Q: How are you differentiating your company as a top employer in today’s crowded marketplace?

“Fairytale Brownies offers many of the benefits larger businesses offer—competitive wages, medical, dental, education reimbursement, 401k, retirement plan contributions, etc.—but adds many bonus perks to the mix, too such as profit sharing. Fairytale employees are respected, appreciated and empowered. That’s not too difficult to accomplish when we have only 30-40 employees, but during our season, when we increase staff to 150-plus, that positive culture still prevails. 

“Employees are empowered to solve any customer issue up to $100 without having to consult management. We provide catered lunches at our monthly staff lunches when we can all spend time together, give anniversary bonuses, holiday gifts, six free brownies per day, and a 60 percent discount on employee purchases of Fairytale gifts.

“Our give back to our community and to others across the U.S. is with the nonprofit KaBOOM!, which is dedicated to ensuring all kids get a childhood filled with the balanced and active play they need to thrive. Since our partnership began in 2001 we’ve raised over $300,000 and also donated countless volunteer hours and brownie treats to help give kids great, safe places to play.

“We produce and sell the best, most delicious brownies ever and we get to enjoy the aroma of the treats baking all day, most every day, which in itself, differentiates Fairytale Brownies from most other employers.

“My business partner David and I have built Fairytale Brownies based on the highest of standards in terms of product excellence, incomparable service, integrity, teamwork and leadership, and 27 years later, employees and customers can still depend on that 100 percent of the time. We call that the Fairytale Experience.”