Today we’d like to introduce you to Ali Palmer.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ali. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My parents started the company together in the early 1980’s. As a family owned and operated business, my sister and I always tried to pitch in as much as we could, whether that meant building gingerbread houses on the weekends, or packaging up shipments after school.
So though we occasionally pitched in while growing up, our parents encouraged us to explore what other career opportunities were out there before we decided whether or not Gingerbread was going to be our future. They were very supportive of us getting an education and getting experience outside of this company.
Ultimately my sister decided on a career in medicine (but of course still roofs the occasional gingerbread house!), and I decided to return to Gingerbread to help run the business with my family. I have a background in digital marketing and communications, so my first position back with the company was re-establishing our online presence, and updating some aging order fulfillment systems.
Now that I’ve been back with the company a few years, I’m starting to work more on operations and business development, while my mother starts to transition to her well-deserved retirement.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Owning a small business is anything but a smooth road.
Our biggest hurdle came in 2013 when my dad passed away unexpectedly. He was the brains and muscle behind our operation; the foundation for everything. With the help of our incredibly dedicated staff, we were able to keep the business running while we figured out a long-term solution. Now that we’ve had time to adjust to this new and unfortunate situation, we’re ready to keep on growing and challenging ourselves with new endeavors. We all try to make him proud every day.
Every other hurdle we’ve encountered since has seemed relatively easy in comparison. If we could make it through that very challenging time, we can handle anything together.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Gingerbread Construction Co. – what should we know?
We’re a family owned and operated bakery located just north of Boston. We got our start making gingerbread cookies and gingerbread houses, but have become most well-known for our gourmet muffins and cookies. We have several decadent varieties including our signature gingerbread muffin filled with cream cheese icing, and strawberry shortcake filled with fresh strawberries and whipped creme. We also carry gourmet spins on classic flavors like blueberry, chocolate chip, and lemon poppy seed.
We use only the finest, freshest ingredients, including Lindt chocolate in all of our gourmet cookies. And though our bakeries have grown incredibly over the past 35+ years, we still bake and produce like we’re a small kitchen, making fresh batches throughout every day.
We’re most proud of our incredible staff – the care they put into every batch they make, finish, and serve is unmatched. We’re also very proud of the customer base we have built. We could not run this business without our loyal customers who stop in and help spread the word about our company.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
As a business, our most important quality is our consistency. We make every effort to ensure customers have the same, excellent experience every time they come into one of our stores, or receive a shipment in the mail.
As a person, my most important characteristic is that I’m a pretty even blend of both of my parents. My dad was data and numbers driven, business focused, creative and formed these really incredible, well-respected relationships throughout the food & beverage industry. He never settled for anything less than perfection, and had very high-standards. My mom is a much softer, people person who focused on building a strong culture here. She knows how to persevere in difficult situations. You need ALL of these qualities to run a business. I try to emulate both of their business styles as best I can.
Pricing:
- Muffins – 4 for $9.99, 6 for $14.99, 12 for $29.98
- Gourmet Cookies – $14.99/lb
- Muffin Loaves – $9.99
- Gingerbread Cookies – $3
- Brownies – $13.99/lb
- Sugar Cookies – 6 for $6.99
- Gift Boxes – Priced from $20.99 – $69.99
- Gingerbread Houses – Small for $45.99, Medium for $59.99, Large for $109.99
Contact Info:
- Address: WAKEFIELD
52 Main Street,
Wakefield, MA 01880WINCHESTER
562 Washington Street,
Winchester, MA 01890 - Website: www.gingerbreadusa.com
- Phone: 781-246-2200
- Email: info@gingerbreadusa.com
- Instagram: @gingerbreadcc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gingerbreadusa/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/gingerbreadcc/
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