There are many students at Broad Run who started their own cookie businesses instead of looking for a job. One business that is a partnership business currently is Garda Goods, which is owned by Ava Gardner and Mika Malaespina. When you are walking in the hallways and in need of some cookies, they’ll have you covered.
Each student has their own stories on why they started their business. Many students wanted to use this opportunity to bake and make money instead of looking for employment, such as sophomore Ava Gardner. She said, “At the time, I was in need of employment, and I thought baking would be a good way to bring change around the community and a good way to put smiles on people’s faces.” Because of that desire, she opened up her own baking business called Garda Goods. This way, she could do what she loves and make a profit at the same time. After she started the business, she asked junior Mika Malaespina if she wanted to join her, and now, they run a business together.
Ava and Mika sell a variety of cookies, from simple everyday cookies to seasonal cookies. Mika explained how it worked saying, “We have three base sets, and then we have like a weekly swap of every cookie.” Ava said, “For our seasonal cookies, such as walnut’s spice, raspberry, and pink lemonade, we sell those for $3.75. For our usual flavors, like chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin, we sell those for $3.50.” Some of their other seasonal cookies are sweet mint split, half and half with chocolate mint, strawberry shortcake, and raspberry chocolate. The process that goes into these cookies is the ingredients are bought, baked, and hand packaged. Once these cookies are done, they are kept in the freezer, so they are ready when needed. However, they are not kept in the freezer for more than a couple of days because it should be as fresh as possible for customers.
Every business has best sellers and personal favorites. Their best seller as of this month of June is their chocolate chip cookie. Her favorite cookie flavor is walnut spice, and their customers’ favorite flavor, previously, from the winter was hot chocolate cookies. She explained, “It is a hot chocolate and chocolate base with marshmallows on top.” Mika’s favorite flavor is the chocolate chip cookie. Each business has a way to promote their business. They usually promote through their Instagram and TikTok accounts. Ava said, “I talk about it and have people spread the word about it.” This is also one of the ways she can promote her new flavors and how she gets new flavor recommendations. One flavor recommendation that she got was biscoff.
To conclude this, student run businesses like Garda Goods highlight the entrepreneur spirit at Broad Run High. By creating their business Ava and Mika have built a creative and profitable buisness. Through fresh products and promotion through their Instagram and TikTok, their success proves that fun and business truly do mix.
