Exploring Life & Business with Alexandra Sommer of Loli B Bakery

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra Sommer.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
A few years ago, I graduated from culinary school; I was completely burnt out and done with the idea of anything involving baking. Throwing away the idea of my business was hard but I eventually found my way back on the right path. I couldn’t give up the dream or let down my younger self. With our name constantly changing, I looked at my two dogs and the rest was history.

Lola and Bandit were always by my side when I baked morning, noon, or night, and it just made sense to name the Bakery after them. I knew I wanted the world to feel like they were at my family’s dinner table, laughing and swapping stories over their favorite desserts. Each dessert should make you feel like you are receiving a warm hug from someone special. Sharing my family recipes is like sharing a piece of my heart.

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 has not been a smooth road, but I think that’s life. If you think that life is a straight path then you are dreaming. Like I said before this business had a million different names and concepts. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to bake anymore maybe I wanted to switch careers, and be something else. I knew deep in my heart that baking was something I was passionate about and found myself doing in times of stress and happiness.

I struggled with the feeling of am I good enough. Will my business make it? Will people like me and my products? How will anyone find me? Sometimes you just need to throw caution to the wind and have a little faith, there a days when I feel empowered and there are days when I pick myself apart. Starting a business is not easy but having the right people cheering you on makes it all worth it, you just have to start and see where the winding road takes you.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Loli B Bakery?
Loli B Bakery is a part of me, the dream began as a cupcake shop when I was in middle school. It wasn’t until college that I started baking for customers. Before the pandemic, I had a shop on Etsy, it was a slow start. I gained momentum in 2020 because people wanted to ship for the holidays to their loved ones. I love the idea of being able to ship anywhere in the world, just to show someone you are thinking of them.

That’s why I think Loli B Bakery is so special because we aren’t one location we are one click away! If you go on the website, you will find a bunch of different unique cookies and one specialty cupcake, that is only for people in Colorado. I think all of our baked goods are unique, I can’t just pick one. I do know that customers love our chocolate chunk cookies and our Italian Jelly Cookies. If you look at our social media page you will find a special Italian cookie that you can custom order. Brand-wise, I am really proud of the work we do for St. Andrew’s Church.

They gave me the opportunity to showcase my bread-making skills, and if you were interested in becoming a member they give you a loaf of bread baked by us! We have baked special cupcakes for many events, which I love doing, cupcakes are harder to ship, usually we get to showcase local which is awesome! I have always been a believer in giving back, and paying forward! To be able to work with St Andrew’s has been something I am very proud of.

Loli B is a family-based business, my sister works on the marketing and invoicing, and my mother helps package all of our treats, I wanted to leave a legacy and make my family proud.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have growing up.
Growing up you could always find me in the kitchen, usually being a sous chef or doing homework. My mom always baked apple crumb pies for the holidays for people she worked with or family members. I loved being in the kitchen with my mom and sister because it was a chance to just be together. We would listen to music and talk about our day, my sister and I would sneak tastes of the apple pie filling, and get to help make the crumb topping.

Harry Conick Jr’s Christmas album When My Heart Finds Christmas would be blasting from the stereo, I can literally smell the cinnamon as I write this. The pie making is really what triggered my love of baking, I got time with my family and we got to give pies to people and put smiles on their faces. I remember just wanting to make people happy through cooking/baking… maybe that’s why you can always find me in the kitchen.

Pricing:

• Cookies Usually Range from $25-35 dollars. Custom orders vary.
• Special Italian Cookies are $40 per pound.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.Lolibbakery.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lolib_bakery/?hl=en