1 hr 35 min
1. Vicki Kotris | Cleveland Cookie Dough Company (edible cookie dough) The Founder
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- Entrepreneurship
Vicki Kotris is the Co-Founder and CEO of Cleveland Cookie Dough Company & Remixx (launching summer 2020).
When she wasn't satisfied with the monotony of corporate America, she turned to entrepreneurship to satisfy her creative endeavors. On a trip to New York City with her husband Steve in 2018, Vicki discovered edible cookie dough and instantly knew it would be a hit in her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.
What started out as a passion project has since seen tremendous growth and excitement throughout Ohio. Vicki and her team now have a bright pink food truck, pop-up shop and several exciting brand collaborations in the works. As if that wasn't enough, Vicki is taking another step towards dessert domination in 2020 with Remixx, a next generation ice cream storefront that makes custom soft-serve McFlurry type goodness.
Tune in to hear Vicki's inspiring story and leave a review!
EPISODE TOPICS:
(9:15) Where did the spark for the idea come from? (14:42) How were you affected by self-doubt? (16:38) How did you think about sharing your idea vs keeping it secret? (19:08) What was the process to come up with your first prototype? (22:08) How did you think about getting consumer feedback on your early products? (25:54) How did you start acquiring your early customers? (33:45) How do you think about the product roadmap? (36:31) How are you thinking about your brand evolving over the next 10 years? (37:24) What's different in building Cleveland Cookie Dough (food truck) vs Remixx (brick and mortar)? (39:34) How are you diversifying resources between multiple businesses? (44:58) How did you think about marketing? (50:09) How do you think about competition? (55:39) How did you think about funding the business early on? (1:02:43) What do you look for in people you hire? (1:08:24) Who were the key mentors that have helped you along the way? (1:13:24) What are the biggest struggles you faced early on and what would you have done differently? (1:15:32) What do you know now that you wish you knew? (1:17:15) What are your biggest challenges right now? (1:20:01) What have you had to sacrifice? (1:24:08) What would you say to someone having a quarter-life crisis? (1:30:33) Vicki's startup manifesto (1:33:44) Vicki's founder nomination
Cleveland Cookie Dough Company - www.clecookiedough.com
Follow Cleveland Cookie Dough (@clecookiedough) on Instagram // Twitter Follow Vicki on LinkedIn // Instagram Vicki's learning and resource recommendations
The Founder - www.thefounderpod.com
Follow The Founder (@founderpodcast) on Instagram // Twitter // LinkedIn // Facebook Don't have time to listen to the full episode? Read the 5-minute version here
Vicki Kotris is the Co-Founder and CEO of Cleveland Cookie Dough Company & Remixx (launching summer 2020).
When she wasn't satisfied with the monotony of corporate America, she turned to entrepreneurship to satisfy her creative endeavors. On a trip to New York City with her husband Steve in 2018, Vicki discovered edible cookie dough and instantly knew it would be a hit in her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.
What started out as a passion project has since seen tremendous growth and excitement throughout Ohio. Vicki and her team now have a bright pink food truck, pop-up shop and several exciting brand collaborations in the works. As if that wasn't enough, Vicki is taking another step towards dessert domination in 2020 with Remixx, a next generation ice cream storefront that makes custom soft-serve McFlurry type goodness.
Tune in to hear Vicki's inspiring story and leave a review!
EPISODE TOPICS:
(9:15) Where did the spark for the idea come from? (14:42) How were you affected by self-doubt? (16:38) How did you think about sharing your idea vs keeping it secret? (19:08) What was the process to come up with your first prototype? (22:08) How did you think about getting consumer feedback on your early products? (25:54) How did you start acquiring your early customers? (33:45) How do you think about the product roadmap? (36:31) How are you thinking about your brand evolving over the next 10 years? (37:24) What's different in building Cleveland Cookie Dough (food truck) vs Remixx (brick and mortar)? (39:34) How are you diversifying resources between multiple businesses? (44:58) How did you think about marketing? (50:09) How do you think about competition? (55:39) How did you think about funding the business early on? (1:02:43) What do you look for in people you hire? (1:08:24) Who were the key mentors that have helped you along the way? (1:13:24) What are the biggest struggles you faced early on and what would you have done differently? (1:15:32) What do you know now that you wish you knew? (1:17:15) What are your biggest challenges right now? (1:20:01) What have you had to sacrifice? (1:24:08) What would you say to someone having a quarter-life crisis? (1:30:33) Vicki's startup manifesto (1:33:44) Vicki's founder nomination
Cleveland Cookie Dough Company - www.clecookiedough.com
Follow Cleveland Cookie Dough (@clecookiedough) on Instagram // Twitter Follow Vicki on LinkedIn // Instagram Vicki's learning and resource recommendations
The Founder - www.thefounderpod.com
Follow The Founder (@founderpodcast) on Instagram // Twitter // LinkedIn // Facebook Don't have time to listen to the full episode? Read the 5-minute version here
1 hr 35 min