"Twenty five years ago when Gwen made her first cookie bouquet, she discovered one of the secrets about gift giving: people want to make a personal and creative expression about themselves to another. That secret is still the key to what makes Cookies by Design an exciting business. Everyday our customers seek to express their sentiments and affections in a unique and fun fashion.

Cookies are a classic product that capture love, friendship and caring in a way that few products can. Combine this with the personal touch and the level of service that our franchisees provide when designing and hand delivering their products, and you have a recipe for an enduring concept.

I see Cookies by Design as having the hallmarks of a timeless brand... A product about which people feel passionately, a concept that has stood the test of time and a business that is responsive to marketing.

Having the perspective granted me from working with the industry's best at Marriott, Pepsico and over a dozen other leading franchise organizations, I am confident that we have assembled one of the most qualified and talented teams in the franchising industry to support and develop our system. Cookies by Design has a very bright future and we welcome you to explore being a part of it."

- Jon M. Rice, President, CEO and Brand Development

 

 A Message From Our CEO

A Brief History

In 1983, Gwen Willhite suddenly found herself an unemployed, single mother. With time to think, this creative and motivated woman combined two traditional gifts ~flowers and sweets~ and turned them into one deliciously clever concept, the cookie bouquet. Her edible bouquets of custom-shaped and hand-decorated sugar and cinnamon brown sugar cookies on sticks were cleverly arranged in baskets as tasteful gifts for any occasion.

Gift-givers quickly embraced the new idea, and Gwen's budding enterprise soon outgrew her own home kitchen.

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Celebrating 25 Years

The newly successful entrepreneur moved to a location in nearby, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Then in 1986 when things really picked up, Gwen moved her business to Dallas, Texas.

After the Dallas business was established, Gwen turned her attention to the numerous requests from others wishing to start their own Cookie Bouquet franchise. The first franchised Cookie Bouquet shoppe opened in 1987 and the momentum has been growing ever since. To better reflect all of the creative, unique and customized products sold, Cookie Bouquet shoppes changed their names to "Cookies by Design" in 2004. Now, 25 years later, approximately 200 Cookies by Design shoppes are operating across the United States.