Since 1997, Jim and Jancene Shields have owned and operated Gramma Jan’s Sweet Sensations, a successful, family operated wholesale bakery specializing in cookies and brownies. They both believe that success is based on a quality product and great customer service. They use only the finest ingredients, seasoned with hard work, determination, and a great deal of love. What began as a lark over ten years ago, is now a thriving business. Item sales for 2007 exceeded a quarter million!

Here’s our story (as told by Jim):

Jancene, known as Gramma Jan to our five grand children, was in trouble for bringing too many homemade goodies to share with her coworkers. Someone complained that the cookies she brought were so good that he couldn’t help but eat too many of them. To solve the problem, a suggestion was made for her to sell the cookies instead of giving them away thereby providing a financial incentive to control cookie consumption.

“Gramma Jan’s Sweet Sensations” was born! Other than the license from the Oregon Department of Agriculture for a domestic kitchen, the total business investment was less than $100! There was an assortment of six types of cookies (still our most popular) and payment was made by the honor system in an old quart mason jar. It was intended to be just a hobby business, with any profit used to purchase some nice things for my wife’s kitchen.

In less than two months the word got out to the deli operator, Harold Young, in an office building in downtown Salem where Jancene had previously worked. After testing some samples, he became our first wholesale customer and continues to sell our products in his deli operation.

Business began to increase over the next few months. I would take the cookie deliveries in the morning before working at my own consulting business. Then I approached another local business about carrying our cookies and our business doubled in just another couple of months. Jancene was spending all her spare time baking and I learned to mix the dough, deliver the cookies, and do all associated purchasing and paperwork.

In 1999, as the business continued to grow, I shifted my business focus from land use consulting to developing the potential of “Gramma Jan’s”. I realized how fond I am of being the “Cookie Man”. I work as the business manager primarily responsible for marketing, product delivery, equipment repair, and raw ingredients.

As long as she can remember, Jancene has made candy to give her friends and family for Christmas. Each year, we added the names of our cookie customers to the candy recipient list so they could each receive a box of handmade chocolate truffles to enjoy as a thank you for their business. We still follow this tradition.

We have always been asked when the candy and chocolates will be available for sale. Jan was still working full time outside of the home and blanched whenever I asked her if she was interested in making and selling her chocolates.

Then, in August of 2007, I encouraged Jancene to follow her real passion for making chocolates and signed her up, as a gift, to attend “Chocolate Boot Camp” at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Soon after, plans were made for her to resign from more than twenty years of public service and redirect her energy toward increasing her availability to our five grandchildren and enhance the business product line to include chocolate novelties, hand dipped chocolates, and other “sweet sensations”.

Though primarily self-taught, Jancene is a proud member of Retail Confectioners International (RCI), a not for profit trade association founded in Chicago in 1917 whose membership is composed of the most prominent manufacturers of quality boxed chocolate and other confectionery products throughout the U.S., Canada, and overseas. She is also a member of the Northwest Chocolatiers Guild, a Seattle based organization established in 2007 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

She is also the bakery manager in charge of organizing bakery and confectionery operations.

Together we use this recipe for a happy life. An aide memoire hangs in our home on our kitchen wall, a gift to us from a long married Aunt and Uncle.

4 Cups Love
2 Cups Happiness
1 Dash Faith (A Must)
3 Cups Kindness
2 Cups Understanding
4 Cups Friendship
2 Tbls. Surprise
1 Barrel Laughter
1 Pinch Forgiveness (No Substitutions)
1 Cup Thoughtfulness (Not Optional)
Passion (According to Taste)

Take love and happiness, and mix thoroughly with faith. Blend in kindness and understanding. Add friendship and surprise, stirring well. Fold in passion, alternating with an abundance of laughter. Bake with sunshine and rainbows. Garnish with forgiveness and thoughtfulness. Serve generous helpings daily. Enjoy!