Hi, my name is Melanie. I’m a mom to three beautiful little girls, a wife, coffee enthusiast, book lover, two-time small business owner, and a lover of all things pink. My story is unique—my business began completely by happenstance. What started as a stay-at-home mom side hustle quickly turned into a dream come true. Let’s dive in.
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Over the years, I came up with countless business ideas, but never quite brought them to life. Still, there was always a spark inside me—a desire for more, to create something I could be proud of and to be my own boss. I’ve always had a strong work ethic and a natural interest in anything business-related.
I graduated from Nipissing University with an honours degree in Business, majoring in Human Resources and Marketing. I’ve always loved the creative side of business (accounting, on the other hand—I’ll happily leave that to someone else). After graduating, I quickly secured a role in my field as a Human Resources Coordinator at a reputable company, where I was responsible for interviewing and hiring for the organization.
Becoming “Mom”
In 2022, I welcomed my first daughter and naturally stepped away from my HR role to stay home with her. In 2023, our family grew again with the arrival of our second daughter, and I never returned to my position. By 2024, when we welcomed our third daughter, it became clear to my husband and me that it was time for me to take a true pause in my career and focus on being home with our girls. I knew this season with them was invaluable, and I was determined to soak in every moment.
As much as I love motherhood, once we settled into a rhythm with our third daughter, I realized I was craving something more. I wanted a side hustle—something I could work on during nap times and after bedtime, and something that would bring in a little extra income to fuel my coffee and book addiction. That’s when Cookie Kit Co. was born.
Cookie Kit Co Happened Overnight
It all started when I was invited to a friend’s “cookie exchange.” Everyone had to bring a type of Christmas cookie, and I decided on a sugar cookie. After many late nights of trial and error perfecting my recipe, I finally said to my husband, “Try this cookie. It’s absolutely delicious. I think I could sell these.”
So, that’s exactly what I did. I ordered everything I needed to start a sugar cookie business and went all in. The very next day, I posted my DIY sugar cookie kits online, hoping to sell just a few boxes for some extra Christmas money. To my surprise, in the month and a half between launching and Christmas Day, over 100 boxes sold! I could hardly believe it.
That’s when it hit me—this had real potential. I realized I didn’t just want to run a seasonal cookie kit business; I wanted to create a bakery brand I could work on year-round. And that’s when the idea to rebrand and grow beyond Christmas came to life.
The Treat Boutique Was Born
And just like that, The Treat Boutique was born. I spent January perfecting my recipes and mastering the art of all things treats. From cake pops to cupcakes, custom cakes, gourmet cookies, cake jars, caketinis, chocoberries, and chocolate-dipped desserts—we kept creating new treats to add to the menu, and I loved every minute of it. While experimenting in the kitchen, we worked on a website, rebranded our socials, and soon orders began rolling in. What began as a side hustle had officially become a business I could grow year-round, full of creativity and sweet possibilities.
Over the year, we catered weddings, participated in countless markets, fulfilled a variety of custom orders, and made so many new connections along the way. We grew our socials, created tons of content, and built a brand that was recognizable, fun, pink, and—of course—delicious. The rest of the year was a whirlwind, but it turned out to be an incredible journey.
Along the way, I developed a deep passion for small businesses. Meeting so many amazing makers inspired me to create a space where other entrepreneurs could come together, promote their products, and grow their businesses. That’s how the Makers Market came to life—a community built to support local creators and celebrate their stories.
The Maker’s Market
I put my all into it—I gave it everything I had. I was determined to create a consistent market for the North Bay area, a space I could call The Makers Market, and bring events to the community. Small businesses rely on local events to showcase their products, get recognized, and grow their customer base. My goal was to provide another platform for makers to do exactly that, while also creating a space on my socials to share their stories and highlight their amazing products.
Even as a maker myself, I love promoting other creators and watching them thrive. There’s something incredibly rewarding about building a community where everyone supports each other and celebrates creativity.
We booked and held events throughout the city and even partnered with Northgate Shopping Centre on select market dates to give small businesses the chance to be featured in the mall. Countless hours, long nights, and many unseen tears went into these passion projects, but I’m incredibly proud of what has been built. I’m excited to see where this journey will take us next and to continue supporting makers and small businesses in our community.
To Conclude
I’ve always wanted to start a blog, but I wasn’t sure anyone would want to read what I have to say. That said, I’ve learned a lot over the course of my journey, and I hope I can share a thing or two that might help or inspire others.
Even if no one reads this, that’s okay—this blog is my space to reflect, share my thoughts, and document my successes and lessons learned. I also plan to feature makers from Northern Ontario, shining a spotlight on their businesses and stories. On top of that, I plan to share insights on balancing business with motherhood and what it’s like to be a woman in business—the hurdles, the wins, and everything in between.
If you’ve made it this far, thank you for being here and for your support—it truly means the world.
With Love,
Melanie
themakersinsider.ca 