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Baking Second Chances
Times are good, and 1950s moms are hungry for pastries to serve their baby boomer families. Icky’s Cookies fly off local grocery store shelves, and with each new variety, the neighborhood is filled with the enticing aroma of Saigon cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, and molasses.
Soon, national grocery chains and distributors want to buy his product, too, and Icky thinks he’s made it big in the commercial baked goods market. But just as he’s ready to expand his bakery, an editorial in the local newspaper suggests cookie “fumes” could pose a danger to nearby Marcus Park.
Will all good things crumb to an end? Perhaps.
Baking Second Chances is a local-guy-bakes-good story about a faithful man who follows his call to reflect God’s glory even when the world seems stacked against him—and family and friends who are willing to put their cookie-eating mouths where their hearts are.
Soon, national grocery chains and distributors want to buy his product, too, and Icky thinks he’s made it big in the commercial baked goods market. But just as he’s ready to expand his bakery, an editorial in the local newspaper suggests cookie “fumes” could pose a danger to nearby Marcus Park.
Will all good things crumb to an end? Perhaps.
Baking Second Chances is a local-guy-bakes-good story about a faithful man who follows his call to reflect God’s glory even when the world seems stacked against him—and family and friends who are willing to put their cookie-eating mouths where their hearts are.
284 pages, Hardcover
Published May 10, 2024
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January 19, 2025
“Baking Second Chances” by Ann Haut is a profoundly inspirational book in the Christian literature genre about the early career of Edward A. (“Icky”) Haut, who began as an apprentice bread baker before he and his wife Millie opened Haut’s Cookie Shoppe, a home-based bakery in Olean, New York. The book recognizes their perseverance and cheerful outlook, which arose from their unwavering faith in God.
Icky and Millie’s first bakery was affixed to the rear of their Quonset hut home. Its tiny eight-by-thirty-foot dimensions barely allowed for the bigger equipment they needed to complete their first open-end purchase order. Icky routinely studied trade reports on what housewives were purchasing and also listened to his vendors while lobbying grocery store managers to give his cookies regular shelf space. He hoped to get at least two long-term purchase orders, which he believed would provide enough cash to recruit new production workers and facilitate the building of a bigger bakery.
In an attempt to differentiate his bakery from the competition on store shelves, Icky added fresh cinnamon creations. When he visited clients to get their feedback, he was surprised to discover new baked goods distributors interested in his products. This development resulted in a greater need for flour supplies, more workers, more shifts, and more efficient means of distribution, among other things. However, as soon as the bakery gained momentum, rumors started to circulate that bakeries were emitting harmful gases into the atmosphere, indicating environmental dangers—such as another Donora, which was the scene of one of the biggest pollution catastrophes in the history of the country. Fearing that the rumor might ruin his long-awaited dream, Icky had to act fast to refute it.
This book, well-imagined and evenly paced, describes true events surrounding a fledgling business and is really intriguing. It takes a distinctive look at the problems that budding enterprises’ workers occasionally generate. The protagonist’s life exemplifies outstanding leadership abilities, the importance of consultation, and sound decision-making. Additionally, the book examines the potential of partnerships vs sole proprietorships. The author promises readers an exciting but profoundly enlightening voyage right from the start. Additionally, she uses captivating, enlightening speeches that evoke empathetic interest and leave the audience wondering how they would respond in similar circumstances.
Icky and Millie’s first bakery was affixed to the rear of their Quonset hut home. Its tiny eight-by-thirty-foot dimensions barely allowed for the bigger equipment they needed to complete their first open-end purchase order. Icky routinely studied trade reports on what housewives were purchasing and also listened to his vendors while lobbying grocery store managers to give his cookies regular shelf space. He hoped to get at least two long-term purchase orders, which he believed would provide enough cash to recruit new production workers and facilitate the building of a bigger bakery.
In an attempt to differentiate his bakery from the competition on store shelves, Icky added fresh cinnamon creations. When he visited clients to get their feedback, he was surprised to discover new baked goods distributors interested in his products. This development resulted in a greater need for flour supplies, more workers, more shifts, and more efficient means of distribution, among other things. However, as soon as the bakery gained momentum, rumors started to circulate that bakeries were emitting harmful gases into the atmosphere, indicating environmental dangers—such as another Donora, which was the scene of one of the biggest pollution catastrophes in the history of the country. Fearing that the rumor might ruin his long-awaited dream, Icky had to act fast to refute it.
This book, well-imagined and evenly paced, describes true events surrounding a fledgling business and is really intriguing. It takes a distinctive look at the problems that budding enterprises’ workers occasionally generate. The protagonist’s life exemplifies outstanding leadership abilities, the importance of consultation, and sound decision-making. Additionally, the book examines the potential of partnerships vs sole proprietorships. The author promises readers an exciting but profoundly enlightening voyage right from the start. Additionally, she uses captivating, enlightening speeches that evoke empathetic interest and leave the audience wondering how they would respond in similar circumstances.
Displaying 1 of 1 review