The Baker's Blog

If you have been to the market lately, you've probably seen some of our new fall flavors! The air is crisp (early this morning was down right cold!) and the leaves are turning -- it's pumpkin time! Have you tried Kudzu Cookies new pumpkin cranberry walnut cookies (with a molasses glaze!) or the pumpkin muffins? Stop by next Saturday and taste the new fall flavors if you haven't already!

I entered my peanut butter cookies in the Del Ray cookie bake-off last week in the final First Thursday of 2008 (September 4), and they won Best Looking Cookies! Check it out at visitdelray.com. It's so fun to be a part of the friendly community where I sell my products--I love meeting all of you Del Ray residents at the market and then seeing you around the neighborhood too. Hope to see you this weekend!

I can't believe this weekend is Labor Day, and the end to summer (yes, I'm aware that the season does not end officially for three more weeks, but it may as well be over on Labor Day). Kids start back to school (I've already had a week of classes) and the days are already getting shorter. But, with the end of summer comes the fall--such a beautiful time of year! Fall also means apple pie (or cobbler!), Thanksgiving, and all things pumpkin! Look out for some new fall flavors from Kudzu Cookies at the Del Ray market. Now there's something to look forward to despite the end of a great summer!

This summer I'm learning about Knowledge Management as part of my MBA coursework. So what does knowledge management (KM) have to do with running a cookie business?? Plenty, I've found out! Although KM is usually associated with larger organizations where lots of people have different skills and information must be properly recorded and stored so it can be shared, it's also important for small shops like Kudzu Cookies.

Recently in class we did an exercise where we used the Zack framework to analyze a knowledge problem using a personal example. I used the problem of determining how many cookies of each variety to bake in order to maximize profits. This is more complicated than it sounds because there are many factors that affect weekly sales at the market. Weather, competing events (think Old Town River Festival, Del Ray music festival, etc), holidays (for example, many people travel on 4th of July), and the economy all play a role. Unfortunately these events are outside of my control. What I can control is the quality of my products and the number that I bring of each kind. Using the Zack framework, I analyzed what I must know (how many cookies to prepare each week), what I must do (bake the appropriate number of each product), what I can do (diligently record each week's sales along with external circumstances such as weather etc, ensure quality products are delivered each week, survey customers for what they like, listen to customers' comments, etc), and what I already know (what are typically my best sellers). Using this framework, I've realized that even though it's not possible to accurately predict--with certainty--what will sell each week, there is a lot more that I can do, although it may be time consuming. I wonder what helpful things I'll learn from project management and negotiations in the fall!

No, not the movie! Kudzu Cookies was almost famous! Follow Productions, the company that produces some of the Food Network's shows, called me to talk about featuring Kudzu Cookies on their show Road Tasted in an episode about Baltimore! I was stoked, even though we're right at the distance limit from the city (about an hour drive). However, the producers followed up a few weeks later and said that while they loved the company, there wasn't going to be room for us on the episode. But still, to get an unsolicited phone call from them out of the blue was huge! Even though nothing came of it, it's still exciting that a producer who does shows for the Food Network found us and called!

If you've been at the Del Ray Market recently, you may have noticed Kudzu Cookies has a new product--Blueberry Banana Muffins! Since some of you stop by my stand and say it's too early for cookies, I'm bringing breakfast to you! These muffins are delicious (okay, I do admit I'm biased!) and loaded with fruit! Stop by for your breakfast next week!

It was great to see everyone on May 3rd! I apologize for not being there last week; the bad weather kept me away. I will not be there this weekend (May 17) because I am going away for a girls weekend with my closest friends! Kudzu Cookies will be back the following week to satisfy your sweet tooth! Come hungry to the market! =)

Tomorrow will be Kudzu Cookies first day at the 2008 Del Ray Farmer's Mkt! I've been busy in the kitchen tonight and I can't wait to see you all tomorrow morning!

To answer everyone's questions about the farmer's markets, YES Kudzu Cookies will be returning to Del Ray! I know the market officially opened last weekend, but I'm in the middle of final projects for school and exams and we're going out of town next weekend. Kudzu Cookies will start selling at the Del Ray market on May 4th and I can't wait to see all of you there! As far as the West End Market in Cameron Station, I have decided to take this summer off. Between work and summer school and fitting everything else in, doing two markets was more than I could handle. Maybe after graduation I'll be back. Until then, come by Saturday mornings to Del Ray to get your cookie fix, or send me an email about a special order!

So this semester I am taking a business strategy class in my MBA program, which has got me thinking about the strategy for Kudzu Cookies. Where do I want to take the business -- geographically, physically, long-term? Right now my overhead is very low (there is no storefront), but exposure is also fairly minimal too. Is it worth the risk to take it further? What is my competitive advantage? I have some ideas for the future, but I'm not quite ready for anything big just yet. I'll continue to develop my business strategy while learning from school and gearing up for the farmer's market!