Today we’d like to introduce you to Catherine Cramer.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I graduated from the University of Florida with a nursing degree. I thought from a young age that this was the path for me. Nursing was more of a plan, though than a dream, as I really didn’t have a career dream or a vision of what loving my work could look like. My love of baking and hospitality isn’t a new thing for me. It was modeled for me by my family and a part of my life for as long as I can recall.
As I was working the night shift, I began dreaming about turning this hobby and passion into a business. I worked this side hustle alongside my full-time nursing job until it grew and I was able to take Southern Home Bakery full time. This was very exciting but not glamorous. I was the baker, marketing person, delivery man and dishwasher. But I was pursuing something I love! The opportunity presented itself to acquire Cookie Cousins, a well-known cookie shop in College Park. Many of the Cookie Cousins staples are now a part of Southern Home Bakery, where our passion is to make hospitality easy and everyday special. We do this primarily through custom, decorated sugar cookies, perfect for a private party or just to brighten an afternoon. This dream of mine has evolved into a lively storefront and creative team of women that I call my friends.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The beginning was very hard when Southern Home Bakery was just a budding dream. There were plenty of doubts that I had but with each sale and every happy customer, the negative voices grew quieter and the hope of this dream increased. And as my business grew, the struggles just changed. There is no road map for owning a business and growing a team in your mid-twenties. It became clear that being intentional about the culture of Southern Home Bakery was as important as any other aspect of the business. This has taken time and effort but now getting to work with the most creative, hilarious, hard-working gals makes work an absolute joy!
We’ve been impressed with Southern Home Bakery, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At Southern Home Bakery, we are committed to making hospitality easy and everyday special. We do this through creating custom sugar cookies and nostalgic southern treats. These yummy desserts are available through pick-up at our storefront in College Park or through local delivery or nationwide shipping. We even have a subscription box, The Cookie Carton, that will ship right to your door with a variety of cookies decorated in a different theme every month. Our custom cookies are especially ideal for a private party or corporate event. We have hundreds of cookie cutters and can create a unique design for your guests with each cookie individually wrapped and tied with ribbon. We can even print a company logo onto the cookie, a favorite client gift.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I’ve never really considered myself a lucky person. Because of this, it isn’t really something I rely on much. I try to make wise decisions and work hard in pursuit of this dream of mine. I’m super grateful for open doors and opportunities and I try to make the most of them everyday.
Contact Info:
- Email: orlando@southernhomebakery.com
- Website: southernhomebakery.com
- Instagram: @thesouthernhomebakery
- Facebook: @southernhomebakery
- Other: @thesouthernhomebakery on Tiktok
