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2022 Land Real Estate Survey: Market Trends, Growth Insights from Nation’s Leading Land Brokerage

National Land Realty

National Land Realty, the nation’s fastest growing real estate land brokerage company—specializing in farm, ranch, country homes, timber, recreational, and commercial development properties—today released its second annual land real estate agent and broker survey. Key findings show that there was a significant positive sales impact on the rural land real estate sector in 2021 with more than 70% of agents seeing a slight to often significant increase in land values, especially with recreational land, farmland, country homes, and timberland. “Both investors and urban professionals ran for rural land in a big way in 2021, albeit for different reasons, which made for a very good year for land sales, with record-breaking volume throughout the year,” said Jason Walter, CEO of National Land Realty. “And with all of the traumatic events of last year, people continue to look to not only invest in land outside of cities, but they also want to live on the land they buy, to be able to breathe the fresh Covid-free air and reconnect with the great outdoors without being locked down. This significant move away from urban areas is now all the more possible through the popularity of remote or hybrid working arrangements.” “2021 was a very strong year for land and 2022 is starting out the same way. More than 90% of our brokers are optimistic that land real estate will do quite well over the next 12 to 18 months,” said Jason Burbage, President of National Land Realty. “And more than 70% of them expect land values to continue to appreciate in 2022 as much as 5% to more than 10% YoY.” Key Survey Takeaways: Land Values in 2021 Last year, brokers saw recreational land increase the most (48.72% of respondents), followed by farmland (24.36% of respondents), with the latter jumping more than 6% over 2020. Country homes and timberland tied for third with 10.26% of brokers saying that these types of land increased the most. Ranchland (5.13% of respondents) and commercial land (1.28% of respondents), rounded out the top six. In terms of percentage of change from 2020 to 2021, land values overall increased more than 10% (40.48% of respondents), 6-10% (26.19% of respondents), and 1-5% (17.86% of respondents). 8.33% of brokers said they experienced no land value increase, while no respondents had any property that lost value. Outlook for 2022 Optimistic For land value appreciation, almost 12% of brokers think it’ll be more than 10%, while 16.67% think land will increase by 6-10%, and the largest group (41.67%) think it’ll increase by as much as 5%. 15.48% think it’ll remain the same and almost 6% think it could drop by as much as 5%. For individual brokerages, 32.14% believe their business will grow by more than 10%, a more than 6% increase from 2021, while 19% think it’ll grow between 6-10%, a 7% drop from last year. And 16.67% say their business will grow as much as 5%, a more than 7% drop YoY. Majority of Buyers Coming from Urban or Suburban Areas (65%) 16.67% from major metro areas like Atlanta and Dallas, which is a 4% increase over 2020. 28.57% from smaller metro areas like Austin and Birmingham, a 3% increase from 2020. 20.24% from the burbs, a 9% drop from 2020. 20.24% from rural areas, a more than 10% jump from 2020. 9.52% from small towns, a nearly 4% drop from 2020. Challenges in 2022 Biggest challenges facing land real estate brokers are finding potential sellers (74% of respondents), establishing the right listing price (33% of respondents), and finding affordable prices for buyers (21% of respondents). The entire survey results are available upon request. About National Land Realty National Land Realty (NLR) is the nation’s fastest growing real estate land brokerage company specializing in farm, ranch, country homes, timber, recreational, and commercial development properties. Highly regarded for its proprietary land touring technology, Land Tour 360®, as well as its GIS land mapping system, LandBase™, which catalogs land data in extremely detailed ways, the company makes it easy to view and zero in on the right property in the right place. Founded in Greenville, S.C. in 2007, NLR has more than 80 offices in 40 states. To learn more visit www.nationalland.com or call (855) 384-5263. Contact Details Ray Young +1 512-633-6855 ray@razorsharppr.com Company Website https://nationalland.com/

February 24, 2022 03:17 PM Eastern Standard Time

AmeriLife Bolsters U65 Market Presence with Partnership with Insurance Specialist Group

AmeriLife

AmeriLife Group, LLC (“AmeriLife”), a national leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities, and retirement planning solutions, announced today that it has partnered with Insurance Specialist Group (ISG), a national field marketing organization (FMO) and distribution platform that specializes in health insurance products for individuals and families in the under-65 (U65) market. Per the agreement, terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Today marks a significant milestone in ISG’s history,” said Scott Lingle, co-founder and CEO of ISG. “AmeriLife is the perfect partner and collaborator to help us grow and scale our business. We’re excited to tap into its wealth of resources and support so we can continue to deliver value to our downline and expand our distribution in new and creative ways.” ISG was founded in 2015; the company merged with Insurance Management Group, LLC, in March 2020, retaining the ISG name. Today, its distribution, which spans roughly 100 call centers, offers a vast portfolio of more than 100 individual health and health specialty insurance products from more than 40 carriers. As such, ISG has consistently maintained a track record of consistent revenue growth, margin expansion, strong downline recruitment, and deep penetration in a growing U65 market. The partnership represents AmeriLife’s continued and extensive effort to partner with strategic and emerging organizations to further enhance its distribution coverage, as well as strengthen the opportunities to address the holistic financial and health care needs of pre-retirees and retirees. “ISG is the perfect addition to AmeriLife’s national network as our distribution continues to focus on serving clients at every stage of life, when and where they need us,” said Scotty Elliott, president of AmeriLife’s Life & Health Brokerage Distribution. “We’re equally as excited to add Scott to our distribution leadership bench. Scott is a proven health care expert and business builder. His legacy of success with Health Insurance Innovation (HHII) and United Health One are a testament to his drive and leadership, and we look forward to working with Scott to take ISG to new heights.” ISG will continue to operate as a stand-alone business and be led by Lingle, reporting to Elliott. Teneo acted as financial advisor to ISG on this transaction. ### About AmeriLife AmeriLife’s strength is its mission: to offer insurance and retirement solutions to help people live longer, healthier and more secure lives. In doing so, AmeriLife has become recognized as the leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities and retirement planning solutions to enhance the lives of pre-retirees and retirees across the United States. For more than 50 years, AmeriLife has partnered with top insurance carriers to provide value and quality to customers served through a national distribution network of over 300,000 insurance agents and advisors, more than 50 marketing organizations, and 50 insurance agency locations. For more information, visit AmeriLife.com, and follow AmeriLife on Facebook and LinkedIn. Contact Details Jeff Maldonado +1 321-297-1112 jmaldonado@amerilife.com Company Website https://amerilife.com/

February 24, 2022 01:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

Responding to International Mother Language Day, CIP Rewards Indigenous Language Promotion and Invites Traditional Leaders to Discuss the Sustainable Development of Indigenous Languages

Council of Indigenous Peoples

TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Media OutReach - 24 February 2022 - To campaign the importance of protecting languages, and advance the inheritance of mother languages to prevent their disappearance, the United Nations designated February 21 each year as the International Mother Language Day. CIP held the 2022 International Mother Language Day -- Indigenous Language Revitalization Award Ceremony and Forum on Taiwan Indigenous Language Development on February 21 and 22 at Parkview Hotel Hualien. The event included the Indigenous Language Revitalization Award Ceremony, keynote speech, and conference on building an environment friendly to indigenous languages by traditional leaders and heads of agencies. Minister Icyang of CIP said that in order to further reward the individuals, agencies, and groups promoting indigenous languages, the number of awards has been increased to 23 from 12 in 2021. In addition to providing NTD 20K to 60K bonuses, the Premier Su Tseng-Chang personally presented all 12 award categories to demonstrate his appreciation to everyone for being the role model in promoting indigenous languages. The Indigenous Language Development Meeting the following morning saw the participation of indigenous traditional leaders, their contributions help everyone understand how they led the indigenous communities in building the environment for indigenous languages. In addition, CIP is also moving forward with the "Support Program to Creating the Environment for Indigenous Languages in Church" this year, expanding the function and role played by the Church in passing on indigenous languages over the years, and creating on a wide scale an environment friendly to indigenous languages. Responding to the theme of this year's UN commemoration of the International Mother Language Day, "using technology for multilingual learning: Challenges and opportunities", Minister Iycang of CIP delivered his full remark and speech in the Amis language, which is simultaneously interpreted through the equipment for simultaneous interpreting. This shows how mother languages are no longer obstacles to communication with the assistance of technology. In the future, we will be applying more indigenous language-assistive technology, and continue to work with central and local governments, NGOs, and indigenous peoples to promote the preservation and promotion of indigenous languages. Contact Details Pius Wu piuscswu@gmail.com

February 24, 2022 08:49 AM Eastern Standard Time

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AmeriLife & Prosperity Life Group Launch New, Affordable Life Solution for Pre-Retiree Americans

AmeriLife

AmeriLife Group, LLC (“AmeriLife”), a national leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities, and retirement planning solutions, today announced the launch of Family Freedom Term, a new, simplified issue term life solution offering affordable coverage at low costs and developed in collaboration with longtime partner Prosperity Life Group (“Prosperity”). Family Freedom Term offers affordable protection for people ages 18-75, meeting the needs of forward-thinking pre-retirees and retirees nationwide. The product offers a simple e-application process with instant underwriting in most cases. Three Accelerated Death Benefit riders are included with all plans for no additional premium and give clients access to a portion of their policy proceeds in the event of terminal, critical, or chronic illness. Other optional riders available for additional premium include Accidental Death, Waiver of Premium and Children’s Term. “While agents will enjoy being able to offer clients an instant decision and robust death benefits, it's the access to living benefits that truly separates Prosperity’s Family Freedom Term from others in the marketplace,” said David Paul, national sales director, Simplified Issue Life at AmeriLife. “The living benefits are a great policy feature that provides customers the security of knowing that, if they have a qualifying health change, they can access a portion of their death benefit. This flexibility is a huge benefit to our clients. Coupled with a product that provides them with exceptional value in today’s competitive marketplace, Family Freedom Term is an exciting addition to the portfolios of AmeriLife-affiliated agents and advisors.” As another shining example of AmeriLife’s collaborative partnership with Prosperity Life Group, Family Freedom Term adds to AmeriLife’s shelf of market-leading products that offer solutions for almost any age or health situation. Today’s announcement comes on the heels of a Medicare Supplement insurance offering, joining other Prosperity life insurance products — like PrimeTerm to 100℠ and New Vista® — to expand agents’ and advisors’ reach to a younger demographic keen to get a jumpstart on securing their health and financial futures. “This joint effort and Prosperity’s entire suite of products, distributed by AmeriLife, really addresses the full spectrum of clients’ needs,” said Pat Fleming, executive vice president, Product Innovation & Corporate Actuary at AmeriLife. “With Prosperity’s holistic approach to innovation, we’re excited to bring products to the market that are redefining the future.” “We’re thrilled to once again join forces with AmeriLife with the addition of Family Freedom Term to its growing stable of Prosperity solutions,” said Jack Heller, senior vice president, Marketing and Sales at Prosperity Life Group. “This product is another great example of our collaborative approach to developing industry-leading solutions that benefit both agent and customer.” Additionally, Family Freedom Term is convertible to a whole life plan if converted by the policy’s 10th anniversary or the beneficiary’s 75th birthday, whichever comes first. The product is underwritten by Prosperity member company S.USA Life Insurance Company, Inc. and is currently available in 40 states across the U.S., as well as Washington, D.C. (Family Freedom Term is not currently available in CA, CT, HI, ME, MT, NH, NY, ND, PA and SD.) For more information on Family Freedom Term from Prosperity and AmeriLife, visit https://www.prosperitylife.com/simple-issue-term-life-insurance. ### About AmeriLife AmeriLife’s strength is its mission: to offer insurance and retirement solutions to help people live longer, healthier and more secure lives. In doing so, AmeriLife has become recognized as the leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities and retirement planning solutions to enhance the lives of pre-retirees and retirees across the United States. For more than 50 years, AmeriLife has partnered with top insurance carriers to provide value and quality to customers served through a national distribution network of over 300,000 insurance agents and advisors, more than 50 marketing organizations, and 50 insurance agency locations. For more information, visit AmeriLife.com, and follow AmeriLife on Facebook and LinkedIn. About Prosperity Life Group Prosperity Life Group is a marketing name for products and services provided by one or more of a group of affiliated companies. Together, these companies have been fostering the financial security of our customers and their families for over a century. We provide life insurance, annuities and supplemental health products designed with our customers and their families in mind so that they can plan for today and protect a stronger tomorrow. For more information, visit www.prosperitylife.com. Contact Details AmeriLife Jeff Maldonado +1 321-297-1112 jmaldonado@amerilife.com Prosperity Life Group Jamie Leon +1 877-725-4872 jamie.leon@prosperitylife.com Company Website https://amerilife.com/

February 23, 2022 02:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

amika Taps Assembly to Lead Integrated Media Program Aimed at Growing Its Passionate Communities of Haircare Enthusiasts

Assembly

Global omnichannel agency, Assembly, has been chosen by prestige haircare brand, amika, to lead its integrated media program, with an emphasis on driving sustained awareness and building brand equity. amika has emerged as a go-to haircare brand through its ‘ all hair is welcome ’ positioning, which represents 10 unique collections of haircare for every hair type, texture, and style. amika has called on global data-driven agency, Assembly, as its partner in expanding its community of brand enthusiasts through its distinct, disruptive, and impactful messaging connected to purpose and inclusivity. “amika is a brand that has authentically lived its core values of kindness and inclusivity while doing good for the planet far before it was ‘cool’ or even an expectation from consumers,” said Kim Davis, Vice President at Assembly. “This is one of those best of both world partnerships where we get to bring the latest in media innovation to a brand that’s as committed as we are to nurturing people and the planet. We’re looking forward to developing an out-of-the-box channel strategy that maximizes brand awareness for amika.” amika was built with purpose at its heart by creatives, stylists, and product enthusiasts alike, and encourages a diverse and creative culture that’s fueled by radical thinking. In placing people and the planet at its core, the brand has maintained its mission of bringing progress to the beauty industry. “The name ‘amika’ means friend—to hair, hairstylists, the planet, our communities, and each other—and it’s truly embedded into everything we do. We want our customers to know us for not only our high-quality products, but our commitment to making a positive impact on people and the planet," said Chelsea Riggs, amika’s Brand President. “We were impressed by Assembly’s integrated approach across the funnel to help accomplish our goals and we were immediately aligned in our vision.” This year marks a strategic shift in digital media investment for amika, with an increased focus on driving awareness and new customer acquisition. Assembly will partner with amika to develop a full-funnel multi-channel strategy to achieve these goals. The team’s focus for the year includes strengthening paid social investment, a renewed focus on paid media influencer integrations, and continued momentum in search and display. Assembly and amika will also work together to introduce new high-impact channels to amika’s mix, including CTV, TikTok and localized OOH. “We’re flexible and agile, which gives us an opportunity to test and learn in new channels and platforms where we know our customers are spending their time. We have some big brand and product moments coming up this year, and we’re also excited to see how measurement helps support all of the work we’re doing in increasing the focus on brand awareness and consideration,” said Kelley Martin, amika’s Senior Vice President of Marketing. About Assembly: Assembly is made of the ingredients of the modern agency, bringing together data, talent, and technology to deliver a connected set of solutions for media + more to the best brands on the planet. We’re home to more than 1,500 of the industry’s top talent, who bring unmatched global omnichannel media expertise + data, technology, and business consulting capabilities that help brands find the change that fuels growth. Assembly is a proud member of Stagwell, the challenger network built to transform marketing. Visit www.assemblyglobal.com for more information. About amika: A friend to hair, hairstylists, to her, him, them and you. The name amika means friend in the language Esperanto & represents our belief in the power of community and the beauty of diversity. Straight out of Brooklyn, where creativity and hustle are a way of life, we’re a collective of creatives, hairstylists, chemists, and product enthusiasts. We only make products that make us proud. 10 collections for every hair type, texture and style. Visit www.loveamika.com for more information, and follow @amika on Instagram. Contact Details Assembly Sara Pollack, VP of Marketing +1 917-438-4922 sara.pollack@assemblyglobal.com Company Website https://www.assemblyglobal.com/

February 23, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Covid Testing the Right Way and How to Avoid Scams

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/ZyvwNXn2NSo Testing for Covid-19 is now a daily part of many of our lives. Testing to go to work, school, travel, concerts, and most importantly, to stay healthy. But not all tests or testing centers are created equally. There are still many unanswered questions we have on the best ways to stay safe and healthy. With so much uncertainty its time to turn to an expert for insights and information on how to do covid testing the right way and avoid scams. On February 16 th Dr Emily Volk, President of the College of American Pathologists conducted a nationwide media tour. Topics that Dr Volk discussed included: What people need to know to administer an at home test properly Why it’s important that any collection center or laboratory doing COVID testing is accredited, adhering to the very highest standards Are rapid antigen tests more accurate than PCR tests and when to get one or the other Questions we should be asking medical professionals For more information, visit newsroom.cap.org About the College of American Pathologists: As the world's largest organization of board-certified pathologists and leading provider of laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing programs, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) serves patients, pathologists, and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

February 22, 2022 01:26 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Brush Up on Oral Health: Technology For Your Mouth Leading To Healthy, Confident Smiles

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/UIgoM06hR04 How do you get that ‘fresh from the dentist’ clean feeling on the 360+ days you’re not at the dentist? You turn to a revolutionary kit that integrates advanced technology to deliver brighter, whiter smiles and cleaner, healthier teeth. The result is that consumers look and feel their best and enjoy greater confidence as they go about their day. Built by dental professionals, izzoTM was developed by fourth-generation family-owned Premier Dental, a global developer and manufacturer of dental and medical products that has been in business for 100+ years, with a presence in 76 countries. Julie Charlestein, the President and CEO of Premier Dental, conducted a nationwide media tour to discuss the launch of izzo TM, an innovative new direct to consumer initiative designed to elevate at-home oral care. While brushing your teeth regularly is certainly important, izzo TM is the first and only 4-in-1 oral care system that goes significantly beyond just the typical toothbrush to give your teeth a whole new level of clean. izzo is technology for your mouth leading to healthy, confident smiles. izzo not only helps you brush effectively, it helps you polish to remove surface stains for a brighter, whiter smile; scale to remove plaque and debris between teeth; and sanitize your brush to ensure it’s germ-free for your next use. Best of all, it gives you that ‘fresh from the dentist’ clean feeling and a healthy confidence to look and feel your best. The revolutionary izzo system is currently available online for purchase at www.izzosmile.com for $129.95. For more information or to read first-hand product reviews, please visit www.izzosmile.com. About izzo TM izzo TM is the revolutionary 4-in-1 home oral care system that helps consumers look and feel their best through healthier, whiter smiles. izzo includes a toothbrush, polishing system (polisher & enamel polishing paste), scaler and sanitizer. Made in partnership with Premier ® Dental Products Company, a 4th generation, family-run business established in 1913, izzo reflects the knowledge of over 100 years in developing professional-grade oral care products. This differentiated product introduces innovative in-home dental care directly to consumers through an easy-to-use kit and a convenient Subscribe & Save program. For more information, please visit www.izzosmile.com. About Premier Dental ® Products Company Premier Dental ® is a global privately-held business dedicated to delivering inspired solutions for daily dentistry. Dental professionals have turned to Premier for over 100 years as a leader in bringing innovative products to market that improve their daily procedures, practices and patient outcomes. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

February 18, 2022 01:54 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Spiceology and Hell's Kitchen Team Up To Bring Competition-Worthy Flavor To Homes Everywhere

Spiceology

Spiceology, leading spice and flavor company, today announced a collaboration and new product line with Hell’s Kitchen, the popular cooking competition show. Each blend created by Spiceology and Hell’s Kitchen captures the essence of some of the show’s most viral moments and some of its most well-known dishes: Sir Wellington ($9.99) - Based on Hell’s Kitchen’s most famous dish, Beef Wellington, this blend boasts flavors of mustard, mushroom and shallot, with an earthy horseradish linger balanced by worcestershire, rosemary and thyme. Try it on beef, chicken, eggs, tofu, brussels sprouts, asparagus, mushrooms, potatoes, and in sauces and gravies. Where’s the Lamb Sauce?! ($9.99) - “Source” or Sauce, named after one of the most meme-able moments and quotes from Hell’s Kitchen, this herbaceous blend is filled with mint, tarragon, chives, rosemary, oregano, marjoram and parsley, and finished with a sweet balsamic powder and molasses. Try it on lamb, chicken, white fish, pork, wild game, tofu, roasted root veggies, green beans, asparagus, eggs, salad dressing, rice, and couscous. Vampire Killer ($9.99) - Made for, but not limited to risotto (one of the chef-slaying dishes on the show), this blend is a delicious mixture of garlic and parmesan, with a hint of umami from mushroom powder. Try it on risotto, pasta, eggs, popcorn, roasted vegetables like tomatoes, eggplant, asparagus, root veggies, and potatoes, kale chips, salad dressings, infused olive oil, and garlic bread. Smashing Salmon ($9.99) - What happens in Hell’s Kitchen when the salmon is undercooked? It gets smashed! This blend turns a notorious negative on the show into a palate-pleasing positive with its acidic miso flavor and strong umami from soy and shitake mushroom, as well as hints of lemon and ginger for a kick. Try it on seafood, chicken, pork, tofu, roasted vegetables, peas, string beans, eggs, fried rice, popcorn, noodles, soups and ramen. Under the Sea ($9.99) - Perfectly cooked scallops can be hit or miss on the show. But, this sweet and spicy blend pairs perfectly with scallops with flavors like maple and Korean chile flakes. Try it on white fish, scallops, tofu, chicken, pork, squash, glazed carrots, asparagus, corn, rice bowls, as a pizza topper, and in noodles. “The core of Hell’s Kitchen is creating amazing food, and whether you’re a die-hard fan of the show or want to experiment with incredible flavor shortcuts, these diverse blends bring deliciousness to dishes,” said Chef Tony Reed, Senior Director of Innovation and Partnerships. “These blends bring chef-driven flavors into the kitchen and celebrate the dedication and talent of chefs everywhere” For more information on the partnership and the blends, visit www.Spiceology.com/collaborations/hells-kitchen. ABOUT SPICEOLOGY Founded in 2013, Spiceology is the fastest-growing spice company in America and is on a mission to bring the magic back to spices, the world’s first currency. The chef-owned and operated, one-stop spice shop develops innovative blends and offers over 400 ingredients that are ground fresh in small-batches and shipped fresh to consumers and chefs. Spiceology’s “experiment with flavor” ethos is not only embraced through excellent ingredients and unique combinations, but also through responsible business practices designed to create a better world with diversity, equity and inclusion at the heart of the workforce. Spiceology products can be found on spiceology.com, in specialty retailers and grocers, in restaurants around the US, and as far away as Australia and Dubai. Visit spiceology.com for more information or to place an order, or follow Spiceology on Facebook and Instagram. For recipe inspiration, visit here. ABOUT HELL’S KITCHEN Each season of HELL’S KITCHEN welcomes a new batch of ambitious chefs who will brave an intense culinary academy. Competitors face a series of grueling challenges to prove they possess the right combination of ingredients to win a life-changing grand prize. As the competition progresses, the number of contestants is whittled down until only two chefs are left to compete for the ultimate prize, a Head Chef position at a premier restaurant, and fulfill their dreams of working in the culinary industry as the winner of HELL’S KITCHEN. Contact Details Spiceology Cassidy Levine +1 908-770-7880 cassidy@spiceology.com Company Website https://spiceology.com/

February 16, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Cookie Co. Celebrated as Pandemic Success Story, Now Franchising

Cookie Co.

For most people, the pandemic brought about radical shifts both personally and professionally. For locals Matt and Elise Thomas, 2020 – 2021 was a period of time that was riddled with setbacks that challenged their grit and perseverance. Looking for a way to make ends meet during one of the most distressing times in our nation’s history, Elise decided to do what would fuel her soul. In the stressful and reflective early days of the national stay-at-home orders, Elise often thought about the simple things she loved growing up – like fresh baked cookies. She remembered times when a neighbor would be having a rough day and her mom would bake them some fresh baked cookies to help spread a little cheer; and times when a tragic loss would occur and while her mother was powerless to change the tragedy, she could bake cookies as an offering of comfort to those in need. As a mother of 3 at the time, Elise recognized that this tradition of yesteryears often goes by the wayside as most women work these days, with baking last on the to-do list. Beginning as a simple way to comfort locals, pass the time, and bring in a little income, Elise started baking cookies at home with what she now calls “a Barbie size mixer” for purchase via Instagram (where she has amassed a following of over 33K followers). Cookies were for sale from “the cookie lady” (which she became known as) via social media with curbside pick-up in her driveway. Sales quickly skyrocketed and Elise found herself working around the clock to make hundreds of cookies a day. Out of space and managing increasing demand, Elise and her husband did the unthinkable – they opened their flagship location in Redlands in August of 2020. Despite mandates, a house fire, and a fourth child on the way, Elise and her team were able to make Cookie Co. soar. Elise channeled her perseverance from her Boston marathon training to ride the waves of chaos and establish a new standard in her industry. Today, Elise and her team are more excited than ever about the next phase of Cookie Co., which includes franchising. “What I cherish the most about Cookie Co. is the ability it gives us to bring joy to people in times of both success and sadness. Time is precious and if we can help others maximize time while giving them a resource to help impart love and light in the lives of others, then we have succeeded.” –Elise Thomas, Co-Founder, Cookie Co. About Cookie Co: Where there is love, life is better. Founded in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, Cookie Co. began as a labor of love, offering the simplest of comfort foods – fresh baked cookies. Baked right at home with curbside pick-up in their driveway, Founders Elise and Matt Thomas discovered peace in providing an experience that reminded them of hopeful childhood memories. Opening the first location in August 2020 in Redlands, California, Cookie Co. is known for its signature cookies which are proprietary to the company. Cookie Co. has thrived thanks to raving fans across the community with their gourmet cookies made locally and is now available as a franchise. Interested franchise partners can learn more here. Contact Details Sterling Public Relations Paula Steurer +1 949-200-6566 concierge@sterlingpublicrelationsoc.com Company Website https://www.theofficialcookieco.com/

February 15, 2022 02:54 PM Pacific Standard Time

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