Today, we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Riggins.
Hi Rachel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Starting Long Dog Cookie Company was honestly an accident! I am a full-time nurse, and I have been since 2015. For our work Christmas party in 2018 I wanted to contribute something and had seen a picture in a magazine of these cute decorated sugar cookies. I thought to myself, “Surely I can make those! How hard can it be?!” And it turns out it was very hard, haha!
The cookies were cute enough, but I realized how much work was involved in creating custom cookies. I guess people liked the cookies enough to reach out and ask me to make cookies for their events here and there. When I look back at my first sets of cookies, I simultaneously cringe and feel a sense of pride for the progress I have made. I continued to make cookies sporadically throughout the years. 2020 the pandemic happened, and I decided I was needed in other states.
I quit my nursing job in Nashville and, within two weeks, moved to NYC to work in a hospital there and help out with COVID. I continued my travel nurse journey for the next 2.5 years across the country but kept making cookies during the periods I was home between assignments. Over the years, the cookie gig became a bigger deal, and I realized that I had somehow accidentally succeeded in starting my own small business.
Long story short… I finally hung up my travel nurse hat and moved back to Nashville full-time last year… and the rest, they say, is history.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Oh gosh, no! It has been challenging but very rewarding. I think the biggest daily challenge is balancing my personal life, my “real” job as a nurse, and my cookie business.
I am a one-woman show, and I do everything by myself, from start to finish! As much as I LOVE creating cookies for as many people as I can, I have had to honor my limitations and realize I can’t possibly say yes to everything.
Also, taxes… like, who in the world is just born with the knowledge of doing small business taxes lol!
That was a struggle.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I run a small business that specializes in custom sugar cookies for any occasion! Although the name has “long dog” in the title, these cookies are very much for humans! I just happen to have two mini dachshunds who inspired the name back in 2018 when I had no idea the business would take off! I create hand-iced and designed royal icing sugar cookies that can truly be a part of any celebration.
From graduations to weddings, to restaurant openings and CD releases… I’ve done it all! I love being able to create cookies that are unique and add a personal touch to an event. I run this business by myself and make everything from scratch. It is tiring and labor-intensive, but it’s worth it when you see the final product. I am determined to make cookies that are 1. gorgeous 2. tasty and 3. affordable. I offer cookies in a variety of price ranges so that everyone can have a little something special!
Cookie decorating is no joke… and while I *could* charge $10/cookie… I just can’t justify charging that! I also offer mini cookies and printed cookies (yes! edible ink-printed cookies!) that are even more affordable. I also am known for being ok with taking more wild cookie design requests… especially for our bachelorette ladies out there!
I think something that sets me apart from others is that I am basically a Nashville native… been here since early childhood! I briefly lived in Florida when I was very young, but I call Tennessee home. There are so many transplants here, which is great! But there is something to be said about being from here and watching the city grow to the size it is today!
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
This is a tough one… it sounds so boring… but honestly probably the nights of playing flashlight tag with all of my friends. And then night swimming after!
Also, maybe the time my friends and I snuck out to go to McDonalds for a McFlurry and got pulled over because we were past the curfew for 16-year-old drivers, haha! Those were the days.
Pricing:
- Printed dozen: $50
- Base Price Decorated Dozen: $60
- Base Price Mini dozen: $30
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/longdogcookiecompany/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/longdogcookiecompany/
- Other: https://form.jotform.com/241064201834143
