Faces in Business Spotlight: Muffins 'n Such

Amy L Kort

Muffins 'n Such

What does Your Business Offer?

We make muffins…and such. The “and such” part is cookies and brownies for people who deserve tasty, homemade treats. And we can provide those tasty treats and help the planet at the same time. That’s why our packaging is made from eco-friendly stuff. The stuff that you can recycle and reuse. Muffins ‘n Such items make great gifts for all types of occasions: birthdays, thinking of you, family reunions, congratulations, thank yous, anniversaries, wedding party breakfasts, holidays and more!

When and How Did Your Business Launch?

We’re a mom and pop shop in the Midwest providing people with delicious sweets from our cupboard. After seeing my mom run a mail-order cookie business in the early 1990s, I expanded this concept to muffins and brownies. Since my husband and I share an interest in eco-friendliness, we added that “earthy” component to our plan.

Your job description 

I’m the owner and operator of Muffins ‘n Such. My husband and I do everything, from ordering supplies, to marketing, baking and shipping.

When and how did your business launch?

Our business launched in October 2009 when we received our first muffin order for a wedding party brunch. We’d been working on the idea for awhile, as my mother had a mail-order cookie business in the ‘90s. We modernized her idea with our e-commerce site and expanded our menu to muffins and brownies. After that first order, we steadily received orders from co-workers and others who stumbled across our site online. In fact, we just shipped a couple of boxes of whole wheat banana nut muffins to Maryland recently!

What's a fact about yourself that most people don't know?

When I was in college, I took an acting class. Little did I know, Tom Arnold stopped by for one of our classes to show us some of his clips, give us a few tips and join us for dinner. I was pretty star-struck!

The last movie you saw

“Oz The Great and Powerful” with my husband. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to seeing “Jurassic Park” in 3D this weekend!

Favorite Childhood Memory

Helping my family in the kitchen. I have very strong and fond memories. With four siblings, two parents and one bathroom on a century farm, the place was always a’buzz. I remember my mother asking me to double a recipe for bars once. And I asked if I should double the oven temperature.

Least favorite chore

Dishes! Ugh. I enjoy cooking and baking, but not the mess. It goes with the territory, though!

If I could change one thing about the world today I would

Poverty. When I took a mission trip to Honduras a few years ago, I was appalled by some of the living conditions. As Pope Paul VI said, "If you want peace, work for justice." I fight for civil rights, especially for women and mothers.