Throughout the year, team members across our family of brands are busy cooking up new flavors, products, and services for our customers. This includes the new buttercream-frosted pumpkin spice cupcake and buttercream-frosted hot cocoa brownie from Cheryl’s Cookies!
And, just in time for the fall and holiday seasons, Cheryl’s Cookies has brought back fan favorites such as the pumpkin chocolate chip cookie, frosted pumpkin latte cookie, and buttercream-frosted s’mores cookie!
At the helm of these delicious product innovations is Michelle Speaks, Senior Merchandise Manager at Cheryl’s Cookies. We caught up with Michelle (who recently celebrated her 25th anniversary at the brand!) to learn more about her role and how she brings tasty new offerings to life.
Q: Tell us a bit about your role and what you do at Cheryl’s Cookies.
A: As Senior Merchandise Manager, I am responsible for the overall innovation and creation of the merchandise gift assortment that balances price points, trends and profit goals. I work with many cross functional partners to bring products to market through influence with packaging design, flavor profiles, sales projections and production assembly, to be sold and marketed through a variety of sales channels and promotions.
Q: What is the most rewarding thing about your role?
A: The most rewarding thing about my role is being supported by a company and team members that allow my influence to have a direct impact on running the business.
Q: What do you love about the new fall and Halloween products?
A: I love our new Pumpkin Spice Cupcake for fall that just launched this month!
Q: What do you enjoy most about working at Cheryl’s Cookies?
A: What I love most about working at Cheryl's Cookies has always been the people. Our company culture is very family oriented, and we all take care of each other and have a lot of fun working together. I also enjoy and appreciate the work-life balance that it provides for our employees.
Q: What is your favorite product from the brand?
A: My favorite product is the Pecan Pie Bar. It is only offered during the Fall/Holiday season and tastes just like you're eating a piece of pecan pie. It's a MUST to try if you haven't already tasted it.
Q: What is your personal motto?
A: My personal motto that I live by is to "always do the right thing". If I'm ever put in a tough situation or seem torn between choices, I remind myself to answer through the lens "What would be the right thing to do?" and that moral compass always guides me to then easily decide. You can never live with the regret of making the wrong choice when choosing the path of doing the right thing and doing right by people.
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