DOVER — Anastasia “Cookie” Jackson, the first black woman to open a paper flower shop in the United States, knows a thing or two about business development, and now she’s opening one in Kent County for dreamers like herself. You can now glue the pieces together.
Jackson serves as the Regional Small Business Manager for the Middle Counties for the Delaware Small Business Administration, and now puts his years of entrepreneurial spirit to the test every day in a variety of industries. To her credit, she told the Delaware Business Times that entrepreneurship runs in her blood. When Jackson was young, his mother ran a laundry and cleaning service, and he also saw a nursery school run by his late grandmother, also known as Cookie.
Still, young Cookie didn’t originally have an entrepreneurial spirit to follow in his family’s footsteps. In fact, she didn’t become a business owner until her own family was old enough. She then quit her job with the state.
“I had to learn to pivot quickly,” she told DBT.
She decided to bring her art-based hobby of making paper flowers from her patio to her store in Milford, across the Sussex county line, creating Cookie’s Paper Petals, the first store of its kind on the entire East Coast. It opened. She traveled the country for her business, teaching at Pinterest conferences and other opportunities, such as when she taught a group of African women how to make paper flowers in a virtual class with interpreters.
Although her time in business was cut short as the space she occupied was sold, the memory remains strong for Jackson and perpetuated in her journey to help develop more businesses in Delaware. plays a role.
With her own new dream of one day starting another business – a dog treat vending machine with her three dogs in mind – she hopes to inspire other dreamers with their own businesses. We are celebrating the opportunity we have now in the small business sector to help find new realities. Located in Kent County.
“In my role now, if a business owner calls and asks a question, I can help them navigate it. I can’t tell them how to set it up, but I can show them what their options are. You can,” she told DBT. “I’m a liaison, a connector. As someone who has worked for the state for a long time, it was definitely really helpful in knowing where to go and also having my own business.” Every day I wake up, I’m always thinking about how I can impact someone’s life today. It could be by listening, or it could be by taking action. It could be creating an inspirational post or product. I know we were put on this earth for a purpose. It keeps me going, keeps me motivated, and hopefully helps me. It also motivates our children and our communities.”
For Jackson, one thing becomes clear when she walks into her office in Dover each day. That means everyone has a dream.
“I started a paper flower shop, and there’s nothing crazier than that.” Whatever idea you have, let’s talk about it. It’s not my idea, it’s yours, it’s yours, this idea, this dream.
Ms. Jackson also said that new business owners can actually help new business owners through SCORE Delaware, other business owners and, of course, the small business division where they can navigate financing and certification for businesses owned by minorities, veterans, or women. We encourage you to dive deep into the business community. Including other aspects of the business that will soon begin.
“I fulfilled my purpose of being a business owner at that time in my life. I learned a lot during this time as a business owner and now I am able to help other owners. . Not all business owners are looking for grants or loans, but you need to connect with everyone to be successful,” she told DBT.
In addition to conferences and virtual visits with community members from other countries, her connections have led her to visit high schools around Kent County to discuss the small business sector and to Smlina High School to support the Junior Achievement Project. or visit Delaware State University to attend business classes. , just to name a few.
Leadership Central’s Delaware alumni also received accolades along the way, including a tribute from current Delaware Governor John Carney after receiving the 2024 Frank J. Masley Small Business Champion Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration. are.
But amid the hustle and bustle of business development in Delaware, one honor recently caught her eye that emphasizes building connections and reaching out to the community. She discovered that the largest paper flowers she had ever made with her Cricut were still adding texture to her family’s home. A friend bought it for about $250 about 200 years ago when Jackson was finding his way as a small business owner in Delaware.
“The fact that that piece that I made was still there…I remember when Mr. Cliff and his wife came to the store. They lived in Elkton, and they came to my house and said, “Your grandpa is so proud of you.” (Mr. Cliff) and his wife chose it together,” she said, acknowledging that her husband had recently passed away.
“That flower photo was there for me to see right now,” she says as she walks away, hands on her chest as she speaks to DBT, noting how meaningful this moment is to her own business journey. I showed it.
