Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Abel.
Hi Julie, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Growing up, I was a little girl who constantly wanted to be in the kitchen helping my mom cook and bake for our large family. And as I got older, I became more and more interested in baking. When I was just twelve years old, my mom managed to get me into a cake decorating class, that was meant for adults, at a small baking supply store. I absolutely loved it. Within a year, I not only finished that beginner’s class but also received a certificate in advanced level decorating. As I continued on through school, eventually graduating high school and continuing into college, I was still spending my free time producing decorated baked goods for family and friends. After college, however, I was a newlywed working through the week at a law firm and then spending every weekend creating and delivering wedding cakes. While I loved cakes, I could feel that that chapter in my life was coming to a close. It was when I was on maternity leave with my first child that I happened to be off throughout Christmas. I had kept seeing these gorgeous royal icing cookies online and thought to myself, “why not just give it a try?” I headed back to that same baking supply store I had started at many years ago and bought all of the supplies I needed. After watching lots of videos online and reading endless recipes, I finished my first set of cookies. I was completely in love and hooked. They definitely did not look like the pretty cookies I had found online but my passion for baking had been reignited. It didn’t take long for me to quit my full-time job and begin baking more so that I could spend more time with my growing family. I was working part-time as a decorator at a bakery and the rest of the time at home with my son during the day and making custom order cookies at night.
In December 2019, I decided to take the plunge and become a full-time cookier. I thought I had everything planned out however, just three months in, the pandemic hit. I was terrified that my business was going to crushed. But as luck would have it, it ended up being a huge blessing. Living in a small town, everyone saw how hard the small businesses were being hit. And they rallied behind me and kept my business afloat. From that point on, my business exploded. Since March 2020, I have expanded into several different storefronts and have been fully booked for custom orders every single month for over two years.
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?
Launching a small business in a saturated market has definitely not been simple. Especially, launching that business mere months before a global pandemic. Like many other businesses, I have faced the struggles of supply issues and ever-rising ingredients costs but I have been blessed with the most amazing customers and support system who always shop local and repeatedly come back. I have also been extremely grateful to have such a supportive husband, children, and family who are always there to help in whatever way they can.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
JBA Bakes specializes in creating custom cookies that not only look great but taste even better. All cookies are made from scratch using only the highest quality ingredients. While it sounds cliche, these cookies truly are a work of love. I create the cookie designs myself, freehand painting when needed opposed to using an edible printer and I even learned calligraphy so that I could perfect writing on the cookies without using a projector. I truly have learned the ins and outs of the trade so that I can provide my customers the best. While my sugar cookies uphold their own reputation, I have also spent many hours in the kitchen testing recipes for my traditional cookie flavors. With five different flavors to choose between, thousands of drop cookies are sold each year. Each jumbo cookie weighs in at a quarter-pound and will leave you wanting more. While Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip has been the number one seller since the beginning, it is trailed closely by the infamous Circus cookie which is a vanilla pudding base cookie with frosted animal crackers, sprinkles, and white chocolate chunks.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
JBA Bakes cookies can be found at many different locations. Each week the shelves are stocked at Buckeye Charm (Waynesville, Oh), Heather’s Gourmet Caramel Apples (Springboro, Oh), Hammel House Restaurant and Inn (Waynesville, Oh), and Coffee Hub (locations in Xenia and Waynesville, Oh). In addition to retail stores, I set up at many different public events and markets such as Charm at the Farm in Lebanon, Ohio, and various Waynesville events.
Contact Info:
- Email: Julie@jbabakes.com
- Website: www.jbabakes.com
- Instagram: @jbabakes
- Facebook: Facebook.com/jbabakes
