Page 10 - Allison's Magazine ~ Issue #99
P. 10

How do you think the industry
           has evolved?
           Traditionally, cookie cutters were
           handmade by tinsmiths out of scraps.
           They focused on simple shapes, such
           as biscuit cutters, stars, bells, and
           Christmas trees. As cookie cutters
           became industrialized, more shapes were
           introduced: numbers, letters, snowflakes,
           hearts, and the like. Today, our focus is
           on those who are looking for a trendy
           and well-thought-out shape to fit a
           specific party theme—the people who
           follow the cookie decorators on social
           media and want an elegantly decorated
           cookie to be the star of their event.


           What does it mean to have the
           cutters made in the United States,
                                               © Ann Clark Cookie Cutters          © Ann Clark Cookie Cutters
           and, more specifically, how has
           being based in Vermont shaped Ann
           Clark Cookie Cutters? What has the
           company meant to the Rutland area?  that it’s a design we need to make. Our   How has the response been to
           New England prides itself on quality   creative director ultimately makes the   offering customizable cookie
           Yankee craftsmanship. We see this in the   call and drives our design process. It’s a   cutters? What are some interesting                                 © Flour Box Bakery
           work ethic and the workmanship our   combination of researching market and   requests you’ve gotten?
           employees have. The Vermont business   design trends and listening to feedback.   Our custom cookie-cutter business is
           community has been very welcoming,                                      certainly welcomed by businesses and                                              first person to reach our table and take   memories for families. That touchpoint
           teaching us a tremendous amount about   What is your favorite cookie cutter?  organizations. We’ve developed over a                                       samples. To have our cookie cutters   we have is very heartwarming.
           how to run a world-class organization.   My personal favorite is a custom cookie   thousand custom projects, including   Today, our focus                 being used in the White House still
           We also live in a beautiful place with   cutter we made for Virginia Tech. My   custom cookie cutters of the Michelin    is those who are                 leaves us speechless.               What do you see for the future of
           access to great outdoor activities that our   daughter attends college there, and it   Man and the GEICO Gecko, as well   looking for a trendy                                                the company?
           employees can enjoy.                was very exciting to see a product we   as designing Egyptian hieroglyphics          and well-thought-                What is the holiday season like at   As cookie decorating has become
                                               made in her school bookstore.       and sports team mascots. We’ve worked            out shape to fit                 Ann Clark Cookie Cutters?           more and more popular, we always ask
           We try to share our success in the                                      with over a hundred universities as well,        a specific party                 From late summer to the week before   ourselves, “How do we make this easier
           community as much as possible by    What is the company’s best-selling   who sell them in their bookstores. One                                           Christmas, our facility can’t make or   and reach more people?” It is and always
           supporting local charities and being an   cookie cutter?                unusual request was a cardiology group           theme—the people                 ship cookie cutters fast enough. Each   will be about making cookie decorating
           active part of the state economy and   It has changed over the years. When we   who wanted an anatomical heart-shaped    who follow the                   year, we increase capacity and change   fun and easy for people everywhere.
           business culture. We even mentor start-  were primarily in the gift business, my   cookie cutter.                        cookie decorators                processes to make this period run   For more info, visit annclarkcookiecutters.com
           ups to give back to a place that has given   mom’s moose shape was very popular.                                         on social media and              smoother. We want to make sure that
           so much to us.                      The year the New Orleans Saints won   Who are some other notable people              want an elegantly                people who decide to have a cookie-
                                               the Super Bowl, the fleur-de-lis was   or institutions who have used or              decorated cookie                 making party the week before Christmas
           How do you ultimately decide        the best-selling shape. When we began   featured your cookie cutters?                to be the star of                can get our products quickly. The cookie
           on designs?                         selling to larger stores, the snowflake   Last year, we were asked to represent                                       cutters also make great gifts. There’s
           We encourage customers to tell us   took the lead. Today, with the increase   Vermont at the Made in America             their event.                     an element of thoughtfulness to giving
           what they want. The more requests   of online sales, the number ‘one’ has   Product Showcase at the White House.                                          the gift of making cookies because
           we get, the more obvious it becomes   proven to be very popular.        The White House pastry chef was the                                               you’re helping to create happy holiday




           8 | AMERICAN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE                                                                                                                                                                               americanlifestylemag.com | 9
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