Rising Stars: Meet Jennifer Schertz of Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Schertz.

Hi Jennifer, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always enjoyed baking, and used to help my mom and my grandma — both excellent bakers — as a child. As an adult working in the corporate world, baking was a hobby and my form of stress relief. I’d bring all my extras into work, and my co-workers used to ask me if I’d ever consider starting a baking business. The answer was always “no,” but knowing that other people enjoyed my creations was a feeling that stayed with me. In late 2019, I decided to leave my job to pursue freelance work in public relations and corporate communications, and decided that I’d start to do a little baking on the side and see if anything came of it. I always joke that my timing for such a big life change was terrible coming just as the Covid 19 pandemic was starting! While it was a difficult time to start a freelance career, the baking took off. It turns out cookies, made with a personal touch, were a great way to brighten people’s days during a difficult time. Within a year, I was a full-time baker and small business owner who found that my business could take as much time as I was able to devote to it. It’s hard to believe that was over six years — and many, many thousands of cookies — ago! I am so grateful for my clients who have supported me and helped bring this dream to life!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Being a solo business owner isn’t always easy, but I’ve always said I didn’t want to continue doing it if it ever stopped being fun!

I love the challenge of being my own boss and trying to grow strategically. However, it’s easy to let a home-based business take over your whole life. I’ve had to learn to set boundaries with my time.

Saying “no” to opportunities or orders can be hard, too. When you bear the responsibility for making sure your business is financially sound, it’s very easy to want to say “yes” to everything!

It’s also been challenging to learn how to do all of the things related to running a small business: marketing and sales, accounting, social media, customer relations, events, etc. There’s so much more to running a cookie business than just baking! Fortunately I’ve found that I really enjoy learning and doing most of those things too.

My biggest struggle is working alone. When I was part of a team in an office, I used to love brainstorming ideas with one another and collaborating to execute a project. But it can be lonely as a solopreneur. I’ve worked hard to build relationships (both virtual and in person) with other bakers like me in my area and around the country and belong to several communities where we can share ideas, problem-solve, and offer business advice to one another. I’ve also make some great friends within my local small business community — even if we’re making and selling different things, there’s a lot of camaraderie and support there too!

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I own and operate Jen’s Cookie Craft, which specializes in custom, classic and specialty cookies for all occasions. My signature item are my buttercream-iced sugar cookies, which can be made for any holiday or event. I also participate in farmers’ markets which feature my classic and specialty cookies. From everyday favorites like chocolate chip and snickerdoodles, to specialty cookies like margarita lime, s’mores, and pecan, toffee & sea salt, my goal is to make the best cookies you’ve ever tasted. Everything is baked from scratch, using quality ingredients, and lots of love! My goal is to help my clients celebrate the special people and moments in their lives, creating the sweetest memories.

What does success mean to you?
The Japanese concept of “Ikigai” — a reason for being — resonates strongly with me. It’s finding a balance of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can get paid for. When those four elements align, that’s success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mycustombakes.com/jenscookiecraft
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenscookiecraft