I’ve been a baker since I was old enough to reach the counter. I graduated high school just as the Food Network came on the scene and was a bit too late to think ahead to go to culinary school. Instead I went to college, tried a handful of course studies and eventually I left to work. I’ve done everything from working as a manager at a bead store, sold innovative restaurant equipment (I sold mini donut machines!), then 8 years as a medical device communications manager, and finally volunteer management for an insurance company. It’s time, however, to head home to that first true calling, to bake. I wrote my first business plan at 12 to sell cookies on a stick, I made sample orders, delivered them to the neighbors and fell a bit short on the marketing and distribution channels. 25 years later, I’ve still got the drive to sell cookies, I’ve just upped my game.
Business Description
Fig Tales is a custom sugar cookie company. I’ve been in love with baking since I was a kid and custom sugar cookies marry my love of art and creativity with baking. I baked a lot for friend’s birthdays and my family’s special occasions and people kept saying that my cookies were beautiful AND delicious. After a few encouraging small orders, I decided to take the leap, establish an LLC and get registered to actually sell. My biggest challenge is balancing a full time job that has travel with a baking schedule that meets my customer demands. On top of that, finding a commercial space to bake from that can accommodate late hours at a price point that works with my bottom line has also been a challenge. I keep at it and had my most successful year in 2014 and am on pace to double that success this year. I beam with pride when a customer sees their idea come to life on a cookie that’s when I know that Fig Tales cookies are the sweetest part of the party.
What is the purpose of this loan?
The Kiva Zip loan will allow me to pay for space in a commercial kitchen location that’s both a coffee shop and a cafe. Being able to buy into the cafe will allow me to work on Fig Tales without the high cost of renting kitchen space. I’ll be able to increase production and also use some of the funds to buy more professional equipment.