Cookie Giveaway Winners Announced!

Hi all,

Just want to thank everyone for entering the cookie giveaway. Almost 150 people entered! It was very difficult choosing the winners, but through very scientific methods (throwing names in a hat), we have come up with the 3 winners of the cookie sample boxes. And the winners are. . .

Farinaz G.

Rachael M.

Rachel O.

Again, thanks everyone for entering and stay tuned!

So Much To Do

The cookie raffle is officially over! Whew!! Now comes the hard part: picking the winners. We had over 120 entries, which for us is awesome. But now, I have to pare down 120+ entries to 3 winners. Not so easy. Nevertheless, I’m really excited to find out who wins.

In other news, Sheila+Sharon’s Cookies will be vending at Crafty Balboa’s Holiday event on December 5th. Can’t wait. Working on some new cookies just for the holiday season and also some cookie mixes. We’re also competing in the 8th Annual Taste of Success cook off/bake off hosted by the Philadelphia Development Partnership. We’re going to be presenting a brownie tapas trio.

New Etsy Listings Coming Soon

New listings on Etsy will be going up this week. Very excited to offer our cookies in 1/2 dozens, mixed 1/2 dozens (up to 2 flavors), and mixed dozens (up to 3 flavors). We’re also working on new flavors for Fall.

Variety Box of Cookies

We’re getting new labels for the cookies! Woo Hoo!! The labels were designed and printed by Jeanne of Button Divas. They’re very cute and I can’t wait until I get them. Will post pics once they arrive. Slowly, but surely we’re getting things done. We’ve also entered StartupNation’s Homebased 100 contest. If you get a chance, please stop by and vote for us in the Yummiest category.

Cookie Giveaway

Snickerdoodles and milk

In honor of Fall, Sheila+Sharon’s Cookies are going to be giving away 3 sample boxes of our fresh, handcrafted cookies. Each sample box will contain 3 of each of the following cookies:
Snickerdoodle
Chocolate Chip
Drunken Oatmeal Raisin
Peanut Butter
Chocolate Espresso
Pretzel Logic

3 Ways To Enter:

1. Post a comment to the Sheila+Sharon’s Cookies blog with your name and favorite cookie

2. Become a fan of Sheila+Sharon’s Cookies on Facebook with a comment on the wall with your favorite kind of cookie

3. Send an email to sheilaandsharonscookies@gmail.com with your name and favorite cookie

Giveaway ends October 19, 2009 with cookie sampler boxes being shipped the week of October 26.

Crazy Days Ahead

The speed dating event was postponed. I guess that’s for the best since I need to really focus on getting ready for the Punk Rock Flea Market on Saturday. Still not sure what I’m gonna make. I do know that I am not individually wrapping the cookies and brownies. Instead, I’ll be putting them in small chinese food containers with a Sheila+Sharon’s Cookies label on the front and our business card inside. That should save me a bit of time since I won’t have to individually wrap and label each item.

Cupcakes are still up in the air. I’m not really a cupcake baker. I can make cupcakes, but they’re not really my thing. Unfortunately, everyone loves cupcakes, so I guess I should make some. Plus, people really enjoyed my Walking on Sunshine cupcakes the last time I made them. Sure, I hadn’t made them in almost 3 years, and the cupcakes themselves were made from a box mix, but people still enjoyed them. Atleast the lemon curd was made from scratch. This time around I would make the cupcakes and frosting from scratch. Okay, I guess that means I’m making cupcakes.

3 or 4 kinds of cookies, brownies, a dozen cupcakes, a dozen krispie rice treats. I think that should be enough to last for 7 hours.

Punk Rock Flea Market

SUBJECT : COME VISIT ME AT THE PUNK ROCK FLEA MARKET THIS WEEKEND

MESSAGE BODY :

Saturday July 11th 9:00am AND Sunday July 12th 10:00am
At The Starlight Ballroom (460 N 9th Street – 9th & Spring Garden-ish)
All Ages / 21+ To Drink / $3 Entry Donation (Good for both days)

THE PUNK ROCK FLEA MARKET – TWO DAY SUMMER EDITION !

It’s that time again for the bi-annual (twice a year) PUNK ROCK FLEA MARKET. R5′s most popular reoccurring event/show/whatever (by far). They had over 4000 visitors and 100+ tables of old records, clothes, art, music, food, junk, bicycles, stereo equipment, instruments, automobiles, tools, posters, furniture, computers, skateboards and lots of other stuff this past February. It’s all going down at The Starlight Ballroom (right below 9th & Spring Garden Sts)

To meet the increasing demand of people wanting to sell their stuff at this – they have spread it out over two days. Each day will have entirely different sellers . Your admission donation is good for both days (so you can come in and out as many times as you would like over the weekend – In addition There will be much more room to shop compared to flea markets in the past

All proceeds raised will goto the purchase of necessary equipment and supplies to ensure that all ages shows continue to remain a reality at The First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia – mainly an annual payment for their liability insurance policy. Do not let the “name of the event” lead you to believe that it’s just punk records, clothes etc. – it’s a full on flea market with everything from furniture, to laptops / computers , to stereo equipment, to handmade apparel, to vegan treats, information from various non profit groups, book stores, artists selling their work, bicycles & skateboards and whatever else they can fit onto the ballroom floor at The Starlight Ballroom

In addition to the normal flea market stuff there will also be a full bar and food service kitchen to make the day go by a little faster as well as a rotating shift of WKDU DJs

TAKE A LOOK AT THE SELLERS LIST :
http://www.r5productions.com/prfm.html

Speed Dating, Punk Rock, and Cookies

I’m supposed to be going speed dating Thursday night. Supposed to be. The way things work out in my life, it’ll get cancelled at the last minute. So much for positive thinking, hunh?

Despite my negativity, I’m actually looking forward to the opportunity to meet new people. You never know, I might be able to meet a man and get some new customers out of the deal. Sneak some business cards on the low. Speed dating has nothing to do with cookies, but I always try to find a way to make pleasure and business connect. If I can’t get a date out of the deal, I might as well make some money, right?

Punk Rock Flea Market is on Saturday. I have not started baking yet. I still don’t know what I’m making. I know chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin are gonna make an appearance, but what else? Krispie rice treats? Cupcakes? Brownies? Also, how much do I make? I want to make enough items to last through the event, but not so much that I have to bring stuff back home with me.
Here’s what I’m thinking:
Chocolate Chip
Drunken Oatmeal Raisin
Snickerdoodle
Oatmeal Cranberry Chocolate Chip
Pretzel Logic
Brownies (plain and nut)
Walking on Sunshine Cup Cakes (?)
Coco Caramel Cup Cakes(?)
Krispie Rice Treats

That’s over 100 items. That’s a lot! I don’t think I’m making all of those, but it gives me something to work with.

What else is going on with me:

*I’m making cookies for Handmade Philly’s Art Beat Live event on August 15. Art Beat Live is an event where where people can come and work on their unfinished art projects with others. Think of it as study hall, but for artists and crafters. There’s also going to be music and workshops. I’m not really sure what I’ll do that day. Probably write in my journal or work on my business plan. The free workshop sounds cool, so I think I’ll check that out while I’m there.

* I was supposed to do cookies for a wedding, but that fell through. I won’t go into details, but let’s just say things didn’t work out.

*I’m doing a cookie tray here and there for my job. I appreciate them throwing some business my way, it means a lot.

*’Working on putting together my own montly event. The event would be in a different location each month and would raise money for a local or national charity/organization. I’m still working on the name, but I want the first event to be in September after school has started.

That is pretty much it for me.

Later

Decisions

I don’t know why I titled this post decisions when it’s actually a decision, but whatever. The point is that I have decided somethng and that’s all that matters.

I have decided to get back to the pure pleasures of baking. You see, I have no problem with BAKING, it’s the other stuff (marketing, phone calls to prospects, visits to prospects, etc) I have a problem with. I know those things are neccessary, but they’re a soul suck. They take me away from baking. I spend more time trying to get people to buy my cookies than actually baking them. That seems wrong to me. So, I’ve decided to focus my energies on events such as the Punk Rock Flea Market in July, farmers markets (if I can get into 1 or 2) and maybe an event or 2 at Philly Kitchen Share. Right now I’m interested in preserving my sanity.

To be honest, I don’t know how things are going to work out with this venture. All I know is that I want to get back to doing what I enjoy doing, which is baking.

Now that I’m free to concentrate on baking, I think I’ll make some cupcakes this weekend, along with the cookies I have to make for a job, and maybe (I said maybe) a cheesecake. I haven’t made cheesecake in a while. Would be good to make atleast one before the end of the year. Maybe I’ll fit in some tiramisu before my birthday. I’m definitely gonna work on the Cherry Bomb cookie this weekend, that’s a definite!

How To Be A Better Focus Group Participant

I know this is Sheila+Sharon’s Cookies and should be used to talk about our cookie business, but I thought I’d take a break from that and write about something I’ve had on my mind for a while. Some may or may not know that I work for a focus group facility in the Philadelphia area. I’ve been working there part-time off and on for over 3 years. I like my job. I get to meet interesting people and no 2 days are the same. Plus, I have the flexibility to work on the business when I’m not working there. Again, I like my job and the people I work with, but sometimes, the participants drive me crazy!

What is a focus group facility? Well, when a company wants to hold a focus group or discussion, we’re one of the facilities they can hold these at. We provide them with space, a client assistant, and anything else they may need. I am a receptionist/client assistant. I answer the phone, enter data, make copies, set up rooms with food and drinks, anything that needs to be done to make our clients and participants feel comfortable I do. I run around a lot. That’s great for me ’cause I couldn’t do the 9-5 thing. Been there, done that, wasn’t for me. This is about how to be a better respondent, so here goes:

1. Show up 15 minutes early! Why? Because sometimes there’s paperwork that needs to filled out. And food.

2. Bring picture ID. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a driver’s license or state ID, but I do need to something with your name and picture on it.

3. If you need glasses to read/see, bring them.

4. Get directions to our facility beforehand. Please don’t wait until you’re already in the car to figure out you don’t know how to get to our facility. Get your directions a head of time!

5. DO NOT piss off the person at the front desk. One of the fastest ways to be banned is to be rude/beligerent to me or someone else at the front desk. I realize that we all have bad days, but don’t take your bad day out on me. I work just like you do. Don’t make my job any harder.

5. DO NOT bring your children. Unless a study requires you to bring your kids, don’t. I’m not a babysitter or child care provider, and I don’t get paid to watch your kids.

6. DO NOT show up drunk or high. I don’t think I really need to go into that.

7. DO have a good relationship with soap and water. That’s my way of saying come in smelling clean. Again, I don’t think I really need to go into it.

8. DO have fun! You’re gonna be at our faciilty for awhile, so you might as well have fun. Chat with your fellow respondents and make a new friend.

I was trying for a list of 10, but only made it to 8, and that was a stretch. I think my next entry will be about how to get banned from a facility. I mentioned a few things, but there are others. So, stay tuned.

How Things Are Going

Lovin' Ihe Oven

Well, things are going okay. Not great, but not bad either. Okay. I would love to have more sales, but it is what it is for the moment. Between work and everything I have to do for the business, the slowness may actually be a blessing in disguise. I can work on marketing/promotions, and perfecting recipes without the pressure of getting a lot of orders out. I should actually just go ahead and enjoy this time, the calm before the storm. Once we get busier, and I know we will, I want to have everything in place. Our main cookies, a book of recipes in case we have to hire someone to help bake, and marketing materials. Maybe I’m just being overly optimistic with the whole “we’re going to get busier” thing, but hey you never know. Gotta dream BIG!