Founder Spotlight: Audrey Dunham (Audrey Dunham Celebrations)
Meet Audrey Dunham
Company:
Business Description:
I have created a vegan holiday cookbook titled, Vegan Christmas Cookies and Cocoa; Holiday treats and warm winter drinks, all astonishingly egg and dairy-free!
When did you launch the business?
2015
Startup Stage:
Bootstrapped
Locations:
Los Angeles, California, USA
What led you to where you are today?
After many years in the fitness industry and competing in fitness competitions, I knew there had to be a happier and healthier way to live that didn't involve strict calorie counting, long cardio sessions, and a high animal protein diet. The vegan / plant based lifestyle became my key to happiness, as I now enjoy a wide variety of filling, delicious foods that allow to me look and feel my very best. Since I also have a passion for baking and cooking, I've decided to dedicate my life to making the vegan diet as easy, approachable and delicious as possible by creating and providing recipes through my website, YouTube channel, and now my first cookbook. I also created a vegan and gluten free cookie mix line under the name Peanut's Bake Shop, that allows home bakers to make decadent and delicious cookies in just 15 minutes.
What do you wish you knew before embarking on your entrepreneurial journey?
I wasted a lot of time by making assumptions. When creating products for the public, it's important to know what they want and what they would use, not just what you think they want. After I started communicating more with my fans and followers through online surveys and posting questions on social media, I was able to understand people's wants and needs and create recipes and products that truly best serve others. Once that became clearer, my business and following grew exponentially.
What is the most difficult decision you've had to make regarding your business so far?
I love baking and cooking, but I also have a love and passion for health and fitness. At this point in my life, however, as a busy mom of twin 5 year-old boys and wife to my incredible husband, I feel I better serve people by sharing amazingly easy and delicious recipes and cookie mixes rather than give health and fitness advice. It's been a slow transition on my website... there are still health articles there if you look for them, but for the most part, my focus is food and recipes for both whole food plant based meals and decadent desserts. What's nice is that, for a variety of reasons, vegan desserts that contain non-dairy butter and real sugar are still much better for the body than desserts that contain animal products.
What can you help the VEGPRENEUR community with?
I can offer advice on self publishing books and also offer advice on how to grow a following on social media.
How can the VEGPRENEUR community help you?
I would love for the Vegpreneur community to help spread the word about my new cookbook, Vegan Christmas Cookies and Cocoa, as well as my vegan and gluten free Peanut's Bake Shop Cookie Kits. Both can be found on shop.audreydunham.com . I would be eternally grateful! Thanks so much in advance.
Fun fact about you:
In my late teens and early 20's I worked for a variety of fun companies, including Disney, Hawaiian Airlines and a tanning salon. Which meant free entrance to Disney parks, free flights, and free tans!! (Ultimately, my skin wasn't very happy about that last one. Live and learn!)
Anything else you would like to share?
This may sound random and out of context, but here's the key to great relationships and overall happiness in life: The key to happiness is trading expectations for appreciation. So instead of focusing on what you wish someone in your life would do or what life would bring your way, instead focus on what a person does do for you and what you already have.
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