated. Our goal is for each person to feel the love we put into our business and into our treats. Our favorite way to connect with people is during pop-ups. Whether a returning customer, brand new, or someone who has heard of us but never tried our treats, it’s always a pleasure. Often we will hear the lovliest of compliments along with how nice we are, and that is the best feeling.
With all of that, I can confidently say that our reputation has been built on being kind, and providing a stellar product. Never take word of mouth for granted!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.treatsbymrst.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treatsbymrstee/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/treatsbymrstee
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-tilson-6410504/