Meet Julie Gordon | Custom Cookie Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Julie Gordon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Julie, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I think any small business owner would tell you that creating work life balance is a learning experience. When I first started selling cookies I was terrified to turn down any order, regardless of how booked I already was. Eventually I realized that saying “yes” to that last minute order meant saying “no” to my family. The whole reason I started my own business was to be more available to my family than I was when I was working full time outside of my home, so I knew that something had to change. I now set firm boundaries and I stick to them, regardless of how hard it is for me to turn down an order or refer it to another baker. I am so much happier now that I am still running a successful business but also taking the time to spend with my family and put them first!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
When I first learned to make decorated cookies by taking a Cookie School class, I only planned to make them for my kids’ birthdays and class parties. Honestly, the first time I ever did it I thought it was way too much work and I never wanted to do it again! About a year later I decided to try again for my daughter’s birthday and suddenly I loved it. I have never been one to do anything halfway, so I wanted to learn every technique I could and I practiced nonstop. It definitely was not easy…there were a ton of ugly cookies along the way! With every failure I learned to make adjustments to my technique. While I’ve definitely come a long way from where I started, I’m still learning all the time.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh this is a fun one! First I’d take them to downtown Monroe. I love going to The Story Shop, Scoops, the antique stores, Pot Luck Cafe, and stopping by the hammock park. For a nice dinner out, I’d have to take them to Bistro Off Broad in downtown Winder. It is our favorite date night spot! My family and I also love getting ramen from Umaido in Suwanee and stopping by H-Mart while we are in the area.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ve had so much help along this journey! My biggest supporters have been my husband and my mom. They have always believed I could do this, even when I wasn’t sure. There is absolutely no way I could have been successful in building my business without their help and encouragement! I would also like to give credit to Heather and Corrie Miracle for starting the Sugar Cookie Marketing Group on Facebook. They have been instrumental in helping so many bakers, including myself, learn the business side of this industry.

Website: https://juliebeansbakeshop.com/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/juliebeansbakeshop

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliebeansbakeshop/

Image Credits
Amanda Seawright with Amanda Lynn Photography