Why We Do Business Differently at Dani's Kitchen Shop (And Why That's Exactly the Point)

"Why aren't you open for regular retail hours?"

"When are you going to expand your bakery products?"

"Don't you want to grow your business?"

These are questions I hear almost weekly, and I get it. In a world where bigger often means better and being "always open" is seen as the gold standard of customer service, our model at Dani's Kitchen Shop probably seems... well, unconventional.

But here's the thing: unconventional was always the point.

The Pre-Order Revolution

Our foundation is built on pre-orders, and there's beautiful logic to this approach. We make the sale before we make the product. No food waste. No guessing what customers want. No overstocked shelves of products that might not sell. When you place a pre-order with us, you're not just buying cookies – you're participating in a more sustainable, intentional way of doing business.

This model frees us from the traditional retail trap of being locked into rigid hours, seven days a week. Instead, we can focus our energy on what matters most: creating amazing products and being present for our families.

From Corporate to Kitchen: A Different Kind of Growth

I didn't leave corporate work to escape my family – I left to raise my family. That distinction shapes everything we do at Dani's Kitchen Shop.

When we moved into our commercial space, we began experimenting with "pop-ups" – very short retail hours tied to holidays. These weren't just sales events; they were tests. Could we serve our community while maintaining the flexibility we needed? The answer was a resounding yes.

Our summer 2024 pop-up series taught us that growth doesn't have to mean sacrificing what matters most. We could expand our reach without expanding our stress.

The Reality Behind "Flexible" Hours

Let me be clear: flexible doesn't mean easy. Between making hundreds of cookies weekly to fill pre-orders, teaching classes, planning, marketing, and yes, writing blogs like this one so you understand why we operate the way we do, I work more than full-time hours.

But here's what makes all the difference: it doesn't feel like work.

When you're aligned with your values, when your business model supports your life instead of consuming it, those long hours feel different. They feel purposeful.

Our "Pop-Up Phase" Philosophy

Right now, we're in what I call our "pop-up phase," and we're embracing it fully. We don't commit to more than three-month chunks because it allows us to adjust, learn, and grow without being locked into something that isn't working.

We don't open early because we have breakfast to serve at home. We keep our retail hours short so we don't burn out the kids who might be working with us, and so I can be present when the school day ends. But within those boundaries, we accommodate every possible pre-order that's placed, we offer amazing products during our short windows, and we're constantly expanding what we can offer for in-person shopping.

This Summer: New Adventures in Intentional Business

Our Summer 2025 Pop-Up Series represents everything we've learned about doing business on our own terms. We'll be offering new cookies weekly, the kids will be involved from time to time, and we'll continue trying new things while honoring our commitment to why we chose self-employment in the first place.

The Future is Flexible

Do I know what Dani's Kitchen Shop will look like in five years? Honestly, no. And that's exactly how I want it.

Maybe we'll eventually have regular retail hours. Maybe we'll expand our bakery products. Maybe we'll stick with pop-ups forever. What I do know is that whatever we choose, it will be a choice that supports our family first and our business second – because that's the only way this works.

To Our Amazing Customers

To everyone who has embraced our unconventional model, who places pre-orders, who shows up during our short pop-up windows, who understands that supporting small business sometimes means adapting to how that business needs to operate – thank you.

You're not just buying cookies. You're supporting a family's dream to do business differently. You're proving that success doesn't have to come at the cost of what matters most.

And to those who are still wondering why we don't operate like everyone else, I hope this gives you some insight. We're not trying to be difficult – we're trying to be intentional. And in a world that often demands we choose between family and business, we've found a way to choose both.

That's our version of having it all, and we wouldn't trade it for anything.

Ready to be part of our unconventional journey? Sign up Here to be the first to know about summer pre-orders and pop-ups!

-Dani