University of Maryland alum David Botwick-Ries has a vision. His vision is fresh-baked cookies for all. “Mike and Cookies is revolutionizing the way cookies are done,” Botwick- Ries said. “They aren’t just advertised as fresh, but they come straight from their natural habitat, the oven, to you.”
For Botwick-Ries, the vision came before the business model. He wanted to share fresh baked cookies and felt that the only way to authentically do so was on-the-go, placing an oven on a truck.
The cookies will use nothing but the essential ingredients, says Botwick-Ries. According to the Mike and Cookies website the cookie flavors he will offer include Chocolate Chip Self-Efficookie, made with “Chocolate Chips & Confidence,”Kundalini Cluster Cookie, a combinations of “White Chocolate Chips, Cranberries, Almonds, Pecans & Awareness,” and Buddhascotch, “Butterscotch Chips, Cinnamon, Oats & Patience.”
Senior Operations and Marketing major Zahir Surmawala, and freshman year roommate of Botwick-Ries’, thinks making the cookies from real ingredients from scratch makes all the difference, but that Mike & Cookies is about more than that. “Aside from the cookie itself – which is delicious – the ethos behind Mike and Cookies is so positive,” Surmawala said.
Botwick-Ries is eager to join the already popular food truck movement that is growing in Washington D.C., but he is even more excited to create his own cookie following. He wants to give his audience a chance to slow down and enjoy the simple things in life. “What’s more simple than a fresh baked cookie,” Botwick-Ries commented.
Mike and Cookies is not just about distributing cookies, but sharing a fresh baked cookie experience. With each cookie, customers can expect a glass of milk, a smile and conversation. There will also be a chalkboard on the side of the truck where Botwick-Ries will share thoughts, quotes and community news. Customers will be able to add to the board and be a part of the interactive cookie experience.
In February 2011 Botwick-Ries was awarded $2,500 as the winner of the Pitch Dingman competition; a monthly business plan competition hosted by the Robert H. Smith School of Business’ Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship. After walking away with the Audience Choice Award at one of the previous competitions, Botwick-Ries was motivated to try again. His further developed business plan and of how and why his company would work won the judges over.
Recently, he aligned with business partner who has experience getting other ventures off the ground. “It’s nice having someone like him on my team. I’m still the one with the vision, but he’s helping the business grow into what it has potential to be,” Botwick-Ries said. Botwick-Ries and his partner are in the final stages of getting the business details in order and he is confident that “when the weather is cold and chilly Mike and Cookies will be providing warm, fresh cookies.”
The business is named after Botwick-Ries’ father, Mike, who has been the inspiration and emotional support behind the project. His father is an experienced baker and is familiar with the restaurant business. Although Botwick-Ries’ dad will not be on the truck in the beginning, Botwick-Ries hopes that he will be as the company grows.