Today we’d like to introduce you to Nandi Thompson.
Hi Nandi, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Nandi Thompson and I am the proud founder and owner of Nandi’s Gourmet Cookies! In 2020, at age 18, I started my business, graduated high school, and started college within the same year. During college, I was baking part-time while also being a student taking 4 to 5 classes a semester full-time.
In 2023, I successfully graduated early with honors (Magna Cum Laude) from Georgia State University! This year, 2024, will mark the 3rd year I have been in business. I started with just 5 types of cookies on my menu and I now have 20 flavors and counting!
My top specialty flavors are Red Velvet, Cookies n Crème & Caramel Peanut Butter Cup. I also accept special requests where a customer can ask me to make any type of cookie of their choosing. For example, peanut butter with white chocolate chips. I even added cookie cakes to my menu as well! I ship, deliver, and also meet customers with their orders. The furthest I’ve shipped is Europe!
My most recent endeavors have included attending events and festivals around Atlanta as a vendor, so I’m able to grow my business. In several of which, I have sold out! In October 2023, I had the amazing opportunity to participate in Dessert Wars after being selected out of hundreds of vendor applications!
Dessert Wars is a baking competition where award-winning judges and hundreds of people get to taste your product. This event features a wide array of desserts ranging from cupcakes, cookies, ice cream, and doughnuts. I aspire to get a food truck in the future so that Nandi’s Gourmet Cookies can be mobile. I want to inspire other young adults that anything is possible especially if you believe in yourself and do it!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The loving support I have received from my family, friends, and supporters has helped make my journey a smooth road. However, one of the struggles I’ve experienced in the past was balancing business life with school life.
I had to practice time management to resolve this obstacle. At times, baking can also be an obstacle in itself, whether your oven is too hot or not letting the butter soften enough. Every obstacle was a learning experience that I have pushed through.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Nandi’s Gourmet Cookies specializes in homemade cookies! I range from regular flavors to specialty flavors. Regular flavor examples: Chocolate Chunk, White Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Raisin. Specialty flavor examples: Red Velvet, Salted Caramel, Cookies n Crème and Churro.
The cookies can come in a half dozen (six cookies) or a dozen (twelve cookies). I also do custom dozens where you can choose two cookie choices. I also accept special requests where a customer can ask me to make any type of cookie of their choosing. For instance, a customer asked me to make a chocolate cookie with peanut butter icing and pretzels on top.
I am proud of how much my business has grown since I first started, I have met many people while being in business. What attracts people to Nandi’s Gourmet Cookies is how young I am and how I am solely running my business. Many people don’t believe that I do everything myself from making the cookie dough to baking to packaging and delivering the order.
A lot of work goes into a bakery business, but I still make sure I bake my cookies with extra love. I enjoy seeing the smile on customers’ faces and the excitement in their voices when they taste the cookies. As a young entrepreneur, I would advise others, especially young adults, to never give up no matter how hard it gets. There will be times when you fail, but that doesn’t mean it’s the end, you have to stick to your goal and you will be successful if you believe in yourself!
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I have been in Atlanta all my life, at 21 years old I still enjoy living here. Atlanta is diverse and a great city to start your business. There is always an event or festival going on where you can be a vendor and network, it’s also a fast-growing city.
Pricing:
- Regular half dozen- $10
- Regular full dozen- $18
- Specialty half dozen- $12
- Specialty full dozen- $22
- Custom dozen (2 cookie choices)- $25
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nandisgourmetcookiesllc?igsh=MTY3eWRuMng4dHYyaQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095326674871&mibextid=LQQJ4d
