Deborah Tuggle is the Owner and President of Bite Me! Cookies, a manufacturer of clean-label and high-indulgent cookies that sell for wholesale and retail. Deb’s first bakery, Friday’s Cookies, was an ode to her college days when she sold homemade cookies on campus every Friday. In 2004, Deb purchased Bite Me! Inc., merging the two brands under the moniker Bite Me! Cookies. The cookies are sold in popular stores, including Whole Foods, Albertsons, and Kroger. In addition to running a successful business, Deb is a community leader, small business advocate, and motivational speaker.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
- Deb Tuggle shares how selling cookies in college launched her into a career in baking
- Where can the public purchase Bite Me! Cookies?
- The downside of partnering with other brands
- How faith plays an integral role in Deb’s business decisions
- Empowering the community through job creation
- Scaling the business through product diversification
In this episode…
If you’ve identified your exceptional talent, you can consider yourself fortunate. Many people waste time and money trying to learn what they excel in. Even after discovering unique skills, it doesn’t guarantee you’ll be able to monetize them or find joy in the work.
When bakery owner Deb Tuggle mastered a delicious cookie recipe, she decided to sell them to supplement her income. Without a business degree, business plan, or culinary education, she decided to live her purpose and create a cookie business. Before scoping out a location and applying for a small business loan, she realized she needed to learn the business from experts. Fast forward, Deb now owns one of the most successful cookie companies in the US.
In this episode of the Celebrity Gourmet Podcast, Odette D’Aniello interviews Deb Tuggle, Owner and President of Bite Me! Cookies, to talk about her journey as a small business owner. Deb discusses how she got started in the cookie business, the disadvantages of partnering with brands, how faith guides her business decisions, and empowering the community through job creation.
Resources Mentioned in this episode
- Celebrity Cake Studio
- Dragonfly Cakes
- Odette D’Aniello on LinkedIn
- Email Odette D’Aniello: Odette@CelebrityGourmet.com
- Deb Tuggle on LinkedIn
- Bite Me Cookies
- Natalie Bleifuss on LinkedIn
- Katie Poppe on LinkedIn
- Olga Sagan on LinkedIn
- Marlene Goetzeler on LinkedIn
- Patti Stobaugh on LinkedIn
- Megan Wagstaff on LinkedIn
- Bronwen Weber on LinkedIn
- Becky Palermo on LinkedIn
Sponsor for this episode…
Today’s episode is brought to you by Celebrity Cake Studio, a family-owned and operated cake boutique.
Celebrity Cake Studio has been baking joy into all of their artistically designed cakes and desserts for 21 years.
They are proud to work with a vibrant team of cake designers and bakers that help you celebrate the sweet moments in your lives.
They have received numerous awards, winning Best of Western Washington for many years in a row and various small business accolades.
To learn more about how you can celebrate yourselves or the ones you love, visit www.celebritycakestudio.com or email them at info@celebritycakestudio.com.