Today we’d like to introduce you to Sidney Stubbs
Hi Sidney, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always been a fan of baking and would often make sweets for my friends and family. At the start of 2022, my friend Ambré Boroughs reached out about a market she was putting together that needed a dessert vendor. She asked if I could make some baked goods to sell and I said yes! I got a business license and showed up at the Park Circle Spring Roll Challenge with WAY too many cookies – like several hundred cookies, I was a little overzealous! Despite not selling most of these, I had so much fun at the event and learned a ton about how markets work!
Then in early 2023, I was laid off by the startup I worked for and suddenly had an abundance of free time. I started baking more imaginative cookies, rebranded, and applied for another market in March. This time, I showed up with a reasonable amount of cookies and a more refined setup and we sold out in just a few hours! From there, I started doing other markets and pop-ups and I have continued ever since!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The last year has been so fun and rewarding, but each market is a learning experience. Every market has a different audience and the amount of traffic can vary greatly – I have had some markets where I sell out in 2 hours, and some that leave me with half my stock at the end! My goods are perishable, so I know that any left at the end will go into the trash. (Actually, I give them out to other vendors at the end, but I do lose money on those!) To help with this, I have learned to visit a market a few times before vending there so that I can get an idea of how many cookies to bring.
I also make all of these in my home. My oven can only hold 2 trays of cookies at once, so it takes a lot of planning! I work a regular 9-5 job during the week, so I make a monthly ‘doughing and baking schedule’ to help me stay on track. I prefer to bake the cookies as close to the due date as I can so that they are as fresh as possible, so the night before a market I typically start around 6pm and bake through the night!
One thing that has helped it all go more smoothly is the other vendors! I did not expect the vendor community to be so welcoming. Everyone I have met is so quick to share tips and help out – there is such a great sense of community among the vendors that has made the markets so much more enjoyable!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a home baker specializing in cookies and sweets. I was a Little Debbie fiend as a kid, so many of my items are based on my favorite nostalgic treats! Some of my most popular menu items are oatmeal cream pies, cosmic brownies, and pop-tart cookies. I also do a lot of decorated sugar cookies, but rather than the usual royal iced sugar cookies I make soft, cakey cookies decorated with buttercream. (They are based off of Lofthouse cookies, so another childhood-inspired treat!) I try my hardest to make everything look and taste good – I want people to think they are ‘good ones’!
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Does the Great British Bakeoff count as an educational resource? I have always loved to watch cooking shows – I grew up watching ‘30 Minute Meals’ by Rachel Ray and I still fantasize about taking over for her one day. (SS, Sidney Stubbs, could be the new RR! My DMs are open, Food Network!)
Otherwise, I find it helpful to take intentional breaks from baking to keep me from burning out. Though I often fail at this and take last-minute orders, I try to set aside days or evenings where I can do other things to help me keep up with my hobbies outside of baking!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodonesbakeshop/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092430485166
