Who's Really Running Your Cookie Business - You or Your Inbox?

Catherine Harris
Sep 18, 2025
4 min read

Have you ever looked at your cookie calendar and felt like your creative spark has been replaced by a checklist of other people's ideas? You know, those ones that make your face twitch at the very thought of them.

Remember when you first discovered your love of creating cookies? You had a style, a vibe and just wanted to share it with the world.

Now you find yourself in a place where you're churning out those custom orders but the majority of them just don't feel like "you" anymore.

Let's be real, you're trying to run a business in a competitive market and a sale's a sale right?

Sure, I get it, but whilst saying yes can feel like the right business move, it often leads to burnout, creative fatigue, and a brand that feels more like someone else and less and less like the vision you had when you first embarked on this wonderful journey.

"But what if you could shift that?".

What if your cookie business started reflecting you-your style, your values, your creativity-instead of your inbox?

From People Pleasing to Passion Driven

When you built your business, chances are it came from a place of passion. You love to bake. You love to create. You love the feeling of creating something truly unique.

But somewhere along the way, the creative flow may have been highjacked by endless customer demands, the latest "it" trend, Pinterest screen shots, and requests to copy other artist's work.

Let's be honest, you didn't start your baking journey to follow someone else's vision.

You're an artist and your business should reflect that.

Take Creative Control Without Losing Customers

Here's the good news. You don't have to say goodbye to your customers to reclaim your creativity.

"You just need to guide them more intentionally."

Here's how:

#1 - Lead with Your Style

Start showcasing your aesthetic more consistently.

Curate your Instagram grid. Upgrade your portfolio. Use stamps and cutters that reflect your vibe. Whether that's whimsical, minimal, floral, boho or bold.

Pro Tip: Our "Ambassador's Edit" is designed to help decorators create cohesive, brand-aligned sets that are both fast and fabulous. Each week we are sharing ideas to support batch baking with the tools you have and without sacrificing your unique style.

"When you show more of what you love, you attract clients who want exactly that."

#2 - Offer Pre-Designed Sets

Instead of waiting for customers to send you a design idea, flip the script.

Create a small range of pre-designed sets themed around common events that you want to bake for. Whether that's birthdays, baby showers, thank you packs and more.

Add your signature touch with coordinated cutters, custom stamps, or matching packaging.

Try this: Our Butterfly Stamp and Cutter Bundle pairs perfectly with the Tulips and Poppies Fondant Texture Plate Bundle.

Combine them with our Vanilla Cookie Recipe or our Chocolate Cookie Recipe for a sweet twist that sells itself.

"Not only does this streamline your workflow, but it also teaches your audience to value your vision-not just your skills".

#3 - Educate Through Content

Your audience doesn't know what's possible until you show them.

Use Instagram Reels, Stories and Post uploads to:

Share behind the scenes of your design process
Show the versatility of a single stamp or cutter set
Teach how a cohesive theme creates better gifting experiences.

When you become the expert, clients stop asking for what they think they want and start trusting you to lead. You've been there. There's no better feeling.

#4 - Set Boundaries That Build Your Brand

This one's big.

Setting boundaries doesn't make you hard to work with-it makes you a professional.

When you limit custom orders, charge for design time (and you should), or steer clients toward curated options, you free yourself to create better work and build your unique brand.

Let's just break that down a little. We've all had those clients that send you a picture of someone else's cookie set and they want you to recreate it. I urge you not to...

Why? Because it's someone else's time, design and creative energy. But most importantly it's someone else's brand, their aesthetic and vision.

It's ok to be inspired by our cookie community, but it's not ok to copy.

It's perfectly ok to communicate that to your clients and I've got some handy boundary setting scripts in our Resource Library which you can find here.

"If you wanted to just follow directions, you wouldn't be an artist. Build a business that reflects you, not just your inbox."

#5 - Bake What You Love-and Let Them Love It Too

You didn't start this business to be a custom cookie machine. You started it because you love to create.

So take a breath. Step back into the drivers seat.

Design intentionally. Bake with joy. Lead with your style and watch as the right customers, the ones who get your aesthetic, trust your design eye and value your work-begin to show up at your virtual doorstep.

Because the truth is: