Today we’d like to introduce you to Kat Jamison.
Kat, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have always had a love for baking, especially cookies and brownies. Being able to create something that brought joy to others had a way of fulfilling me like nothing else. My baking was typically limited to birthdays and the major holidays, but Christmas was by far my favorite time because that meant I was sharing my confections with others. Nothing says “happy holidays” like a platter full of home-baked treats!
Like many other cookiers, I am self-taught. YouTube and Pinterest have been great resources for learning and sharing. I am always watching tutorials on the newest techniques which are often offered by some of my “cookie idols.” I have also taken some decorating classes locally which is always a fun time! My family is usually my test subject. I seek their advice on taste and presentation all of the time. I think my husband prefers his job as “quality control” since that requires him to eat the cookies!!
Until recently, baking was not my full-time profession. After hanging up my all-time-favorite job as a stay-at-home mom, I moved into nonprofit fundraising and development where I spent many years. In the summer of 2018, my position, along with hundreds of others across the organization, was suddenly and without warning eliminated. This forced me to reevaluate my life, my purpose, and what would truly make me happy going forward. My husband, who is my biggest supporter, had always encouraged me to open a shop where I could sell my cookies. It never seemed to be the right time and it always felt out of reach. After much research, in February 2019, the North Texas Cookie Jar launched!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
So far, I would say that I have not encountered too many obstacles. I have approached this with realistic goals and expectations. Additionally, I have found that the “cookie community” is very helpful and not competitive. As entrepreneurs themselves, they want everyone to succeed. The support and goodwill are amazing!!
By nature, I am an extremely organized person, so I map out my week ahead of time. This eliminates any guesswork and has helped me understand what my limits are in terms of demand. I don’t want to commit to a project that I can’t give the right amount of time and attention to. You can find yourself pulling a lot of late nights if you’re not careful! It’s a balancing act at times, but very manageable.
Building a business and network takes time. You have to be willing to put yourself out there.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
The North Texas Cookie Jar is a home-based bake shop that specializes in custom, hand-decorated sugar cookies with a variety of flavor options. We also offer chocolate chip cookies which my family swears are the best! Both are great for parties, holiday celebrations, client gifts and simply just to show some love to your favorite people! I mean, who doesn’t like cookies, right?!
With so many phenomenally talented cookiers out there you need to find a way to set yourself apart from others. One of my goals when starting was to find a way to combine my love for baking with my passion for giving back to our community. I am proud to say that we have committed to donate a percentage of sales each month to a local nonprofit or an organization that is near & dear to my heart. Since our launch, we have been able to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society-Gateway Chapter, Leighton’s Gift, Layla’s Legacy, and the DFW Humane Society. This could not be achieved without my wonderful customers!! Thank you all so much!
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
For now, I am focused on the continued growth of my company. I have considered offering classes, but not the traditional cookie decorating classes that many offer. My thought is to develop “cookie camps” for young bakers wanting to learn how to bake and/or decorate sugar cookies. On the request of a friend, I offered a private class for her young daughters and their friends over spring break. This took me back to my childhood where my mom’s idea of “helping her bake” meant gathering the ingredients and cleaning the mess. This wasn’t my idea of helping, but at least I got to lick the beaters!
What I envision is different. What I offered at the time was a 2-day experience. On the first day, they selected their cutters, gathered ingredients, measured, mixed, rolled out the dough, cut the shapes, baked, AND licked the beaters! Day 2 the girls were able to ice and decorate their creations. They learned basic techniques, but then I let them go! The best part was that the moms jumped in and had just as much fun…if not more than their daughters! Watching the creativity was amazing! I have since held a few subsequent private classes & team building events on request, but I am looking to formalize the process and offer cookie camps on an on-going basis.
Pricing:
- On average, a basic 3″ custom cookie runs $3.00 – $3.50 a piece
- Specials available for pre-selected, pre-packaged holiday sets ranging from $5.00 on up
Contact Info:
- Website: www.northtexascookiejar.com
- Phone: 314-853-0746
- Email: kat@northttexascookiejar.com
- Instagram: @northtexascookiejar
- Facebook: www.northtexascookiejar.com
Image Credit:
Kate Pease Photography – personal photo
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