Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Holzkopf.
Mary, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My parents divorced when I was 9 and I moved into my Grandma’s house. She was a phenomenal chef and baker. When I was younger, I would watch her bake in awe of how she could turn just about any ingredient into a spectacular meal or dessert. Around the age of 15, I began dabbling in the kitchen with her. I was immediately drawn to any and all baked goods, but especially cookies. I started out following recipes and slowly began creating my own.
I went to school for Psychology, Sociology, and Social Welfare, and worked many years as a social worker for the mentally ill. I married my high school sweetheart, and we have 5 wonderful kids together (ages 22 months – 9 years old). After my second child was born, I became a stay at home Mom. I love being home with my kids, but I was always searching for something more. For years, my husband and I said we would open a little bakery/coffee shop when we retired, but we always looked at it as a distant dream. About 18 months ago, my husband decided that we should begin a family business. After going back and forth between what type of business we would venture into, Blessed Little Kitchen was born.
The business started in October of 2016 in our home under the Home Bakers Act and Cottage Food Act. I quickly became certified in Food Safety and Sanitation and spent hours discussing health codes with our local health department (who have been a tremendous help throughout this process). The ultimate goal has always been to open a brick and mortar location, but we assumed that goal was 5-10 years down the road. In April of 2018, we officially moved to a commercial kitchen in Lake In The Hills, and we are now set to open our brick and mortar location in 2019!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I don’t think any road is smooth, but the bumps are all that you make of them. One of the main challenges is learning and staying up to date on health code. My main concern has always been to make sure I’m following the law and food safety standards. To ensure this, I’m continuously taking health and food safety classes.
The thing I struggle the most with is watching other bakers use my ideas and business models as their own. More and more people are selling baked goods out of their homes, and most don’t do so legally. I have had numerous occasions where people follow my business, watch what I post, and then post the exact same products/services that I have just launched. My husband always reminds me that imitation is the best form of flattery, but this is something I really struggle with. I pour my heart and soul into absolutely every recipe I create, so I feel like each order is a part of me.
The other main struggle I have is balancing my work and home life. I work 16+ hours a day as well as raise my 5 children. Everyone jokes that Blessed Little Kitchen is the 6th baby I never had! I’m still learning how to rapidly grow my business while maintaining a healthy home/work balance. I’m sure any working parent can understand that struggle!
Blessed Little Kitchen – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
When Blessed Little Kitchen first opened, we strictly sold cookies. Absolutely everything we produce is from recipes I create myself. Not a single person has access to my recipes (not even my employees!). I started with about a dozen different specialty cookies, and now we have over 45 flavors to choose from. We are also a full-service bakery now. We do just as many cakes, cupcakes, and pastries as we do cookies.
I’m most proud of how quickly my business has grown, and how loyal my customers are. I have people placing orders 6 months in advance, just so they don’t risk me booking up. It’s such an amazing feeling knowing that my customers enjoy eating my products just as much as I enjoy creating them!
Blessed Little Kitchen is also so much more than just a bakery. It’s a way for me to reach thousands of people that I may never have gotten a chance to otherwise meet. It’s also a way for me to bless others. I created something called the Kindness Cookie Initiative, and that is really what got my business growing. I give out 1/2 dozen boxes of cookies (for free) with a sweet little note in them. The only stipulation is that the giver needs to do so anonymously. It’s a way for me to spread anonymous love and kindness in my community while also allowing people to try my products.
I’m a firm believer that you can succeed in the business world by caring more about the person holding the dollar than the actual dollar. I live by the motto that we truly are the hands and feet of Jesus, and that we need to treat others as we would want to be treated. About once a week, I give out a random customers order for free just so that I can bless someone’s day. These little acts of kindness are what I want my bakery to be known for (as well as my amazing products!).
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success to me is being able to fulfill my dreams, on a daily basis, while raising my family and blessing others. If I can go to bed at the end of each day knowing I was able to create amazing baked goods and spend quality time with my family, that day was a success.
My next success will be opening my brick and mortar location. I’m currently in discussion with my Village on where that location will be, and I’m anxiously awaiting God’s perfect timing in all of it! I have had SO many people tell me “but you can’t open a bakery with 5 small children”. It’s easy for us to let those negative thoughts consume us. It’s even easier for us to start believing what doubters have to say. My belief is that even if I can’t, my God can and He will!
Pricing:
- Average dozen cookies – $16.95
- Average dozen cupcakes – $24.95
Contact Info:
- Address: Blessed Little Kitchen
1510 Industrial Drive
Lake In The Hills, IL 60102 - Website: www.blessedlittlekitchen.com
- Phone: 847-529-5457
- Email: Blessedlittlekitchen@gmail.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/blessedlittlekitchen
Image Credit:
Becca Watson with B & B Creations www.facebook.com/bbcvinyl
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