Today we’d like to introduce you to Makai and Roderick Walker.
How an 8-year-old Cookie Baking Enthusiast is leading the Way for a New Generation of “Kidpreneurs” and Young Philanthropists!
Makai realized early on she loved baking cookies and being in the kitchen with her dad. At age 6, Makai opened Kai’s Kookies with the help of her parents. Her goal was to make and share delicious cookies while learning how to run a business. It hasn’t always been an easy road and she has heard many “no’s” from potential clients; however, the challenges have taught her how to make the best of situations and over the past year she has proven her ability to succeed.
Last year, Makai was given the honor of “Best Decorated Booth” and “Friendliest Staff” at the Huntsville Fair on the Square Festival. In March, she has attended the Tomball German Festival as the youngest vendor to ever operate a booth. That’s just the beginning of what she has in store for year two. This summer launched her monthly subscription “Kookie Box” and is shipping her cookies domestically.
After a year in business, she has begun to understand the value of hard work, discipline, sacrifice and the importance of giving back to the community. Each month she donates her time, cookies, portions of proceeds to different local charities in the Houston area. She has donated over 12 dozen cookies and raised $1100 for Hurricane Harvey victims. She also donated $350 dollars’ worth of toiletries and supplies to Life Center Houston that provides services for homeless providing shelter and services to assist them and helping them get back on their feet. She really took this on as she asked why are their so many people homeless and she wanted to do something to help.
She has also managed to become a fixture in the Tomball community by popular demand. As a regular participant in the City of Tomball 2nd Saturday Kids Events, she provides instructions to other children in cookie decorating. She remains a constant by her participation in City of Tomball Festivals throughout the year to include Bluegrass, Rails & Tails and Christmas on Commerce.
She hopes her business encourages more adults to foster their children’s entrepreneurial spirit and that she can be an example for other “kidpreneurs”. Her advice, “keep trying and don’t give up.” Makai has proven age is just a number and that the next generation of entrepreneurs are kids. She has spoken at several events to encourage other kids to pursue their dreams of having a business at the Harris County Precinct 2 Kid Expo, and at a law firm for their bring your kids to work event and backpack drive.
This young CEO has big dreams and hopes to be the first and youngest vendor at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. She hopes to change public opinion of young entrepreneurs with her effort to educate the public and prove that young entrepreneurs can run a successful business. It is clear that her tenacity and focus will pave the way for others to follow.
A snapshot of Makai’s resume of several large festivals:
• Huntsville Fair at the Square
• Winter Tomball German Festival
• Tomball German Festival (Spring)
• Spring Crawfish Festival
• Mushroom Festival Madisonville
• Pasadena Strawberry Festival
• Food truck festival Kingwood
• Fort Bend County Fair (Upcoming 1o day festival see you there)
• Texas Wine & Art Festival
• Houston Food Truck Stop Festival
Farmers Market(s):
• Blue Field Farmers Market
• Market at Sawyer Yards
• Little White Oak Market
• Axel Rad Market
• Fulshear Farmers Market
• Peach Tree Farmers Market (Angleton)
• Farmers Market at Grand Parkway
• Sip and Shop Snooze
• Heights Morning Market
• Freeport Market Square
Has it been a smooth road?
There have been ups and downs with Kai’s Kookies. She started off rather shy and she lacked the confidence to interact with customers. She has grown by leaps and bounds and she is now comfortable speaking to her customers and she explains what she has with ease. She has gone to events and festivals and been completely ignored or disregarded by some people. People have asked at markets and festivals what are you doing and what is this for? She asked, “Daddy, I am confused why people always ask that question, this is my business and I work hard to make the cookies and to be professional?” From a parents perspective, it is hurtful and frustrating to explain this to her because we have gone through a process of branding her products and her booth as professionally as possible. It is a process we say, some people will not appreciate what you are trying to do, but we cannot focus on people that don’t see your vision focus on the ones that love your products. We often say every no is that much closer to a yes, stay professional and smile don’t worry about rejection. We believe this is a great confidence builder and it shows her that life is full of ups and downs and it doesn’t always go as you plan it.
There have also been issues with obtaining the right permits and gaining access to a commercial kitchen. We are currently in the process of searching for a space to develop a commercial kitchen so we can be in better control of the company’s direction. She is too young to go into a commercial kitchen so it has produced new challenges as she is quite limited with certain aspects of the business as it has outgrown her parent’s kitchen. Her most recent bump in the road was a KickStarter project that was not funded. She was disappointed, but she said it will not stop her from getting her own space!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Kai’s Kookies – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Kai’s Kookies is a customer-focused bakery. We have several products that include our best sellers Nothing but Joy a cookie with chocolate chips coconut and almonds, Brookie a half brownie/half chocolate chip, Gone Bananas banana salted caramel and walnuts, lemonade, snickerdoodle, chocolate chip, and our Kurtle which is a chocolate chip cookie caramel pecans and covered in chocolate just to name a few. We have also had a lot of positive feedback for our Vegan and gluten-free cookies, we don’t take them everywhere, but we do take them where we have a following and we sell them quickly. We were determined to bring the unique favors while adjusting to gluten-free and vegan guidelines.
We have our Sweet Box subscription service which provides our customers with fresh baked cookies and a special treat every month to their home or office. We are proud of our growth and consistency. Our customers have become accustomed to a unique gourmet cookie experience and we have repeat customers and referrals. It has been humbling to have people walk up as new customers that ask for our cookies by name because someone shared it with them. Kai’s goal has always been to share the sweetness with the community. It has also been humbling to have our customers leave wonderful reviews and ask for us to be in their local farmer’s markets.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
We love the city and the resilience of the people. It is also a friendly city, we have had an overall favorable response at most of the places we have gone to. We credit the people who have taken a liking to Kai’s Kookies to our growth and success. People are overall more supportive and we enjoy the weather. We dislike August (Intense Heat) and the traffic!
Pricing:
- Kai’s Sweet Box Subscription Service (Sweet Tooth) $29.99 plus delivery or shipping
- Sampler Pack $10 (a sample of the cookies at our pop up locations and markets)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kais-kookies.com
- Email: kaiskookies1@gmail.com
- Instagram: kaiskookies1
- Facebook: kaiskookies1
- Twitter: kaiskookies1
Image Credit:
@bymichellemedia
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
