#168 Big Cookie, Big Ideas - Andrea Ludlow, Showstopper Cookies

Meaningful Marketplace Podcast

It was almost exactly 100 episodes ago we first interviewed Andrea Ludlow, founder of Showstopper Cookies; episode 69 released March of 2021 to be precise. She had started her business about six months prior to the show. Cookie companies are everywhere and they come and go like streetcars. So how has Andrea’s company endured and what makes her cookies legitimate showstoppers? Answer: Focus. Andrea makes only one, very large, special, salty chocolate chip cookie and sticks with her winning recipe. Every showstopper cookie is lovingly handmade and baked under supervision in their southeast Portland, Oregon location. They use only the best, tastiest ingredients including locally sourced flour and eggs and chocolate from the Guittard Chocolate Company. They source carefully from the Camas Country Mill for flour, the Cairnsprings Mill also for flour. They use only organic white and brown sugars, Maldon salt, unsalted butter. They buy local free range eggs, and to top it off, they use only Andrea’s homemade vanilla extract. Showstopper cookies aren’t made for dunking in milk while enjoying a TV show. They are for gifts and special occasions. When you visit their website you’ll see why, but their description paints the picture: “Showstopper cookies are dancing and singing their way into mouths across the country…a magical way to treat yourself…” Since launching Showstopper Cookies at our first interview with her, what has happened to Andrea and her company since then? For one thing, when asked how many cookies she’s sold since our last interview, Andrea has no idea! And Andrea gives a big thanks to our show hosts Sarah Masoni and Sarah Marshall, who urged her to learn to freeze her cookie dough to increase the production and shipping components of her business. Special occasion businesses have seasons of course and Showstopper is no exception. From May to October, Andrea attends one or more farmers markets which results in 600 or more cookie sales a week. Then it’s a lull until the Holiday season, then another lull from January until spring. The “lulls” aren’t completely bad either at this stage of Andrea’s business, because it gives her time to catch her breath, look ahead and also think of ways to eliminate the lulls. For example, a customer asked about ordering one giant cookie as a birthday cake. After some Instagram posts, Andrea saw she had a winner and has added that to the website recently. Birthdays are a “lull-resistant” product. Andrea is grateful for the advice she received from Meaningful Marketplace, and would like to pass on advice to other foodpreneurs now that she has had more time in the pilot’s seat. For one thing, ASK. Ask questions of everyone you meet everywhere. Whether it’s the vendor in the stall next to you at the farmers market or the distributor searching for new products. “Be friendly with error” is one of her quotes (I love the way she puts it, ed.) meaning get up every time you fall. Do favors for others and ask for favors, too. And because of COVID and the aftermath, Andrea also has made some big moves. She has spent some advertising money on a popular podcast show (Ask Ronna) and she has started going after corporate accounts, both new moves since our first interview. You can purchase Showstopper Cookies at local Portland area farmers markets and on online at: https://www.showstoppercookies.com/. Follow her at: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/showstopper_cookies/. Also on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/showstoppercookies. Our hosts: Twitter - @sarahmasoni and @spicymarshall, Instagram - @masoniandmarshall.