Main fundraiser photo

Help Stuart start up his 'Milk & Cookie' shop

Donation protected
Hi, I'm Stuart Saint. I am raising funds towards the start-up costs of my new business 'Milk and Cookie' in my home town, Margate UK. I financially was hit hard by the pandemic, but I have been using my shielding time to learn, develop skills and start my own cookie business. From running an online service to owning my first shop. With a little help, I will get back on my feet. Please scroll down, read my story and see, you'll also see some great rewards as a big thank you for donating and supporting me.


MY STORY

I am a local in Margate here in the UK. I moved from London 8 weeks before the pandemic began. Because of a disability / underlying health condition, I had to shield myself as a critically extremely vulnerable person for most of the 3 lockdowns these past 12 months.

I worked in the arts and lost all of my work, like many others. Unfortunately, I became one of those who fell through the cracks, missing out on Covid financial support and ending up on Universal Credit and relying on charities to survive.

As I was stuck indoors, I ended up baking a lot. It's my hobby, and especially making cookies. I have been perfecting my cookie recipe and playing with adventurous flavours for about 12yrs, and they have always gone down well with my friends.

Margate is quite the foodie town, and there is great support here for anyone wanting to build something that will add to the town as it regenerates. As the arts has been closed and unsure when and how quickly the industry will return, I got to thinking about the kind of work I wanted to do that would give me the support in life that I need. After speaking to a career's advisor, they encouraged me to lean into the baking and the opportunities in Margate.

I took a business course with the Rebel Business School, and I learnt how to 'Bootstrap' a business. I took a breath and jumped into selling cookies online, and out of the blue, the business skyrocketed, and at one point, I couldn't keep up with the demand. As I continued taking orders online, I perfected the product and took feedback, which was glowing and positive. What was telling was that this was truly a tremendous potential full-time business. I was, however, limited due to my kitchen size and basic equipment. If I really wanted to go for it, I needed a better workable space and to build a new brand.


I discovered a scheme called the 'New Enterprise Allowance', which is available to people on Universal Credit who want to start a business. I was hooked up to the business charity 'The Shaw Trust' and assigned a business broker. For the last few months, we have been working to build the latest business. I decided to take on a shop with a working kitchen, and I created a solid business plan with a working cash flow forecast.

Last week, I completed the scheme; my business model was signed off and deemed viable, and I received praise for what I have created. I also signed the lease for a shop unit on the High Street here in Margate, got the keys and began the road to opening my very own cookie store called 'Milk & Cookie' this coming May.

More info on 'Milk and Cookie' below.



HOW YOU CAN HELP

Without going into detail, I have had a rough ride over the years with ill health, disability impeding my ability to have and build a life. Moving too Margate has been a tonic for those times to get me in a stronger position. The pandemic has got in the way, like for many others, but I wanted to make the most of the opportunity of time and pace that this situation we find ourselves in has given us. In the past, I have not been able to be fully self-sufficient, and I see this as an opportunity to build a solid future. I need that final helping hand to get going.

I'm looking forward to building a business that has the potential to expand in many ways, to learn more, create jobs and spread the cookie love.

To show you how grateful I am for the support and donations, I've created some rewards in return. I see it as buying your cookies in advance with a few special extras just for you to show my appreciation and keep you as a part of the Milk and Cookie legacy.


REWARDS

UNDER £25 Donation
All donations, no matter how small, are appreciated, and I believe every little helps and make a difference. As a public display of appreciation, you will be included on the Thank you wall on the Milk and Cookie website, plus you will receive a 10% discount off your first order.

£25 Donation
You will receive 1 box of 6 cookies of your choice, which you can claim anytime over 12 months from July 2021. As a public display of appreciation, your name will be engraved, small print, forever on a funder's plaque, taking pride and place in-store here in Margate.

£50 Donation
You will receive 2 boxes of 6 cookies of your choice, which you can claim anytime over 12 months from July 2021. You will receive a limited edition, for funders only enamel 'Milk and Cookie badge. As a public display of appreciation, your name will be engraved, medium print, forever on a funder's plaque, taking pride and place in-store here in Margate.

£75 Donation
You will receive 3 boxes of 6 cookies of your choice, which you can claim anytime over 12 months from July 2021. You will receive a limited edition, for funders only enamel 'Milk and Cookie badge. As a public display of appreciation, your name will be engraved, medium print, forever on a funder's plaque, taking pride and place in-store here in Margate.

£100 Donation
You will receive 4 boxes of 6 cookies of your choice, which you can claim anytime over 12 months from July 2021. You will receive a limited edition, for funders only enamel 'Milk and Cookie badge and branded tote bag. As a public display of appreciation, your name will be engraved, large print, forever on a funder's plaque, taking pride and place in-store here in Margate.

£250 Donation
You will receive 6 boxes of 6 cookies of your choice, which you can claim anytime over 12 months from July 2021. You will receive a limited edition, for funders only enamel 'Milk and Cookie badge, a branded tote bag and an engraved 1L Milk bottle. As a public display of appreciation, your name will be engraved, large print, forever on a funder's plaque, taking pride and place in-store here in Margate.

£500 Donation
You will receive 8 boxes of 6 cookies of your choice, which you can claim anytime over 12 months from July 2021. You will receive a limited edition, for funders only enamel 'Milk and Cookie badge and a merchandise bundle. As well as all this over the first 12 months of business, you shall receive one of every new product line introduced throughout the year.  As a public display of appreciation, your name will be engraved, large print top line, forever on a funder's plaque taking pride and place in-store here in Margate.

£1000 Donation
You will receive 1 box of 12 cookies of your choice every month for the first year of business. You will also have your own 'COOKIEOLOGY' baking class for you and 7 friends at the Margate store, if you can't travel I shall come to you. You will also get to work alongside me to design your own cookie of your favourite flavour. As with all the other donations, you will also receive the limited edition, for funders only enamel 'Milk and Cookie badge. As a public display of appreciation, your name will be engraved forever, in large print at the top of the funder's plaque, taking pride and place in-store here in Margate.
 

WHAT IS MILK AND COOKIE?

'Milk and Cookie' is a milk and cookie bar with a working kitchen, selling to in-store customers with an online shop delivering freshly baked treats fast across the UK.

An expansive range of what I like to call dessert cookies: Crispy, soft and chewy cookies that just so happens to have a vegan base recipe! I have loved cakes and desserts since I was a child (who hasn't?!) and wanted to feel nostalgia in every bite, so I developed all those great dessert flavours into innovative cookies. The best-selling flavours are Banoffee Pie, Birthday Cake, Red Velvet (Cream Cheese frosting), PB and Dark chocolate with my own made slightly salty sweet peanut butter! But my all-time favourite is the American Pancake with Bacon and Maple.


Using high-quality ingredients, locally and responsibly sourced with organic flour from Kent's Shipton Mill and 100% traceable Belgium chocolate, every element adds to the most unbelievable taste. I have also been developing my gluten-free and non-dairy baking skills, receiving fantastic feedback on the cookies' dietary variants.

The range will consist of a line-up of signature regular cookies and a selection of guest / seasonal cookies that will change daily, like Cheesecake Cookie, Cinnamon Roll Cookie, Mint Choc, Lemon Drizzle, Pumpkin Spice, Mince Pie etc.

Of course, cookies can be purchased individually, but nobody ever wants just one ;), so incentive multi-buy discount deals, i.e., boxes of 3, 6 or 9, will be available. As well as milk and cookie meal deals, I shall also be offering date night, family night, movie night snack/party boxes. Finally, as we move to the winter, I shall be setting up a delivery service for those cold weekend nights at home craving gooey sweet treats.

As well as the cookies, there will be a range of milk drinks, dairy and non-dairy. Ranging from commercial and craft brands to my own inventions, including Cereal Milk, Pink Milk and my latest creation, Cookie Dough Milk. Of course, barista coffee will be available along with the best local vanilla ice cream for cookies and ice cream. To finish off with a bang, you will be able to order a delicious portion of raw cookie dough to be devoured with a washing down of milk.


One of the things to keep sustainable, my own branded milk drinks shall be served in the retro style, glass school milk bottle, which if returned, the customer will be rewarded with stamps on a reward card, once complete, each time, they will receive free products in return.

Once the store is open, several other product lines will be introduced, including take-home cookie in a pan, cookie pie, and frozen bake at home cookie dough. You'll even be able to take home a jar of my delicious, slightly salty & slightly sweet peanut butter.  There will also be a little bit of merchandise along the way, a T-Shirt, Apron, Milk Bottle etc.

On top of all that, there is space below the shop which will turn into an event/classroom space in the Autumn. There, I shall be offering fun and social cookie baking classes and taking private bookings for birthdays and party nights etc. I also will create a regular online blog called 'COOKIEOLOGY' through the website and social media, sharing all kinds of insight and fun Milk and Cookie stuff. Who knows, that may even be a book one day.

I've set up this GoFundMe to help raise funds to cover the business's remaining start-up costs. As I mentioned, over half the costs are being covered by the start-up loan through the government NEA scheme.

I have received such great support by selling online, and I wanted to develop a way to continue and lean into that support with a great way to raise funds and keep everyone provided with delicious cookies. As you will see below, there are plenty of rewards as a way to show my gratitude and for you to keep a piece of 'Milk and Cookie' showing your amazing support.


HOW THE MONEY WILL BE SPENT
The money raised will go towards the start-up costs of the business. Specifically, the GoFundMe will go towards:

-       Packaging. Set up, print and first batch costs. This includes branded boxes, greaseproof bags, pots, coffee cups. The packaging with the branded logo has been designed to be colourful, really stand out and pop instore and out on the street, Instagramable and instantly recognisable.

-       Kitchen Equipment. The highest cost of the business-funded mainly by the start-up loan but will need a top-up. This includes an industrial food mixer, fridges, convection oven and extraction.

-       Shop Fit Up. Luckily, I am a dab hand at DIY and will be doing a lot myself, but at times a contractor will be needed, specifically an electrician and plumber. I also need Materials to build the shop counters, paint and tile, also light fixtures and blinds for the windows.

-       Marketing. Essential for getting the word out to the locals in Margate and Thanet areas and social media to promote the online store. A plan is in place using modern as well as a few old school techniques. Leaning towards a postal flyer drop, radio and newspaper advertising. Margate has a unique local community spirit that is keen to support new business bringing value to the town, so I am aiming to engage with them through tasting sessions to the local businesses, online group admins, bloggers etc



 
PLEASE SHARE

I need all the support I can muster, so please help by spreading the word on social media, through email and telling your friends.

Please use this direct GoFundMe link at the top of the page
Or go to the website: www.milkandcookie.co.uk
And follow the socials on Instagram and Facebook: @milkandcookieuk
Donate

Donations 

  • Amy Wiles
    • £25 
    • 3 yrs
  • Josi Clay
    • £20 
    • 3 yrs
  • Oliver Carpenter
    • £250 
    • 3 yrs
  • Alex Boffey
    • £20 
    • 3 yrs
  • Dan Hayes
    • £30 
    • 3 yrs
Donate

Organizer

Stuart Saint
Organizer

Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help

  • Easy

    Donate quickly and easily.

  • Powerful

    Send help right to the people and causes you care about.

  • Trusted

    Your donation is protected by the  GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.