Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Bacha.
Hi Jennifer, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I am a Youngstown native and graduated from Youngstown State University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Fine Art in Photography. I worked as a professional photographer in the automotive industry in Akron for 8 years during which time I married the love of my life, Christopher, and welcomed our wonderful daughter, Avery Virginia. About the time Avery turned one, my husband and I decided that it was best for me to leave my career and stay home with Avery. One day while she was napping, I was perusing Pinterest and saw gorgeous, decorated cookies that immediately spoke to me. Being an art major and with baking skills running in my family, I decided to try my hand at these for a creative outlet. The first cookies I made were strawberry cutouts for Avery’s birthday party, and then I attempted them again, making crosses for my nephew’s baptism. These were received so well that my great-aunt told me I should start a business. I laughed and agreed at the notion and began to hone my craft over the next few months. I developed my own original recipe for sugar cookies along with perfecting the techniques required to bring my artistry to the canvas of a cookie. My family began to recommend my cookies to other friends and family, and the entire thing immediately snowballed. I realized I had a unique opportunity come to be by sheer luck. I created an LLC and worked out of our house under the Ohio cottage food laws for 5 years. With the support of my husband, we made the jump to a commercial brick-and-mortar location in 2021 to expand the business and my capabilities tenfold. My cookies have been enjoyed all over the United States as well as internationally. Having the ability to ship has opened up many amazing opportunities for business, but most importantly, I get to speak and meet with so many amazing people that allow me a small part in a very wide variety of engagements. Birthdays, special events, funny requests for impromptu parties, graduations, I could go on for hours. I cherish each and every one of these as I get to play a small part in the smiles and the laughter as well.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The old saying is true – what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. For me, viewing everything as a learning experience, has only made me a better person and better businesswoman. In the beginning, I quickly realized that the variety of orders matched the variety of cookie cutters I did not have. With the business being so new, funds were very tight, but I was able to adapt by bending metal sheeting by hand into shapes needed for my orders. This took some trial and error and research, but I persevered and made many intricate shapes that I still have and use to this day! When Covid hit in early 2019, I did shut down orders for a few weeks, but after emailing back and forth with the local Health Department and at the urging of my clients, my husband and I built a “cookie cart” which adapted my pickup process to practice social distancing. Meeting my clients is a significant part of my joy, and it was very difficult to have that removed for too long. I genuinely love carrying out orders showing them to my clients, and seeing their reactions. There have been happy tears and hugs in my driveway with clients over wedding cookies or celebration of life cookies that mean so much to them. Now that I have a brick-and-mortar, I was able to get that interaction back with my clients, and I am truly grateful for that.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Bacha Cookies Bakery?
Bacha Cookies Bakery is a woman-owned and operated, small-batch, from scratch bakery. I specialize in beautifully decorated sugar cookies that have a unique and delicious flavor as well as massive bakery-style drop cookies. I make chocolate chip (my most popular) as well as oatmeal raisin (a close second and my personal favorite), double chocolate, sprinkle, chunky peanut butter, and my newest addition, M&M. I spend months honing all of my recipes before they are tested, tweaked if needed, and then released. The professional level of my artwork, the quality of my ingredients and recipes as well as my superior customer service are all business hallmarks, I am very proud of.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I am beyond blessed to have an amazing support group around me. I guess in life, as you age, you really get a feel for the type of person you want to be, and you tend to surround yourself with people whom help you achieve that vision. I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for my husband of 10 years, Christopher. He has been my rock not just in life but in my business as well. He has worn many hats, from business consultant and accountant to cookie taster, dishwasher, and hype man! My daughter, Avery whom is wise beyond her 8 years. She makes sure I am not too hard on myself with her words of encouragement and is always up for some hugs. My mother, Mari Ann, and father, Bill have also played a large role in the business, backing me up in any way they can. From bagging and labeling cookies during my holiday rushes to building my retail counters and doing dishes. I have also been training my mom to decorate. I get my artistic ability from her, so she has been picking it up quickly. My father, Bill, is where I got my ingenuity and problem-solving skills, which have allowed me to adapt to situations quickly. My amazing mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law have been an integral part of my success by watching Avery so that I could grow my business. To my sister-in-law, Melanie, who is an amazing hype woman and puts my name in the ring for every event her employer throws. To my older brother, William Jr. for dropping everything to drive to the shop and muscle in my new freezer and fridge because I couldn’t do it myself. To the many other family members and my core group of friends who have liked and shared my posts and supported my business, I thank you.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/bachacookiesbakery
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/bachacookies
- Email: Jen.bacha@gmail.com
- Phone: 3307876935
