We caught up with the brilliant and insightful ZAKIYA ELLICK a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
ZAKIYA, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
When I was a child, my older brother Husani made the Ambrosia Salad for every holiday. I hated coconut and the walnuts in it, so eating a spoonful was out of the question. But I loved the cream base. So instead of eating the salad like a normal person, I would take either a lorna Dune or Vanilla wafer and dip it into the salad, only extracting the cream. That elevated to just making the cream, and through the years, it evolved to my current day Cookie Dips.
Fast forward to 2017. My friends and I are very competitive cooks. We all prepared appetizers for the Playboy Jazz Festival. After gathering all the food, I suddenly realize that I didn’t have anything sweet to offer. I put together my ingredients in a bowl and proceeded to make Vanilla Bean and Lemon cookie dips. I shared with friends while at the festival, and they raved about the bold, decadent flavors. I then began sharing with our neighboring concert goers, and received the same response. It was that moment I realized my cookie dips should be shared with the world.
ZAKIYA, 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?
I am Zakiya Ellick, owner of The Cookie Dip Company. As an artist by nature, TCDC is my mode of art….Edible Love, to be shared with everyone. The key element that sets my products apart from the other companies, are my innovative, flavor bursting premium flavors, such as Mango Chili or Milk Chocolate Horchata. The Cookie Dip Company is the snack you never knew you needed.
TCDC has just undergone a rebranding. I am excited and optimistic about the expansion and new direction I am traveling.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Saying yes to different opportunities in diverse demographics is what has helped me build thus far. I had to get out there and test out what would work best for my brand. I understood that it’s not just my products, but the person behind the products that‘s being sold. That is the key element to make customers care about what I am selling. My products are made with love and I greet everyone with that energy.
I have cultivated relationships with organizations such as The Black Business Clique, SheMark, Non-Profit organizations such as Project 43/Vendors Against Hunger, Executive Chef Mike Hatfield of Next Level Events and winner of Cut Throat Kitchen; local radio stations such as 93.9 fm, KJLH, Power 106 fm, 93.5 fm, the LA Sentinel newspaper, and the Taste of Soul Food Festival, & KBLA fm and The Tavis Smiley network.
I have also maintained relationships and received tremendous support from with creative producers Illya Daily of KBLA, Monique Lore’ of CapAquarius Media, Coach Cam of Stay Roofless Clothing, LaTonya Allen of Intellectual Vibes, Laura Seddon , Princess Vaughn of Perspective, Domikian Ware aka The Cannabusinessesman, and Tamara Smith of Culinary & Cannabis (The Cannaversary), as well as various PR entertainment representatives that have opened the door to many opportunities.
These are factors that allow me to meet other business owners / coaches and gain a lot of insight as to how to both pivot and proceed to the next level.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
My father, Robert Ellick was my business partner until he passed away in August of 2023. He was my primary source of support in life, and loosing him was and is a life changing experience. I am still learning how to continue after him. He and my mother Suesette, gave me the entrepreneurship bug and instilled in me a healthy work ethic and creativity. But what is clear and loud to me are my Dad’s words of encouragement, all if the faith he had in me, and all of the plans we had for our company, coupled with being THE example for my son Kweli. My main motivation is to show him how to overcome adversity and how to keep going. He is my reason to not give up, even when I don’t want to move forward at times. I eagerly want to build something strong to leave him. I am going to continue to build my brand for myself as well. This is my vision, and I have only revealed the beginning of it. Taking my son along on my journey enables him to both learn the business, and provides us both focus to create. Come, follow my journey as I provide a variety of ways to awaken your sweet tooth. GET ADDICTED!!!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thecookiedipcompany.com
- Instagram: @_thecookiedipcompany
- Facebook: @thecookiedipcompany
- Linkedin: @thecookiedipcompany
- Youtube: @thecookiedipcompany
- Yelp: @thecookiedipcompany
Image Credits
Travon Morris – sample boxes La Kia Gooch- Lemon Cookie Dip Jar w/ Madeline Janet Antepara- Cookie smeared with 3 flavors of Cookie Dip