Behind the pandemic at Annie's Signature Sweets

I work hard and I have been working extremely hard to keep and maintain this business with no business background. Sometimes, I get a lucky break and the rewards can be so sweet.

As the pandemic hit, I had to try my best no to PANIC! I had been teaching in person classes for 2 years and had a great start to 2020, having taught almost 40 classes by Mid March. My students loved the classes and came back often for more classes. I had a student attend more than 24 classes in one year and a lot of students that had attended more than half a dozen each.

My students brought friends, family and sometimes their co-workers for an event. The connection was unreal and the amount of fun and joy that took place in the Hildebrandt kitchen still helps keep these memories alive.

My students came eager to learn, with big smiles and jumped right in trusting me to guide them to make something their own in 2 hours.

As we are all well aware of what happened mid March, the world shutdown. I had left my part time job in October 2019 to focus solely on my business. For the last 3 1/2 years prior, I had juggled up to 3 part time Jobs while I was working on starting and running a business.

I had to think quickly and learn Zoom and start teaching on zoom. I needed to make sure the connection was still there and that my students would still find joy, patience and success in baking.

I never doubted my students, I doubted by ability to transition and keep this business alive, but that doubt helped push me forward.

That doubt helped me get myself out there fast, and figure it all out as I was learning.

2 weeks after my first virtual class, I found out I was published in Country Living Magazine. UMM WHAT? I had no idea. I was not contacted or interviewed so I had no clue they had featured me in the top virtual classes. This article not only brought me hundreds and thousands on new students, but it helped my confidence immensely.

People started signing up from all over the World and resigning up. It was and has been AMAZING!!

I have had some really LOW LOWS as a business owner and there is much more to sucess than an article, however, I truly believe this active helped save my business and I am forever grateful.

https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/a32089616/virtual-cooking-classes/

How did you find me?? Have you taken any classes? If not, I encourage you to sign up for these classes because I have the best students ever and we always have a great time making delicious treats from the safety of your own home.

Stay safe! See you soon.

xoxo

Annie