Meet Uzma Majid | Founder of Uzzi’s Cookies

We had the good fortune of connecting with Uzma Majid and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Uzma, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
How physically taxing it can be.

What should our readers know about your business?
Our business really started during the pandemic. That first holiday season during that first year seemed more than a little bleak. We were all struggling with feeling isolated from our friends and family. How could we send our loved ones some love and joy- (a hug in the mail) since we couldn’t necessarily see them in person? We came upon sending homemade s’mores kits-handmade graham crackers and marshmallows in different flavors with a chocolate bar. Our friends and family loved it. They sent us pictures of themselves toasting the marshmallows, crafting their s’mores with big smiles on their faces. That feeling was infectious. No pun intended. It was all we wanted. It put big smiles on our faces and touched our hearts. What if we could expand that circle and spread more love and joy to people we hadn’t even met yet? Those were the initial seeds of our business and really the whole ethos of our brand. No one can help but smile when they see a cookie made just for them. I know I love indulging in sweets. But I’m finicky and very particular. If I’m going to indulge, it better be the best ingredients, the best tasting cookie I’ve had or else I always ask myself if it was worth the calories? I’m my own worst critic but that also made me work towards pleasing this very demanding customer.

The main lesson I’ve learned, the number one thing is belief. Not only belief in yourself, but allowing others to believe in you. We started one week before Valentines Day of 2022. We had no logo, no name, no website, no product, no customers, just an idea. In one week we created a name, a logo, the start of a brand, built a temporary website, had stickers made, found our signature pink box that we still have to this day, and we did $2000 in sales that Valentines Day. We haven’t looked back since. We give a lot more time and thought to things now, but sometimes to breakthrough you just have to start.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well my best friends are all foodies so we would start the day at Republique for brunch with a big plate of bakery items and brunch. Still the best in town. Coffee would be from Be Bright on Melrose. The best brown sugar lattes. Ideally lunch at Found Oyster followed up by dinner at Saffy’s. I love Chef Ori Menashe doing his Middle Eastern food there. If it’s summer, then an outdoor movie at CInespia with wine, cheese and custom sandwiches I’ve made at home.
Or bringing some borekas from the pop up window at Borekas Sepahardic Pastries in Sherman Oaks. Truly wonderful.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Well firstly, my partner in all things Jeremy Spencer. He is my co founder, my partner in life and my best friend. I could not have done this with out him. Our very dear friend and angel investor who got us off the ground, David Logan. As well as all of our other dear friends who invested in us from the get go, Sadie and Medhi Imam, Michelle and Paul Twardowski and Michael and Tanisha East believed in us without hesitation. Nancy Silverton (the Queen),and her husband Michael Kerkorian were instrumental in connecting us with our very first commercial client and now friend Katy Strouk, the owner of the legendary Monsieur Marcel at the 3rd and Fairfax Farmers Market. That early start led to us reconnecting with Dominick Be Bartolomeo the owner of the famous Cheese Store of Beverly Hills. And the story continues from there…

Website: www.uzziscookies.com

Instagram: @uzziscookies

Facebook: uzziscookies

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/uzzis-cookies-west-hollywood?osq=Uzzi%27s+Cookies

Image Credits
Photography by Jeremy Spencer