Katherine Frankstone
Owner & Chief Baker, Grey Ghost Bakery
What inspired you to start your business?
When I wanted an Easy-Bake oven as a child, my parents decided instead to teach me how to bake in the real thing. While I didn’t get the toy I wanted, I did get a lifelong hobby and passion! I’d also always wanted to own my own business so decided to marry that desire with my love of cookies and baking and started Ghost Bakery in 2011.
What advice would you give to other women entrepreneurs?
I would tell every entrepreneur to know what you don’t know, and own that—and most importantly, ask for help in those areas! No entrepreneur can handle all aspects of a business, at least not for long and not well, and learning to ask for help has been my biggest lesson with owning Grey Ghost Bakery. I would advise putting together an advisory board from the start, which will help avoid lots of mistakes along the way.
What three traits define you?
I am resilient, persistent and optimistic.
How has being a WBENC-Certified WBE helped your business?
I’m very proud to be WBENC-certified, and the credibility the certification confers is tremendous. We’ve had access to national accounts that we wouldn’t have broken into as readily without the WBENC certification.
What do you love about being a business owner?
I am NEVER bored as there is a new problem to solve, sales channel to pursue, or product to introduce every day. Owning my own business allows me to be creative in so many ways. I also love sharing treasured family cookies with others so that they can enjoy what I grew up sharing with friends and family.
What’s the hardest part about being a business owner?
Trying to find balance is the hardest thing about owning one’s own business. The to-do list never ends, and with computers in our pockets now, it’s often hard to “close shop,” even for a few hours.
What’s your favorite career moment?
My favorite moment repeats itself often—and that’s when someone tastes one of our cookies for the first time, and says, “Ohhhh, this reminds me of my grandmother’s cookies!” Sometimes, it’s just a sigh of contentment or a big smile…my favorite moments are when our cookies bring joy to someone else!
What are you reading or listening to now?
Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself, by Joe Dispenza
What’s the best way to start your day?
Meditation
How do you unwind after a long workday?
Enjoying dinner with with my husband, and taking our dog, Sophie, for a walk.
Fill in the blank:
When I face a challenge, I... take a deep breath and try to devise the best solution for everyone.
If I could go back in time, I would tell myself... don’t be afraid to admit that you need additional manpower and expertise to grow your business.
The one thing I couldn’t live without is… walks on the beach
By this time next year, I will be… · focusing on new product development.
The best thing that happened to me recently was… Hurricane Florence passed us by!
To get my creative juices flowing, I… brainstorm with friends.
Grey Ghost Bakery
Grey Ghost Bakery creates a line of scratch-made cookies, using Southern Family recipes with premium ingredients. Grey Ghost’s award-winning varieties include Lemon Sugar, Chocolate Bourbon, Molasses Spice, Chocolate Espresso & more! Our cookies are packaged in three sizes: 8 oz, 4 oz and single-serving 2-packs and last up to 6 months, depending on the variety. Grey Ghost cookies are sold via our website and through specialty retailers nationwide. Great to give as gifts or to treat yourself, our cookies are guaranteed to put a smile on your face!
