Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Shahira Marei, CEO of Dirty Cookie, located in Irvine, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Dirty Cookie is the future of edible gifting. The last addition to this space was chocolate-covered strawberries. Dirty Cookie is fun, unique, and experiential. My customers are people who love to make a lasting impression when sending a gift.
Tell us about yourself
It's not about baking. I'm the furthest person from your typical Betty Crocker. In fact, in my past life, I was an aerospace project manager. Dirty Cookie was born from the desire to turn something small into something meaningful. It was born from my personal aspiration to change lives.
When I was ten years old, on vacation in Egypt, I witnessed the devastation of hunger and homelessness firsthand. I was shocked that children my age were living on the streets, that they were deprived of basic food and shelter. I begged my father to give them money. He conceded, but not before engraving the single most important statement I would hear to date. "If you really want to help them, give them jobs, not money." It was monumental enough for me to decide to build a company. One that I vowed would be centered around the people I employ.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I take pride in going through unimaginable challenges and never giving up, and always finding a way.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The uncertainty every day is a new challenge, and even when things are going well, you never know what's around the corner.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Talk to people who have done what you want to do and get their advice and lessons learned.
- Network and build connections.
- Mentally prepare that it will be hard, but as long as you persevere, you will make it.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.thedirtycookieoc.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedirtycookieoc/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedirtycookieoc/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dirtycookieoc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahira-marei-a609b319/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.