Small Business Spotlight: La Guli Bakery in Astora, NY … Pope Leo Cookies

Source: Facebook

I truly believe that small businesses have a unique opportunity to get close to their customers, even more so than big brands. That’s true whether that small business is a consumer brand or a business B2B brand.

Here’s a good case in point.

A small pastry shop in Astoria Queens, NYC starting making special cookies right after the new Pope was announced … cookies with a picture of Pope Leo on them! Clearly a source of pride and passion for this small business owner/baker as her church is right in the same community. Plus she did the same thing for the last Pope when he visited NYC.

The bakery has been around since 1937, and Maria who is the current owner is the founder’s granddaughter. Evidently the minute the new Pope was announced, Maria started getting calls from customers asking for her special cookies. That’s community connection that only a small business can build.

Inspiration for us all as we look to build connections and engagement with our customers. And bring something special to them, whatever that may be and whatever it is that they want … that we can uniquely give to them. Small businesses can do that so well. And big brands can learn something from them!

Good going, Maria! What’s your experience. JIM