We had the good fortune of connecting with Mariko Nobori and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Mariko, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I always loved drawing and I took ballet for over 20 years, but I never considered myself an artistic or creative person. I always planned on being a pediatrician, and in fact, I even went to medical school! But midway through, I was so unhappy and asked myself what I would do if I could do anything, and my answer was: illustrate children’s books. Which isn’t what I did next, but it did lead me into children’s media (LeapFrog, Pixar) and into a more creative space, which I realized I loved. I have never looked back! What I do now (decorating cookies) also feels very full-circle to me, because I get to tap into my childhood love of drawing when I am sketching out designs and then piping them on the cookies.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The inspiration for my baking comes from my grandma, who was a wonderful baker. I live in the house she lived in, and that means I get to bake in her kitchen with her 1930’s Wedgewood oven and all her good vibes!
I never thought I would start my own business, but my friends and family were so encouraging, I decided to give it a try. I had no idea where it was going to go, and I definitely did not think I’d still be doing it eight years later.
Currently, custom decorated cookies account for about 95% of my business. But when I first started, I had never decorated a cookie in my life! I just tried it on a whim, and immediately enjoyed it because I loved how the process felt close to drawing and designing.
Running a business alone is constant work and can be very stressful. One of the biggest things I’ve learned is self-reliance. I knew nothing about running a business when I started, but I’ve learned so much thanks to other creatives sharing their wisdom, and I continue to try to learn and improve all the time. I tend to second-guess myself, so learning to trust myself has been a really big and important learning curve for me. It has also required a resilience against ambiguity, and that has definitely made me stronger and more sure that I can handle uncertainties. Most importantly, I feel so lucky to be doing something I love everyday. Most of the time, it doesn’t feel like work at all.
The thing I love most about what I do is the possibility of making people happy. It’s just cookies, I’m certainly not saving the world, but it means so much to me when my cookies help make an occasion a little more special and personal. To that end, I prioritize the customer experience. I always try to accommodate their needs and desires, whether it’s a last-minute order that requires me to stay up all night to do it, or trying to recreate their pet (or themselves!) on a cookie, I hate saying no so I do my best to meet whatever they ask for.
There is no greater feeling that when a client tells me that they were happy with my cookies. To that I end, I truly put my all into every order and strive to do my very best. I think, hope, that for the most part, my love comes through in the end result.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh gosh, the list is so long! There are so many people who have helped me to get to where I am. Of course, I am so grateful to every single customer who asks me to make sweet treats for them. I honestly still can’t believe complete strangers find me and trust me to help make their celebrations special. I am especially appreciative of the loyal customers who have repeatedly supported me throughout the years, and especially through the pandemic. Special shoutout to Karen Perez, who recommended my story to Shoutout Miami! I had no idea and was so surprised and truly flattered to find out that she felt I had a story worth sharing.
I am grateful to all the talented and creative people who share their knowledge and skills for free with their posts on YouTube and social media. I know it is a lot of work and they are so generous with their time and resources.
I am so lucky to have family and friends who first encouraged me to start a baking business, and then have continued to support and believe in me all through it. Running your own business can be lonely, so the love and cheerleading from people in your life help keep me going!
Website: http://www.shortstreetsweets.com
Instagram: @shortstreetsweets https://www.instagram.com/shortstreetsweets/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shortstreetsweets
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/short-street-sweets-berkeley