South Salem High School has many programs that work to excel students, especially with business opportunities. Hannah Al-Alayan ‘27 started working on her cookie business early this year. Her hobby of baking was inspired by a friend. Still, Alayan’s experience with Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), as well as culinary classes, furthered her knowledge in starting a business. Al-Alayan shared her love for baking sprouted from making treats for swim team events, where she was told countless times to turn her hobby into a career.
Business Creation
“Take your sweet time while creating your own business. It is never a race. Creating a business means creating something that you will genuinely love and care about. Do not rush opening dates, and go with the flow. There will always be aspects within your business that affect your desired timeline. You have to be okay with that and be able to work around those obstacles. The most important thing is to enjoy what you sell and create. The amount of effort you put into your products is showcased immensely,” Al-Alayan said, regarding advice for other potential young entrepreneurs.
Alayan’s businesses, Classic Cravings, will use a permanent menu system and will be promoting deluxe and classic cookie flavors. Along with this, there will be 1-2 new flavors each month, which will only be available for a limited time. As for delivery, the cookies will be available for doorstep delivery, as well as eventually being sold at school-affiliated events. Classic Cravings will be available starting this summer.
Responsiblity
“Becoming a business owner means having a lot of responsibility. A lot of time and thought goes into each aspect of your business, and it is very easy to get carried away and start throwing unrealistic ideas and expectations out there. I love it so much. I love designing materials and making cookies for demonstrations, and creating things that people will love. Along with the responsibility that comes with owning your own business comes a lot of smiles and memories,” Al-Alayan said.
