Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Ritter.
Amy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started my cottage bakery cookie business in 2022, shortly after my son was born. I had always loved watching videos of people decorating sugar cookies and had played around with decorating them myself, but I had never really given it a serious try. Once I had my second baby and decided to become a stay at home mom, I figured it was the perfect time to actually go for it and see where it could take me.
After some interest on my first few cookie posts I felt good enough posting about, I started very small with a porch pop-up for Valentine’s Day. I honestly had no idea what to expect, but people loved the cookies, and from there, the custom orders started rolling in. What began as a little creative outlet while home with 2 under 2 quickly grew into a business that I was able to build into something much bigger than I initially imagined.
One of my favorite parts has been adding cookie decorating classes! Before starting Critter Cookie Co. I was an elementary school teacher, so teaching has always been a huge part of who I am. Hosting cookie classes has allowed me to combine two things I really love—being creative and teaching people.
There’s something so fun about watching someone come into a class saying, “I’m terrible at decorating cookies,” and then leave with a set of cookies they’re genuinely proud of. I love being able to create an experience where people can learn something new, be creative, and just have a fun couple of hours and leave with something yummy!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Overall, it really has been a smooth ride, but it’s definitely been a huge learning experience! A lot of the challenges I’ve faced have come with growing the business and learning how to balance it with being a mom.
Early on, one of my biggest struggles was overbooking myself. When you’re excited about growing your business, it’s really easy to want to say yes to every order and opportunity that comes your way. I’ve had to learn that taking on more isn’t always better, especially when it comes at the expense of my time with my family.
Learning to raise my prices and, more importantly, learning to say no have probably been some of the hardest lessons. It can be difficult to turn down an order or opportunity, but I’ve learned that setting boundaries allows me to enjoy the business more and still have the balance I want as a mom.
As you know, we’re big fans of Critter Cookie Co.. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Critter Cookie Co. is a name that’s very personal to me—it’s actually inspired by my two kids, Charlotte and Cooper, and our last name, Ritter – C-Ritter – Critter! I wanted to have a name that felt fun and playful, but also had a little piece of sentimentality.
I specialize in custom sugar cookies decorated with royal icing, creating everything from personalized party favors and holiday sets to completely custom designs. I also host cookie decorating classes, which have become one of my favorite parts of the business because they bring my love of teaching back into the picture. I’ve recently started introducing cakesicles as well, which has been a really fun way to expand beyond cookies and offer something new.
I’m especially proud of how much the business has grown from that very first porch pop-up in 2022. It’s still something I get to be creative with and have fun doing, but it has also become a real business and a community that I’m incredibly proud to have built.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
One of my favorite things about Southwest Michigan (Kalamazoo/Vicksburg specifically) is the hometown community feel. There’s a really strong sense of community here, and people genuinely want to see local businesses succeed.
I’ve experienced that support firsthand through my business. From customers sharing my work with friends and family to people showing up for local events and classes, there’s such a willingness to support small businesses and shop local. I think that’s something really special about us here.
It’s also been fun to watch the local small-business community grow and connect with one another. There are so many talented makers, bakers, artists, and entrepreneurs in Southwest Michigan, and I love being part of that community. There’s a real feeling of “we’re all in this together,” rather than competition, and that’s something I’m incredibly grateful for.
Pricing:
- Custom cookies Start at $55/dozen
- Cakesicles start at $45/dozen
- most classes are $55
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/critter.cookie.co/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089718644859
