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I thought Becca was going to suck her tongue down her throat when she snorted. “Not much. Just unlimited credit.”
“Not unlimited,” I said, still laughing. “But the only place I can get the gumdrops for the cake is the Saginaw Candy Emporium. Our suppliers don’t carry the special baking gumdrops. Since I’m going to Saginaw tonight, I’ll go to the emporium and buy what I need for the first few weeks. Then I’ll order what I’ll need for the rest of the season from a different supplier, and they can ship them to me. I’ll need to prepay, though.”
“Not a problem,” Ivy said, “I’ll get the card when we’re done here.”
“I was also thinking that maybe we could work together with Evergreen Acres for a new holiday tradition this year.”
Becca leaned forward. “What kind of tradition?”
“Well, we have a bakery now, right?” I asked and they both nodded. “And you guys have family days at the farm, right?”
“Every Saturday from ten to two we hold family activities at the store, yes,” Becca agreed.
“Okay, so a bakery mixed with family time,” Ivy said, motioning for me to hurry up.
“My thought was, the school-to-work kids from the bakery would bake gingerbread men, and then take them to the farm on Saturdays for family day. They could be there to help kids decorate the cookies!”
Both women gazed at me without saying a word. I was honestly surprised they didn’t like the idea, so I tried to figure out a better way to sell it.
“I mean, I thought about gingerbread houses, but decided that was too complicated and time consuming. Gingerbread cookies would be easier and faster to get more families through the process. If you don’t like the idea, that’s fine, it was just a suggestion.”
“I love the idea!” Becca exclaimed. “We could even offer them at the Cookies and Cocoa events if the bakery will decorate them ahead of time! We get a lot of families on those nights and they buy cookies to take home.”
Ivy nearly squealed with excitement. “Yes! We have everything in place to provide unlimited cookies this year, so I say, let’s go for it!”
A smile finally found its way back to my face. “Great! I was hoping you would like the idea. I have all kinds of notes made for it. I could order candy from our distributors, but I would like to buy locally, if possible. I was hoping to get the candy from Mrs. Beesweasel and supplement from the emporium for whatever I can’t get from her.”
“Absolutely,” Ivy agreed. “You know I’m always about supporting the local vendors here. We have a line of credit with Mrs. Beesweasel, so maybe you and Lucy can investigate what you can get there today and then supplement what you need at the emporium tonight with the card.”
“Done,” I agreed, making that note on my phone. I glanced up at Becca. “Do you need to run this past Stephan and Cam?”
“Yes,” she said, laughter on her lips, “but only as a formality. You know Stephan will be all over more cookies at the farm. Cameron gives him full reign of the event planning.”
“Awesome. I look forward to his input on how to organize and implement the events. If he wants a meeting at the bakery, we can arrange that.”
“I’ll talk to him today before you get to the farm. Once you’re there, we can discuss it further.”
“Done. Looks like Lucy and I have a lot to accomplish today.”
We discussed my plans for making and selling the cake as well as other business that needed to be finished.
“What do you think about Lance’s name idea?” Ivy asked, a brow raised.
I know my cheeks flushed red because I could feel the heat in them. “From a marketing perspective, it’s brilliant. It rolls off the tongue and people will put different inflections on it depending on if it’s the first time they’ve tried it or the tenth.”
Becca was nodding along. “I can already picture the graphics I could do with it as we sit here.”
Becca did all of the graphic design for the bakery, Evergreen Acres, and the diner. It was a hidden talent none of us knew she had until last year.
“I absolutely love it!” Ivy said with excitement. “I trust you both to have it ready to go by the day after Thanksgiving?”
“Easy-peasy,” I agreed. I snapped my fingers. “Hey! That’s the tree lighting ceremony. What if we do samples? We could make them in mini muffin pans and make sure each one has a gumdrop.”
“I’m all for it if you can get the supplies in time,” Ivy agreed.
“I’ll make sure I have them.”
Lance returned and refilled our coffee, clearing our plates away so we had more room to work.
