Life & Work with Keirsten Johnson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Keirsten Johnson. 

Hi Keirsten, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Kookies by Keirsten officially began in March of 2009, when I found myself unemployed and going through a tough financial period after the bank at which I worked left Michigan. I was not a Baker; however, my mother and grandmother baked all the time. 

My daughter was in pre-school and with very little money, I decided to make and decorate cookies for my daughter and her classmates to celebrate of her birthday. I had absolutely no cookie decorating experience. I was just naturally creative. Equipped with my grandmother’s tea cake recipe, I gathered all the ingredients to make it work. With my daughter’s input, I decided that the character “Elmo” would be easy to do, after all, he was a simple red circle, with white circular eyes, an orange oval nose, and a black semi-circle mouth. 

A parent at the school thought they were so cute and asked if I could do the “Transformers” characters? She was planning a theme party for her son in two weeks and would love for me to make cookies. Nervous inside, I confidently said “Yes” and began to practice. She was my very first paying customer and with that, I decided to register my name and start the business. 

I started posting my cringy creations on Facebook and with lots and lots of practice in various techniques, I began to get better. People were inquiring about other events like baby showers and weddings which forced me to see my tagline…” there is always an occasion for a cookie” and, I began to invest and purchase more cookie cutters. 

This journey was new and scary. I was not totally equipped to run a business, I needed to understand the inner workings. I enrolled in and graduated from Wayne County Community College with a concentration in Business Administration. While attending school, I returned to the workforce as an employee for financial security. I was working more and making cookies less because I was committed to this job. I would make cookies occasionally, but not enough to financially support me and my daughter. 

As a working mom, I became frustrated with my job. I was missing things that I felt I should have been doing as a mom. I needed to be home more. I remember a situation once when my daughter was sick, and we were short-staffed at work. My manager suggested that I, “make her snug as a bug in a rug” in time to cover lunches. Needless to say, I was dismayed at my manager’s insensitivity to my situation. The company had a tagline that would haunt me every day; causing me to question the direction of my life and ultimately propel me to take the “leap of faith.” It was like a sign, “chase what matters.” So, one day, I quit!!! 

Today, I am the proud owner of Kookies by Keirsten, a home-based business operating in the City of Detroit. I am the self-proclaimed Kookie Konnoisseur who has been featured on Fox 2 News more than once. Aside from the awesome customers, I have obtained over the years, I have done business with well-established companies and organizations such as Credit Acceptance, Michigan International Swim Coaches Association, GDI Integrated Services, Good Cakes and Bakes, Rebel Nell, Goldberg Cares, and even some local celebrities. I am continuing to see consistent growth ending with over 5,000 cookies sold last year. I am focused on “Building my Brand” and capitalizing on the infinite potential of social media. This is the year that I am “going for it, pedal to the metal, no brakes!” My focus is to continue to “Wow Every Customer with Every Cookie, EVERY TIME! 

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?
It certainly has not been a smooth road; I have just learned to buckle my safety belt and hold on in a sense. I have accepted that running this business is an ever-winding road, full of hills and valleys. I still struggle as times involve; active social media is imperative. 

Followers on Instagram and Tik Tok have become a mode of discovery with a niche like decorated cookies. There is unlimited potential there. I must stay abreast of trends and algorithms. 

This business has challenged me in most areas of my life. From persevering through unforeseen challenges and uncertainties, motivating myself on days that I don’t feel motivated, taking even more risks, and finding a balance between work and life just like most other entrepreneurs. 

The COVID-19 shutdown was the scariest time I have ever had to endure. People were instructed to quarantine for their safety and the safety of others. Nobody really knew what to expect. Events were canceled which meant I had to return deposits and no money or orders were coming in. I needed to dig deep to figure something out. I decided to begin offering cookie boxes with contactless delivery. It enabled people to sending unique messages of love through cookies to essential workers and loved ones. Flowers could only say so much, but cookies provided a way to say more in a “sweet way.” 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Kookies by Keirsten is a home-based business that bakes cookies of the highest quality and hand decorates them with great attention to detail. Cookies can help to deliver a personal message in a unique, delicious, and unforgettable way. We pride ourselves in wowing Every customer with Every cookie, Every time. 

I am most proud that I have been able to sustain this business for as long as I have and the accomplishments that I have made right from my home. My daughter has been able to witness her mother bet on herself and learn through trial and error. No shortcuts. I have persevered through things that I was certain would break me down. However, I am continuing to grow and crush my goals. I often remind myself that there was a time that I did not see what this business has come to be and quite honestly where it could potentially go. 

Aside from being self-taught, what sets me apart from others is the cookie recipe, this treasure has been passed down through generations, and I just decided to decorate them. 

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
In the next 5-10 years as Candy Buffets at events become more popular, decorated cookies will become a staple at all events from corporate to casual. 

Pricing:

• Pricing depends on the cookie design as they are all not created equally. They vary in size and design complexity
• Inflation has become a factor in all of our lives; subsequently allowing to me to provide a range from $3.75 to $6.50 per cookie
• A non-refundable deposit of 50% of the total cost is required to secure your order,
• There is a dozen cookie minimum unless it is one of our 4-6 cookie boxes or a 6- cookie bouquet
• We require at a minimum 15 days advanced notice

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kookiesbykeirsten.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kookiesbykeirsten/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KookiesByKeirsten
• Other: https://www.fox2detroit.com/mornings/krafty-kookies-for-the-big-game