Archive for Cookies

Cory Nieves – Mr. Cory’s Cookies

This is the story of Mr. Cory’s Cookies!

Cory Nieves was just six years old when he started his entrepreneurial journey. At first, Cory sold lemonade and hot cocoa to help pay for a car for his mom. They had just moved to New Jersey and funds were tight. As Cory got a bit older, his business matured from predominantly lemonade to cookies. Cory, and his mother Lisa, were determined to make a tasty cookie with all natural ingredients. They wanted to find a way to make a healthier, yet still delicious, alternative to other cookies out there. When Cory was 9, him and Lisa had found just the right recipe. They decided that it was something that they wanted to pursue full time. They settled on the name “Mr. Cory’s Cookies.”

Fortunately, Mr. Cory’s Cookies was given lots of free publicity on TV shows. Cory and Lisa were featured on MasterChef Junior and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The producers of the shows took interest in the entrepreneurial interest and the wholesome motives of such a young man. The publicity from the TV specials helped the company take off.

Nowadays, Mr. Cory’s Cookies in known for their broad set of flavors and their all-natural ingredients. They offer a variety of deals and bundles, all with incredibly eye-catching packaging. The business operates through periodical releases. The cookies sell out quickly, which builds anticipation fir the next release. Mr. Cory’s Cookies is now partnered with powerhouse, Amazon.

Cory is an inspiration to all of us. Cory developed entrepreneurial spirit at such an early age. He is living proof that you are never too young, old, etc. to pursue a venture! Additionally, his mother, Lisa, is an inspiration. She proved to us just how meaningful supporting your children, friends, cousins, etc. in their innovations can be!

For the link to their Amazon shop, click here.

Cory Nieves: Founder and CEO of Mr. Cory’s Cookies

Cory Nieves at six-year-old had a one-of-a-kind mind and had a plan to sell hot chocolate to his neighborhood in Englewood, NJ. He wanted to do this to save up money to buy his mother a car. Nieves at six said he was tired of taking the bus, so he really wanted to help his mom. He started selling the hot chocolate for one dollar a cup! After a while, Nieves innovated and thought more into other ideas like baking cookies. He and his mother baked for months before he found the recipe he knew he could run with. The recipe was a hit, and Nieves said, “That’s when we knew we had a business — when people started taking our cookies seriously”. This is so incredible for a kid who is so young being able to go from his original idea to changing it and innovating to another successful idea. His mom and him would take these cookies to local races and festivals which then Nieves would pitch “Life’s too short to not eat a cookie!” This is so smart, and his mom was definitely a huge part in his idea because he wanted to help her as much as possible but also, she still helped him with a lot too, so it was a great idea. Nieves’s business just took off and continued to grow, and in 2015 he got invited to The Ellen DeGeneres Show! After the show, orders were overflowing. This caused a supply and demand problem, but again he innovated and got an appearance on CNBC’s The Profit, Mr. Cory’s Cookies earned $100,000 cash infusion.  Then, a site was launched for the business, and they started to ship across the country. Now, the company offers 14 different flavors and Nieves himself still has more plans to expand. This story is so inspiring, at a young age being able to take an original idea that most likely wouldn’t take off and going off of that coming up with another idea that absolutely took off is incredible. Cory Nieves is truly a one-of-a-kind entrepreneur, and no one can take that from him and his mother who really helped make this all work.

Meet 16 Teen Founders Who Are Building Big Businesses — and Making Big Money | Entrepreneur

Cory Nieves – Mr. Cory’s Cookies

Cory Nieves is a twenty-year-old entrepreneur who founded Mr. Cory’s Cookies at the age of 6. This is an all-natural cookie store that offers fourteen original cookie recipes such as Double Dark, Oatmeal Raisin, and Sugar.

This all started when he would complain to his mom about taking the bus to school and wanted to buy a car instead. Because of this, he decided to sell hot cocoa in the town of Englewood to raise funds for a new car for his mom. He would sell Swiss Miss for $1 a cup. Then, he would expand his business to start selling lemonade and cookies for a college fund. He started searching online for the perfect cookie recipe and once he found it, the recipe was a hit. That is when he knew he had a business. He would take cookies to local races and festivals and would sometimes make up to $150 on the weekends. At one point, his business was shut down for selling treats baked in a home kitchen, which was a health code violation. He was referred to an attorney and he was able to form a business legally and secure a commercial kitchen.

Mr. Cory’s Cookies has partnered with many other businesses such as J. Crew, Mercedes-Benz, Pottery Barn, Ralph Lauren, Whole Foods, Macy’s, and many more. He was also featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2015, which was a big hit, and he gained an overwhelming number of orders. To scale, he sought out investment and made an appearance on CNBC’s The Profit and he earned a $100,000 cash infusion. He launched an e-commerce site, hired cookie helpers, and started shipping products across the country.

It was not easy making the cookies, but Cory was very dedicated and motivated and persevered through many challenges. Cory’s story is inspiring to many people, and it goes to show that with dedication, you can go from making and selling cookies from your home to a big successful business.

From Kitchen to Nation – The Story of Cory Nieves

Young Cookie Entrepreneur

 

At the age of six, young Cory Nieves set out to buy his mom a car. “I was tired of taking the bus, and I wanted to help my mom” Cory explains. The issue? Cars are expensive. So, Cory thought up a plan. Throughout his neighborhood, Cory began to sell Swiss Miss hot chocolate for $1 a cup. While selling these cups of hot chocolate, Cory noticed an opportunity and decided to pivot: cookies. Three months went by, and there before Cory was a cookie made from a recipe he and his mom worked hard to perfect. He bit into it, and in his mind, it was the perfect chocolate chip cookie. He was not alone in thinking his cookies were perfect; they were a hit! Deciding it was time to expand beyond his neighborhood, Cory went out to events and pitched his cookies to potential customers. His business only grew as time went on. After making an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, demand for Cory’s cookies flooded in. The business, at the time only Cory and his mom, had to grow to keep up. The business was incorporated into an LLC corporation, an e-commerce website was created and launched, and more “cookie helpers” were hired. Soon enough, Cory’s cookies were being shipped all over the country. The story of Mr. Cory’s Cookies is an inspiring example of bootstrapping and thinking as an entrepreneur.  From having an idea, to experimenting in his kitchen, to creating a flourishing business, Cory displays entrepreneurial thinking in how he was able to see a problem, find a solution, pivot in his solution, and remain flexible allowing growth with rising demand.

Mr. Cory’s Cookies

In the world of millennial entrepreneurship, there’s a story that’s as sweet as the cookies it revolves around—Cory Nieves and his business, Mr. Cory’s Cookies. Now, what makes this young cookie maestro stand out isn’t just the tasty treats he whips up, but the fact that he kicked off this whole business adventure when he was just six years old.

So what is Cory’s secret ingredient? It’s all about his genuine passion for baking. His journey isn’t just a cool success story; it’s proof that doing what you love can turn a regular job into a full-on adventure of self-discovery and growth. And the best part is, Cory outright proves that success does not have an age requirement.

The magic of Mr. Cory’s Cookies isn’t just in the flavors; it’s in how Cory blends tradition with fresh tastes. He seamlessly combines the old-school with the now, challenging the idea that successful entrepreneurs all fit a certain mold. And that right there speaks volumes about Cory’s knack for business, his skill in working with people, and his bounce-back ability when faced with challenges.

Cory Nieves and his cookies? They’re not just a snack; they’re an inspiration. His story tells us loud and clear that if you want something bad enough and you have passion in the game, you can do anything. In reflecting on Cory’s story, I’ve learned valuable principles that resonate with me on my own life journey, whether I start a business like Cory or not. The importance of authenticity, the power of passion, and the idea that innovation knows no limits are lessons that will continues to form and shape the minds of aspiring entrepreneurs alike. Cory Nieves and Mr. Cory’s Cookies are not just a success story; they’re a blueprint for the startup story, proving that with the right mindset and a sprinkle of passion, anyone can turn their dreams into a reality.

Crumbl Cookies

Crumbl Cookie was founded by cousins Jason McGowan and Sawyer Hemsely. Jason had a passion for technology and wanted to form a business. He contacted his cousin Sawyer who was still in college and wanted to pursue a business. He said “Let’s just do something really cool and we’re going to do cookies.” They were able to begin to form their business with ease, but struggled on forming the perfect recipe. After numerous tries and getting feedback, their cookies were perfect and were ready to open up their first shop. In 2017, the first shop opened in Logan Utah. This was an instant success and the business continued to thrive over the years. In less than four years, around 200 shops opened in 32 different states. They were getting referred to as the fastest growing cookie company in America. They credited their success to a couple factors. This includes their store format, box design, and weekly menu. The store format at every location is different and unique, however they all are open so you can see the cookies being made in the back of the store. Next off is their trademarked pink box. This pink box makes the cookies fit perfectly and encourages people to take pictures of it. This box made the company blow up on social media and make them trending. According to Marshed, Crumbl has, “5.6 million TikTok followers (and 56.9 million likes), plus 2.6 million Instagram followers. There even is a trending hashtag on TikTok, #CrumblReview, in which people film videos of themselves rating the chain’s famous cookies — so far the hashtag has 498 million views.” This has allowed Crumbl to avoid spending money on influences and advertisements. The final example is their weekly menu. They initially were famous for their chilled pink icing as well as chocolate chip cookies but have expanded their menu. Every week, they have a new group of cookies so that they can explore new flavors. 

I would describe the owners of Crumbl as very innovative and adaptive. They are always looking for new ways to improve and stay trending. Through their social media as well as their constantly changing menu they are able to keep customers wanting to come back. I find it super fascinating how they were able to be super successful by starting a company in a well dominated market. They found a way to differentiate themselves and were able to succeed because of this. 

The Famous Pink Box

The iconic pink box has been taking over Instagram, TikTok, and the world. Crumbl Cookies was founded by two cousins;  Jason McGowan (CEO) & Sawyer Hemsley (COO). While attending Utah State University they embarked on a mission to find the perfect chocolate chip cookie.

Thousands of dollars in dough and failed ideas later, they perfected their recipe. They opened their first location in Logan, Utah in 2017. Slowly, the duo added flavors to their menu and began to gain traction. They experimented with adding additional services, such as pick-up and delivery. All the while maintaining its mission to deliver high-quality cookies.

Back at college, they began to build the brand. The “Crumbl Pink” came from a neighbor’s classic car. They felt the pink was so recognizable, it was soon adopted as the official color. The box shape was harder. Using a college competition they entered Crumbl to try and find their ideal packaging. Some initial attempts were cake boxes, and one even looked like a mini oven! When they saw the pink rectangle, Jason knew. The design for the popular “4-Pack” allows four cookies to rest perfectly inside an oblong box. After the audience votes were in, confirming their pick, Crumbl had its packaging.

By December 2018, multiple locations had been opened and the duo introduced their rotating menu concept. Not only are they constantly adding flavors, but they are revising  and improving old favorites too. The pink box inspires the “Taste Weekly” trend. Customers will film with partners in the car, rating the flavors each week. From this, Crumbl gets direct feedback on fan favorites, while spreading the word about the delicious desserts.

 

Have you been to a Crumbl yet? Check out their website to find one near you!

Already a fan? Follow their socials for weekly menu updates!

Mr. Cory’s Cookies

Cory Nieves and his mother, Lisa Howard, moved to Englewood, New Jersey from their original residence in the Bronx. This was because Howard desired a better life for her son. There was one huge problem with this plan. Cory and his mother did not have a car at the time, so Cory wanted to do something to help out. When he was just six years old, he started selling hot chocolate at a restaurant that was owned by a family friend. He became so popular that he shortly experimented into the cookie business and created Mr. Cory’s Cookies. Cory and Lisa created a recipe to help them bake chocolate chip cookies. They sold them outside their home and at various stands throughout Englewood. The cookies were such a success that Lisa moved their service from their oven at home to a profitable kitchen. Lisa became famous for her nickname, “the Cookie Mom.” Lisa received help from Chase, which was a bank that she had been a longtime customer for. Chase assisted in handling the quick growth of resources from Cory’s popular business. Cory and Lisa have spread their business and added online sales as another option. It became more necessary due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They have even had the ability to sell cookies all over the world. Some of their largest market profits are in Canada and Saudi Arabia. They have also hosted workshops for kids and their parents at the Boys & Girls Club, the Center for Great Expectations, which is a shelter for pregnant mothers who are young and mothers who have had trouble with substance abuse, and Bergen’s Promise, which is a group that provides assistance for families who have kids that are dealing with various problems such as behavior, mental health, and substance abuse. Cory and Lisa are examples of people who found a way to get through tough times and achieved their dreams. Cory also proved that it is never too early to help someone out and that you can start a business at any age, regardless of how young or old you are.

https://www.jpmorganchase.com/news-stories/how-a-teen-entrepreneur-turned-a-pop-up-cookie-shop-into-a-thriving-enterprise

Curly Tail Coffee

Curly Tail Coffee is a very cool coffee company started by a young woman named Nicole Waltenbaugh.  This business started out as a coffee roasting business alone, but Nicole soon added two food trailers to the business to capitalize on the demand for coffee on the go.  These little trailers sell her bags of roasted coffee, pastries and muffins, hot tea, hot chocolate, and their specially roasted hot coffee.  Part of the inspiration behind starting this business was the founder’s love for animals and her passion for rescue pugs specifically.  One dollar of each bag of coffee that she sells is donated to an animal rescue.  Because of this, Curly Tail Coffee has been able to donate over 30,000 dollars!  Nicole’s love of pugs is also where the name came from, curly tail for the curly tails of the pugs that Nicole loves so much!  It also applies to the curly tails of pigs which she has two of.

Curly Tail Coffee is the perfect example of a business built out of the combination of two passions.  She started with the two passions of roasting coffee and the support of rescue pugs.

This business is  especially cool to me because this is in our home town of Kittanning! I love Nicole and her coffee.  She often has one of her pugs or one of her pigs at the trailers when you go to visit to buy coffee.

http://www.curlytailcoffee.com/

TeaCakes by Chloe

 

At a certain age, parents decide it’s time to start teaching their children how to be responsible with their money, and learn how to value costly items. The best way to teach a child to value money, is to make them work for it. I’m sure most of us remember our first big purchase, for me it was the iPod touch, a whopping $200. In the eyes of a 7-year-old, this may as well be $1,000. Chloe Smith, a 7-year-old girl from Louisana, desperately begged her parents for an electric scooter; her parents, wanting to turn this into a learning experience, told her that she would need to earn the money herself. This meant that she has to come up with $249 herself. Unlike many her age, this was no big feat for Chloe and her entrepreneurial mind.

With the help of her nana, Kathy Phelps, the two started baking family recipes and selling them to the locals. Chloe’s business rapidly grew, and her teacakes could be found in small shops around town.  She networked through family members; specifically her Uncle Larry in Australia, who’s coworkers wanted Chloe’s TeaCakes. Eventually, TeaCakes by Chloe was an international business. Not only were her cakes delicious, but each package had a personalized hand-drawn label. Without realizing it, Chloe became a marketer, entrepreneur, and successful business woman in a little less than a month.

Chloe’s grandma believes that this business not only got her the electric scooter, but also showed her that “you have to work for money” and be patient. This experience also helped Chloe in her academics, as she read all the recipes herself and measured the ingredients. Chloe’s business was no ‘one-hit-wonder’ as she plans on continuing baking even after college. “When I get about 20-years-old,” Chloe she says that she wants to open up her own TeaCake Shop.

TeaCake’s by Chloe serves as an inspiration to many other young entrepreneurs. All it takes is dedication and follow through. If Chloe decided that $249 was impossible to raise, then it would be impossible. Having faith in yourself and your work is the first big step in becoming a successful business. Sometimes older entrepreneurs get too obsessed with the fine details, and they overthink things to the point where the passion is no longer there. Chloe’s business goes to show that we all could benefit from doing a little less thinking, and a lot more doing.

Made in LA: 7-year-old entrepreneur starts baking business (kplctv.com)