Story & Lesson Highlights with Jamie Garner of North Phoenix

We recently had the chance to connect with Jamie Garner and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jamie , thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
The thing that is most understood about my business is that the cookies are created overnight. I cannot begin to tell you the amount of emails I receive that want a turnaround of “next day”. While I am extremely grateful for every order request I receive, I am not a magician. These little works of art take time; and while I have gotten faster at producing them, I still have a work/life balance to factor in as well.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Jamie Garner and I run a certified cottage bakery from my home called Festively Frosted Cookie Co. I have always been a huge baker and after having my son, my husband and I decided that I would stop working to be able to stay home and raise our son. I became fascinated with cookie decorating videos and knew that I wanted to try it immediately! I became hooked! Unfortunately, in June of 2016, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and faced some set backs when it came to fine motor skills. Once I found the right medication I was able to get back on track and continue on my cookie dream. I started by making cookies for family and friends for holidays and our close friends daughter convinced me to open my own cookie business. Festively Frosted Cookie Co was born in November 2017. Every year I do this, I am amazed by the clients that find me. I get to express my creativity and create little works of art. I am so thankful for each and every client I gain. I have made lasting friendships with most of them as well. Not to mention, I love working for myself.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A moment that has shaped how I see the world was when I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. I was definitely more carefree prior to being diagnosed, however, I try to maintain a balance of finding joy in every day. I have found what works for my body and I make sure to take care of myself because if I don’t, I’m no good to anyone; especially my husband and son. The world is still a beautiful place to me, but I feel I move through the world with more compassion and empathy for others. You never know what someone is going through.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
The time I almost gave up was when I lost my fine motor skills on the right side of my body after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. It was so incredibly frustrating. I couldn’t type, hold a pen, write, or close my right eye on top of being a new mom. This goes without saying, but I definitely couldn’t hold or control a piping bag to decorate cookies. I have always prided myself on my resiliency but this almost broke me. My son played a huge part in me not throwing a pity party every day and was the main reminder of my purpose here on earth. I was able to work through the darkness of being diagnosed and the physical struggles and came out on the other side with a brighter outlook on life.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say integrity really matters to me. I try to show integrity and honesty in every aspect of my personal life, relationships, and especially in business. If you don’t have integrity, you don’t have anything in my opinion. I pride myself on making sure my customers are included in every aspect of the design process and stay in constant communication. A lot of businesses these days are really lacking customer service and I strive to make sure my customers feel important and taken care of.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
I feel I understand deeply what it feels like to move through life and run a business with a severely progressive neurological disease and still put on a “happy face.” I still am able to treat people with respect and integrity no matter how terrible I feel. I try to teach my son that it’s easy to be kind and nice when everything is going great, but the real test is how you treat others when things aren’t so great.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @festivelyfrostedcookieco
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/172KFdRrRP/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Other: TikTok @festivelyfrostedcookieco