Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill Harp.
Hi Jill, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been baking as soon as I was old enough to stand on a chair next to my mom – dusted in flour and smeared with chocolate. Food has always been an important piece of my family and recipes have been handed down through generations. Creating something delicious from scratch coupled with tradition is what captured my attention as a young girl and helped my passion grow.
The Little Chip was born from an obsession with chocolate chip cookies and a lot of faith. After my husband and I suffered our second miscarriage I was looking for ways to get my “happy” back. I needed to ground myself and I realized that baking was that avenue for me. I had always dreamed of owning my own bakery one day, but in my head, it was just a distant fantasy. Once I learned that I could open a cottage bakery out of our home, I knew that was my starting point.
It was scary and exciting all at the same time to put myself out there and start my business. It’s been a labor of love and a constant work in progress, but I’m so proud of how far it’s come in the 6 years I’ve been in operation. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my wonderful husband and my closest support system of individuals.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s always a struggle with marketing and social media nowadays. For the longest time, I was trying to beat the algorithm and figure out how to get my content in front of people. Now I just concentrate on creating content that fits my brand and let it speak for itself. Word of mouth has been huge for me and, thankfully, my customers share their experiences and have been so supportive online that it creates this wildfire effect now.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
By day I’m a full-time Administrative Assistant in the Powersports Industry, and I actually run The Little Chip in the tiny pockets of time in between that and being a wife and mother of two. The Little Chip specializes in drop cookies with classic flavors like Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal, and Snickerdoodle. I also throw some fun twists in there like Monster Cookies and offer season specials.
I love that nostalgic feeling of having a cup of coffee with some bakery in the morning, so I also offer coffee shop treats like donuts, sweet breads, and scones. I run a from-scratch bakery so everything is made to order. Nothing is ever frozen or made in advance. My focus is to evoke feelings of comfort every time you eat one of my cookies or bakery items. I take a rustic approach with an emphasis on flavor, and I think that really sets me apart from others.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I’m not sure if I believe in “good luck or bad luck.” I think our lives are a series of choices and consequences. I like to think I’ve made smart choices when it comes to how I run my business, and in turn, it’s been profitable year after year with immense growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thelittlechipcookieco.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/thelittlechipcookieco/
- Facebook: Facebook.com/thelittlechipcookie
Image Credits
Jen Madison Photography
