ThinkUp

Written by: Think Up
Featuring: Khulood Al Mehairi

Think Up has known of Khulood Al Mehairi, owner & baker of “K’s Cookies”, for quite some time now. We had the pleasure of trying out the freshly baked Cookies that she had once sent to us, & we have to say, these are the best Cookies that we’ve tried in the entire country! What inspired us to approach her for an interview is that this idea had only started at Home, & Khulood has now officially registered the Business & a store! To show our support for the obvious passion she shows, here is her story!

• Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m Khulood Al Mehairi, 24 years old, from Abu Dhabi, and among many things I love, I’m passionate about FOOD.

• How did you get into the world of Food?

I simply love food and plus it runs in the family. We are good cooks, regardless of presentation, but when it comes to cooking, we are all in the kitchen. Our happy living room, hehe.

• Why Cookies? And how did that start the idea of a home business?

I bake really good cookies, and it is my comfort food. It started as a “I’m bored and have nothing to do” project. My sister came to me the other day and I was surfing the internet. I kept telling her about the booming cupcake businesses, but I’m not into baking cupcakes as I know it will turn out a disaster. She told me “How about cookies?!” and she dragged me to the kitchen to bake some cookies, mix different flavors and give them to people to test them.

• How challenging was it, to enter the business world?

I never ever thought I will ever reach to what I have right now. My sister even told me once that, “I thought you will bail on the idea after few months, but somehow you have good strong will” ilhamdullilah. Challenging, well it is more than just challenging, trying to keep the same standard and maintain the image, was and still is the main challenge for me. It actually started with an article on gulf news by hind khalifa about k’s cookies and then participating at the market @ masdar city for the first time. It felt like a commitment, so I told myself I’m having a bakery just for my cookies.

• Was it a gradual process? Or did it move really quickly?

Actually starting a food related business is quiet hard and needs a lot of patience. (I’m not sure about other cities in the UAE but in Abu Dhabi it takes a lot of time and effort) You need to work around the hour plus learn how to distribute the work and delegate to others some tasks. It basically included a lot of responsibilities, from small payments, to choosing the right vendors and working out legal stuff. Right now, we are almost there.

• Where did you gather your support/inspiration from?

I gained support from my family especially my sisters and mother’s blessings, friends, and society. I wouldn’t have been able to do anything without their feedback, their supportive words, and to the kindness of the people I meet everyday and their will to stand by my side and get this business working.

• If someone would ask, how are your cookies different, what would you say?

They experimented, freshly baked cookies. They satisfy your cravings. “It is that cookie feeling” sensation. I’m not sure if this explains it, but trying them will sure explain to you that feeling.

• What are your plans for KsCookies?

Inshallah, after we have our bakery running, we will work on having them at reach almost everywhere in Abu Dhabi and then start franchising the business.

• What advice would you like to give other GCC Nationals who want to be like you?

Dream Dream Dream and take action!

• How can you be contacted?

Website, Twitter, & address info@ks-cookies.com , p.o.box 34545 , 02/4913113

• What’s your favourite cookie flavor?

My two favorite flavors are Peanut Panic and Pistachio Punch

• What’s the most popular cookies you sell?

Chocolate Chic, mainly. Well everybody has a favorite. So, by the end of the day, it is one of the 14 flavors.

• Who came up with the logos/branding for KsCookies?

The Cookie illustration is Maitha Al Muhairbi’s idea, plus the pale turquoise. However, since I’m working on opening a real shop, I have to rebrand and the new designs are being done by an advertising and marketing company under our supervision at every step.