Meet Christy Williams, owner of Little Chunk of Goodness

Who doesn’t love a great cookie? How about a chocolate chip or double chocolate chip, or a cutout cookie with just the right icing?

Christy Williams bakes all of those and much more. She owns and operates her own business called Little Chunk of Goodness in North Canton.

Williams grew up in Stark County and graduated from Heritage Christian School before earning a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Southern New Hampshire University.

She is single but said “I’m looking, so if you know of any eligible bachelors send them my way!”

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Williams became a baker and small business owner for a number of reasons.

“I was working two minimum wage jobs and between the two I still couldn’t afford groceries, so I started baking on the side after I saw a demand,” Williams said. “I never baked before and never wanted to be a baker. But here we are! It has been a very happy accident. But I’ve always wanted to be my own boss. I had tried multiple other businesses that were total failures before Little Chunk of Goodness worked out.”

She named the business after a phrase her brother used to use because it always made her smile when he said it. She has a well-defined business philosophy.

“My philosophy for running a small business is simple. Have fun," she said. "Life is so hard as an adult and we spend so much of our lives working, that I fought really hard to find something that I could do and actually enjoy. Getting to be creative is just a major bonus. I never thought I’d be able to have fun and be creative. I’m super thankful for that aspect of what I do."

What are your specialties and why?

My specialties are my Royal Icing Cookies. I have worked hard to make sure they not only looked good but tasted good, too. I also went viral with a Bernie Sanders design a couple of years ago. A lot of people bring that up when they meet me, which is kind of cool.

Also, my cinnamon rolls are popular and are now sold exclusively at Shale Craft Coffee. I mix it up and bring in seasonal flavors of those, as well, like a pumpkin cinnamon roll in the fall and a gingerbread cinnamon roll in the winter.

And finally, my regular cookies are bestsellers. In particular, my Chocolate Chip and PB-Pocalypse are probably my bestselling cookies and those are the two I sell out of at every single event.

Would you share a few tips for running a small business.

First, you don’t have to start off with a bunch of money or be in debt for equipment and supplies. Start small and build over time. It’s OK to grow and you have to start somewhere.

Second, don’t worry about what other people are doing, focus on what you want to see in your business, and maybe you’ll start a new trend.

Finally, everything takes time, so don’t rush and try to enjoy the journey, especially when it’s hard because you’ll appreciate all your victories, big and small, and that appreciation will keep you motivated to continue to go after what you want. You will be unstoppable.

Do you develop your recipes and if so, what motivates you to do so.

I did a kind of hybrid thing with recipes.

When I first started, I would find them on Pinterest or in cookbooks. Then, I started modifying them to fit what I liked. And now I can develop my own because I have a couple of solid base recipes that I can add flavors and ingredients which makes the possibilities endless.

During your downtime, would you rather play a game, visit a relative or friend, watch a movie or read?

When I have downtime, I love to watch movies. I love anything with Steve Martin, Robin Williams or Gene Wilder.

I’ve been on a pretty big "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" kick lately. "Mrs. Doubtfire" is my go-to feel-good movie. And who doesn’t love "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory?" (I’m actually learning a lot of people are creeped out by this movie but it’s one of my favorites.)

I’m also totally in love with Kevin Costner and have watched "The Bodyguard" more times than I’m willing to admit.

I really enjoy hanging out with friends, too, and I really don’t care what we do, as long as I am with someone I care about, it’s always a good time. Except for that one time when I got chased by squirrels in the park … that was scary.

What are some of your favorite places to visit in Stark County and why?

• Erie St Vinyl: It’s an amazing independent record store with an epic selection and is run by a top-notch owner Samantha who has the best recommendations.

• Howlin’ Bird: They have so many great cocktails, amazing food, and it’s hard for me to resist stopping in on Tuesdays for their $5 chicken sandwich and fries, and trying the $5 cocktail of the month. The staff is super awesome as well.

• TD’s Tailgate: I love hitting up this spot for multiple reasons. The staff is super friendly and kind, the rewards program is awesome, a fantastic happy hour and the pop-up bar is connected next door which is super cool.

• Shale Craft Coffee: I didn’t pick this just because my cookies and cinnamon rolls are there. The staff is always cheerful and sometimes they call me "Queen." I always leave with a smile and the coffee is delicious.

• North Canton Police Department: This is not a joke! Haha. I enjoy popping in and visiting my friends at the police department. I’m convinced we have some of the best police officers around. Sgt. Buzzard is just OK.

• A+ Crab: My favorite seafood restaurant. I love a good seafood boil and this place delivers every time.

Ultimately, what all these places really have in common is exceptional service, which I value very highly. I like going places where I feel welcome and comfortable with genuinely kind people. That’s the common thread with all of these places and what keeps me going back.

Editor's note: Five questions with ... is a Sunday feature that showcases a member of the Stark County community. If you'd like to recommend someone to participate, send an email to newsroom@cantonrep.com.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: 5 questions with Christy Williams, owner of Little Chunk of Goodness