Meet Cheria Meaux

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheria Meaux. 

Hi Cheria, 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.
I have loved chocolate chip cookies since I was a teenager. I’d often buy the refrigerated dough and also buy them from the cookie counters at the mall. I started baking them at home to be able to have them whenever I wanted and eliminate the refrigerated options that just didn’t cut it. 

Eventually, I started baking my chocolate chip cookies for family, friends and bake sales. My cookies were always the first food to be eaten up at any family dinner to the point that latecomers wouldn’t get any. I eventually started keeping the cookies in my car until after dinner, just so every at the function could get at least one! Not only that, my cookies would sell out at almost every bake sale. 

One day while out to dinner with family, one of them said, “you have a million-dollar recipe; now what are you going to do about it?” That forced me to think about taking my love for baking cookies, seeing the joy of people eating them, and actually doing something about it. Those were the main factors that helped me decide to start a business and is how Chipped Cookie Company was born. 

I started Chipped Cookie Company, LLC in 2018 and have been doing business in different capacities since then. My sales are done online, at vendor events, pop-up events, catered event, and individual sales. I started Chipped Cookie Company as a home baker under the Michigan Cottage Laws. I’ve recently made the transition to licensed wholesale baking and have had cookies in grocery and retail stores. I am currently working on expanding into more stores, bakeries and expanding the shipping arm of the company. 

In addition to Chipped Cookie Company, I also operate a DBA called Chipped Giving with a focus of making money to give money. Chipped Cookie Company makes money, and Chipped Giving gives money to people in need and organizations that help people in need. I have worked in the community with my church and community organizations for years, and Chipped Giving allows me to continue giving on a more personal level. I look forward to developing Chipped Giving and increasing its social presence along with Chipped Cookie Company as we continue to grow. 

Lastly, I am in the development phase of offering my services to start-up food business who are going through the licensing process and need to complete Standard Operating Procedures, kitchen protocols, and process workflows. These are skills that are part of what I do professionally, and was able to complete them for my own licensing process with ease. I am excited to be able to offer another part of my expertise to other fledgling food business. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Chipped Cookie Company has faced similar challenges to other small baked good businesses. Starting out as a home baker who also works full time, I quickly recognized that juggling both work and the business would be and still is a challenge. Having time to grow the business as a sole proprietor while staying consistent is always at the forefront of “how to do it better.” So, time and doing it on my own are the biggest challenges. Fortunately, I have a great support system of family who contract with me to help with events, marketing, social media, and other short-term needs. My support system team all have their own lives, jobs, families, and entrepreneurial endeavors, so I am always cautious of asking for help and often don’t. I eventually will make the transition to baking full time and look forward to being able dedicate 100% of my working time to growing and enjoying the business that I love! 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am currently focused on expansion of the wholesale business partnerships by getting into more grocery stores and acquiring corporate, cafe and restaurant accounts. Also growing the e-business and online presence. My ultimate desire is to open a store in the next year with space to have a store front and manage the online business in one location. And as these areas grow, we’ll be able to do more philanthropic giving through Chipped Giving! I look forward to that growth the most!

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
The advice that I’d give someone who is just starting out is similar to something that one of my entrepreneur friends shared with me. My version of that advice, with my two cents and experience added on is to realize that there’s a fine line between being prepared to launch and being perfectly prepared to launch. Striving for perfection is good but can cause delays in actually getting started. In my career, we have a term that we used that says “fail fast.” Essentially, make the leap after designing a strong base structure and make improvements along the way. And not random improvements; capture what works and what doesn’t, improve the design, the process, the recipe, the product, and start a new and improved phase! 

What I wish I knew when I was starting out is the power of social media marketing and promotion. I thought of it as more of an option for growth, which it technically is. However, you can be much farther along if you learn more about it and apply the principles early on, even if you have to pay someone to help! 

Pricing:

• Traditional Flavors – $14 per Dozen
• Premium & Create your Own Flavors – Starting at $16 per Dozen
• Plant-Based & Gluten Free – Starting at $18 per Dozen
• 50 Count Bakery Box (unwrapped) – Started at $50
• 50 Count Bakery Box (individually wrapped) – Starting at $75

Contact Info:

• Website: www.getchippedcookies.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chippedcookiecompany/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getchippedcookie

Image Credits
Cheria Meaux
Krystle Sims