DŌ, Cookie Dough Confections | Kristen Tomlan | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Entrepreneur shares her journey from launching an online cookie dough business to opening a brick-and-mortar store, facing challenges and success, and expanding her brand.

Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING] SPEAKER: Welcome, everyone. Today we are excited to welcome the founder and CEO of DO Cookie Dough Confections, Kristen Tomlan. Welcome. KRISTEN TOMLAN: Thank you. SPEAKER: In 2014, Kristen decided to officially launch DO, as she uncovered a market of cookie dough lovers in the world just like herself. The increase in demand soon pr... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥰 Kristen Tomlan shares a personal story of her childhood love for cookie dough and baking, inspiring her entrepreneurial journey.
• 💡 The success of DO Cookie Dough Confections is attributed to Kristen's passion for the product, innovative ideas, and customer engagement.
• 👨‍💼 Kristen's transition from a traditional career to entrepreneurship involved gradual steps, reducing her consulting work to focus on her growing business.
• 😀 Facing challenges like production demands and workforce expansion, Kristen's determination and focus on quality helped her navigate the difficulties.
• 🗞️ The launch of new products like baking kits and pop-ups demonstrate Kristen's commitment to brand expansion and staying relevant in a competitive market.
• ❓ Kristen's approach to fad skepticism involves understanding the emotional connection customers have with her product and continuously innovating to remain relevant.
• 🤩 Innovation, customer feedback, and nostalgia play a key role in Kristen's strategy to keep DO Cookie Dough appealing to a broad audience.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Kristen Tomlan transition from her brand consulting job to full-time entrepreneurship with cookie dough?

Kristen gradually reduced her consulting work to focus more on her business, finally making the decision to commit fully to DO Cookie Dough as it grew in success and demand.

Q: How does Kristen handle skepticism about her cookie dough concept being a fad and staying relevant in the market?

Kristen acknowledges the history and popularity of cookies while focusing on innovation and customer feedback to keep her brand fresh, relevant, and appealing to a wide audience.

Q: How does Kristen maintain the balance between traditional recipes and reinventing cookie dough to make it a unique and modern product?

Kristen draws inspiration from traditional family recipes while adapting them to be safe to eat raw and bakeable, creating a nostalgic yet innovative product loved by customers of all ages.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Kristen Tomlan, founder of DO Cookie Dough Confections, shares her journey of starting as an online business and expanding to a physical store in NYC.

• The idea stemmed from Kristen's love for cookie dough and the experience of sharing homemade treats with family and friends.

• Despite challenges and doubts, Kristen's business thrives through innovation, customer feedback, and expanding offerings like baking kits and pop-ups.