Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura DeNeui.
Laura, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
It all started with a friend’s Christmas cookie exchange party. The night before I grabbed my son’s kindergarten homework that had a sugar cookie recipe on it and got to work rolling out Christmas cookies. I had learned how to decorate cakes with frosting bags at my first job in high school, Baskin Robbins. One of the ladies at the party was an instructor at the Cordon Blue and was really impressed with my cookies.
One order led to another and one night when someone I had never met in person came to pick up her cookies in the rain… it hit me. Maybe there is a market for this type of service. I sent out samples to various online websites who sold similar cookies, and once they tried mine, they agreed to sell them on their websites. It was initially baby shower websites, but now I make all types of designs for all occasions. I first started working in a commercial kitchen while looking for a place to open my own bakery.
It took about five years, and I finally found a place. After fixing up an old restaurant, we were open for business. It was a lot of fun and a lot more work. We were making sandwiches and salads… not really what I wanted to do, but it was what the area needed and what we needed to do to make the rent in West LA. In 2013, Jerry Brown signed the Cottage Law that allowed small businesses like mine to operate from home. A friend stepped in and bought the space, and I’ve been working from home ever since. It is really ideal for me, no rent, no commute and all the help I need.
The main reason for my success is repeat business. I have a great product that took a few years to perfect with help from my kids. Now Sunflower Baking is a part of many families events. It often starts with wedding favors, then baby shower favors, the first birthday party favors and so on every year. I’ve developed a great customer base, and we don’t need to pay for advertising. Word of mouth is the best source for new customers. I’ve been delighted to help customers including Ringo Starr, Cartier, Nordstrom, Blizzard Entertainment, UM, Candice King just to name a few.
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?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road, but the bumps in the road were often great learning experiences that helped grow the business. One example is cookie cutters. I used to buy the cutters I needed and had to wait until they arrived to make the orders, this was before Amazon Prime! They didn’t always arrive on time. I thought there must be a way to make my own cookie cutters.
On eBay, I found a downloadable .pdf file for $4 that would teach me how to make cutters. It was exactly what I needed. I was off and running. I can now make any design someone wants or something I would like to create. It’s kind of amazing to think that I can make a cutter, bake the cookie, decorate it and post it online and have people around the world see my new creation within a couple of hours.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Sunflower Baking – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We make cookies. Specializing in custom cookies for special events. We can make any design to match an idea the customer has. Maybe it’s an invitation they like or a unique party theme… I love a challenge! I’m proud to be part of my customer’s lives and feel honored to be recommended by them to their friends. I’ve been making custom cookies for about 13 years now and still love it!
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We do have a new branch sprouting! Chocolate Chip of the Month Club!
(www.chocolatechipofthemonth.com or www.adventurouscookies.com) It’s an online subscription service of America’s favorite cookie, the Chocolate Chip. The slogan is “Adventurous Cookies!”
Every month the subscriber receives a new exciting Chocolate Chip flavor, including, Chili Chocolate Chip, Coconut Lime Chip, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip and more.
We will be donating a percentage of sales to our favorite local charities in order to give back to our community. It’s been great fun developing new flavors with our research technician Evelyn McLean who has come up with more than 50 different flavors.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sunflowerbaking.com and www.adventurouscookies.com
- Phone: (310) 422-6967
- Email: [email protected] and [email protected]
- Instagram: sunflowerbaking ChocolateChipoftheMonth
- Facebook: sunflowerbaking ChocolateChipoftheMonth
Image Credit:
Laura DeNeui
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