Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Spivey.
Ashley, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Life kind of reset on Jan 1, 2019 when my husband and I got married. We were both working for IBM at the time and with a new normal I was able to start back to school, a goal I had been trying to achieve for years. As I ventured back into the wide world of possibilities known as college, I found that the entrepreneur in me was searching for a means to escape big corporate and find its place in the ranks of the small business owner. In conversation with my husband, I had mentioned the possibility of breaking off from IBM and reinventing myself as an entrepreneur. He nodded in support and chuckled as we talk about how I would pull off, wife, mother, student, and entrepreneur. He asked me what I wanted to do and I told him “I love cookies and Christmas”. He jokingly said, “Ok, Mrs. Claus, make it happen!” and I instantly knew where I wanted to start. I established Mrs. Claus Cookie Company in Oct of 2019 working out of a homemade stand in Skeeter Stadium for the Christmas season.
I decided to take a break and regroup in January and February and made the decision that instead of being seasonal, I wanted to make this a yearlong business. I ordered supplies, marketing materials, and put a plan in place just as COVID took over the globe. My plans were put aside as the focus on business was replaced with school and family as 2020 left the entire nation in a state of uncertainty. My goal of a grand launch was drawn out into a series of small openings, farmers markets, and online presence. After a few months, I began to work farmers markets, as they opened again, in order to get my product out to consumers.
Slowly, I began to see some success, although it was significantly difficult to start a business in the midst of the pandemic. The cookies began to get recognition from the local crowds, but what made me most proud were the comments from local patrons about how much they had enjoyed us as well as the cookies. Our motto is “Spreading smiles, one cookie at a time.” and that is something we truly believe in. As the world began to heal, my focus turned to finding my spot in small business and I was able to open a small retail spot inside the Painted Tree in Sugarland. My cookies have always been in the forefront of my business, but I also found an opportunity to bring some of the cooking equipment and seasonal baking gear to our local market.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As was described in the portion before, this has been extremely challenging. COVID has flipped the world upside down and starting a small business in the midst has been a roller coaster. With businesses closing all around, I am very blessed to be able to continue my pursuit.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a true cookie connoisseur. Everything matters, the texture on the outside and the inside of the cookie, the color and last but certainly not least, the flavor. We are best known for how our brownies melt in your mouth, the mmmm we hear when someone bites into our chocolate chip cookies or the “this is the best sugar cookie I have ever had”. Currently we try to stay Nut Free. To be quite honest, I am most proud that everyone says that we are good people. It is hard in this competitive industry and we hold ourselves to a high moral standard. I love baking cookies because it is my creative outlet. A number of years ago when the girls were little, I made hairbows, repurposed clothes to make them new outfits and they’re not too into that anymore. I love making new flavors and revamping old ones and making some with crazy colors!
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I have learned that people are resilient, appreciative, and full of hope. I have also learned more about business, having started in in the middle of the pandemic, that I believe I could have in five years outside of it. When you must pivot, invent, and somehow deliver in the constraints that have faced our local economy, it makes you very agile. I have certainly taken away the lesson that if something isn’t working, move on and find what is.
Pricing:
- Cookie Cups $10/dz
- Single Cookies $3/ each
- Cookie Cakes starting at $20
Contact Info:
- Email: mrsclauscookiecompany@gmail.com
- Website: www.mrsclaustreats.com
- Instagram: @mrsclauscookieco
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrsclauscookiecompany
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrsclauscookiec
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4a3qtCBLd12PbTO9BPop2Q
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/MrsClausCookieCo/
Image Credits
Ashley Spivey
