Photo courtesy of Curtis Wallis
Confessions of a Chocoholic
Brownie Points founder Lisa King talks business, baking and her favorite sweets
Life is sweet for New Albany resident Lisa King, founder and co-owner of Brownie Points Inc.
But while the Columbus-based company has earned national renown for its gourmet brownies and popcorn – including features on The Today Show, Good Morning America, the Rachael Ray Show, Fox News and the Food Network – getting there hasn’t been easy.
Photo courtesy of Lisa King
Confessions of a Chocoholic
From its origins in King’s Cleveland kitchen to its 6,000-square-foot facility in east Columbus, Brownie Points has survived being sold, bought, sold again and starting over from scratch. Despite the turbulence, King’s dedication to her business has never wavered.
“Brownies are my favorite dessert in the world,” she says. “As long as I can remember, my favorite pastime was baking brownies.”
Brownie Points has made a name for itself by adding unique twists to timeless desserts. Notables include a line of breakfast brownies, such as cinnamon bun, streusel and banana; the shmurtle, a turtle with a layer of buckeye batter and drizzled with peanut butter; and gold mine cookies loaded with potato chips, pretzels and butterscotch pieces.
“We like to say ‘irresistible chocolate confections,’” King says. “We’ve taken desserts people have loved over time and reinvented them for today’s time.”
King is reluctant to name a favorite, but mentions her original Kitchen Sink brownie, which blends four kinds of chocolate, peanut butter, caramel and butterscotch.
“The Kitchen Sink has a special place in my heart,” she says. “It put us on the map.”
Photo courtesy of Lisa King
Confessions of a Chocoholic
King adds that some of the most memorable experiences have been collaborating with retailers such as Bath & Body Works, DSW, Victoria’s Secret and American Eagle to create special gifts for their customers. For its work with American Eagle, Brownie Points was featured on a billboard in Times Square.
“To see that in real life is amazing,” she says.
Amid the success, King maintains two goals for her company: to develop into a household name and remain appreciative of their supporters. But the ultimate reward has been to see her passion evolve into a real business.
“You’ve got to follow your heart and your dreams,” she says. “I’ve done it, and I can tell you it’s not easy. It’s the most gratifying thing in the world when you can make it work. I think it’s a great example to my kids: If you really put your mind to it, you can do it.”
Jaya Pillai is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
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