Community Highlights: Meet Arin Bonk of Delicious Designs Cookies

Today we’d like to introduce you to Arin Bonk. 

Hi Arin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
When my husband and I moved to West Chester 16 years ago I found myself looking for a new job and new opportunities. We knew no one here and it was me and my preschool-aged son. I had a lot of time on my hands and I was looking for a creative outlet. I had always enjoyed time baking and thought I could start a business making custom cookies. I found my first client and gave me a chance to make cookies for a special event. Word of mouth led me to more customers and I was able to build my business through that. I had a friend that used my cookies for client gifts and it’s been a lot of great connections and hard work ever since, but it’s a lot of fun. I started doing summer camps for kids in my kitchen and that lead to beginning my after-school program. On any given school day, I’m at a school teaching kids the basics of cookie decorating with fun themes in six-week, hour-long sessions. I’ve built this business from scratch, and it’s been exciting! 

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?
Oh my goodness, it’s been a lot of hard work! There is a certain amount of dedication you have to be committed to. Taking phone calls on the weekends, giving up the weekends to do kid’s cookie decorating birthday parties, answering texts and messages all the time. I live by the mantra that there is no substitute or algorithm for hard work. Long hours around the holidays, trying new things, and sometimes failing–it’s all part of the process. Sometimes, just answering someone’s inquiry is more than your competition is willing to do, but it pays off. 

As you know, we’re big fans of Delicious Designs Cookies. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I create custom cookies for special events and occasions. I specialize in specializing. Everything I do and make can be personalized to your specifications, down to names, catchphrases, color matching, and specialty shapes. 

What sets me apart from others is my willingness to go above and beyond to make each client experience a special one. I want them to think their order is the only one that matters. 

I am most proud of my willingness to get all of the details and I know the industry enough to know how to ask the client questions that will help tailor their party or event to make it the best it can be. Graduation season is a perfect example of this. I’ve become a staple of this in my local area. 

I’ve also begun to specialize in custom gift boxes and have learned how to make specialty gifts for corporate orders. It’s so much fun and I get to implement things I have learned through the years. It’s such a fun, creative outlet. I love curating amazing gifts. 

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
I love lifelong learning, and I have enjoyed listening to podcasts and reading books about self-improving and showing up as your best self every day. Most recently “Everything is Figureoutable” by Marie Forleo has been a great book and a great podcast that teaches there is a solution for every challenge. Also, the way you speak out loud can manifest what you do and don’t get out of life, so watch what you say! 

Contact Info:

• Email: deliciousdesignscookies@yahoo.com
• Website: https://deliciousdesignscookies.square.site
• Instagram: deliciousdesignscookies
• Facebook: Delicious Designs Cookies
• Twitter: @ddc_westchester

Image Credits
Ali Wolfe