Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Saunders.
Hi Shannon, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
My name is Shannon Saunders and I am the Cookier and owner of Shannon’s Sugar Shop here in Knoxville. A little about me… I have had a love of decorating, sewing, making crafts & baking my entire life. My favorite thing to do is to make things for loved ones and see the happiness it brings.
Part of that comes from growing up and watching my mother and father’s love of art and design. Baking probably comes from watching the food network but also my oldest brother’s the love of baking and seeing how he enjoys it! I have inherited that same passion. I really enjoy setting up my booth at local markets and ironically, during my senior year of high school, my economics class business booth was my homemade chocolate chip cookies.
I grew up in Houston, TX, and studied Hotel & Restaurant Management at the Hilton College at The University of Houston. However, I graduated with a degree in Merchandising and Procurement and was a buyer for several years until having two girls. I decided to stay home to raise them and that’s when I started making things again like quilts, cakes, and decorating cookies.
My neighbors were happy to take all my practice cookies and pretty soon I had many requests for custom orders for parties, sports teams, and business logos. I opened my cottage business in Houston fall of 2019 and was so happy to have the opportunity and support I received from my community.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road.
When Covid hit Spring of 2020, I closed up and my husband’s work relocated us to Knoxville. I slowly started things back up here this past winter and am excited for what the future holds here in the great Marble City.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Shannon’s Sugar Shop is a small cottage kitchen business run out of my home.
I love creating beautiful and fun decorated cookies for my customers. I spend a lot of time decorating them because I enjoy them and also because I want to improve my skills with each set I make.
Each set is a new challenge and that is exciting for me. I am self-taught and I’m a bit of a perfectionist. I also try to perfect my recipe using the best quality ingredients to ensure they taste just as delicious!
Any big plans?
My current plans are to branch out and develop new customer relationships here in Knoxville.
Pricing:
- Around $40-50 per dozen.
Contact Info:
- Email: shannonssugarshop@gmail.com
- Website: Shannonssugarshop.myshopify.com/
- Instagram: @shannonssugarshop
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/shannonssugarshop
Image Credits
Elijah Lightfoot
