Stay-at-home Mom Starts a Cookie Business

How do you start a cookie business?

In 2012, Island Trio Shortbreads: Shortbreads For Any Occassion was started as a means to make income as a stay-at-home mom. Island Trio Shortbreads was inspired by Hawaii-based cookie companies–– Big Island Cookies and Honolulu Cookie Company. We featured three shortbread cookies in the shape of thumbprint cookies: chocolate-dipped macadamia nut, white chocolate-dipped coconut, and white chocolate-dipped Kona coffee shortbreads–– each cookie made-to-order, individually wrapped and packaged in a homemade gift box.

The journey to starting this business from scratch was an exciting adventure–– from baking 300+ cookies until 3am in the morning, to selling cookies on the weekends alongside food truck, Curbside Cuisine; I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunities knocking at my door. However, with a second child on the way, I felt a need to go back into the workforce to provide for my family and settle unfinished business. So, Island Trio Shortbreads was put on the back burner.

Until our recent move to Washington State in July 2019.

When your faced with the reality of being unemployed and living off savings and credit cards, what do you do?

For the past 4 months I've been unemployed. I've stretched my last paycheck from being a P.E. teacher, withdrew money from savings, and have used credit cards to make sure bills are paid on time, there is food on the table, and enough gas in the car to get our boys to school. 

I can certainly apply for jobs, and I have, but nothing has come back except a barista position at Starbucks. While I will certainly take the job so we can stay afloat and not drown in debt, we still have to figure out how to make this cookie business profitable–– because we've learned you can't have all your eggs in one basket, and side hustles can turn into profitable businesses. 

How do you create a profitable cookie business?

With Anthony's background of starting a couple of businesses from the ground up and our drive to create something for our family that will create generational wealth that allows us to live the lifestyle we dream, we're working towards figuring it all out as we go–– mistakes and all. 

Figure out how to sell cookies.

First, we're starting to get the word back out there about Island Trio Shortbreads. While we will still offer the same gourmet shortbreads, we've reshaped our cookies, updated our packaging and have re-branded to Fresh Press Cookies.

We do appreciate your support in spreading the word!

If you haven't tried our Fresh Press Cookies, please visit our site here and have a look. If something entices you to want to try, we'd be happy to whip you up a batch. Just let us know. We're constantly testing out new flavors to add to the list of cookies we already offer, so be sure to follow our Facebook Page to stay updated. 

While we don't know everything about creating a profitable cookie business yet, we will continue to update this post as we figure it out.

Thank you again for showing us your love and support!

Cookie Business Update: 

Fresh Press Cookies had a great run during the 2019 Christmas- New Year holidays. We would like to thank our customers for supporting our cookie business during that time. 

Just like Girl Scout Cookies, which comes around only once a year, we've decided to approach Fresh Press Cookies the same way; so we'll be back in the kitchen baking Fresh Press Cookies each year during the holiday season. 

Season's Greetings! If you've tried our Fresh Press Cookies, we'd love to hear which shortbread combination you enjoyed. Let us know in the comments below.