"My first foray into this universe was when I was 12. My best friend and I had a cookie company, and we had customers. I actually sold to local delis in my town, which is kind of wild that was even allowed. Over the course of one summer, their cookie operation brought in $500: a fortune in the eyes of a kid, but chump change compared to Dawes' future success selling her organic tortilla chip brand Late July, which reeled in $100 million in annual sales."
"Her pre-teen business wasn't a smashing financial success like her later ventures, but the experience did teach her about company costs, how to sell a product, and different ways to market. Luckily, the then 12-year-old also had a strong mentor to guide her first operation; Dawes' father, the late Steve Bernard, founded $4.87 billion brand Cape Cod potato chips back in 1980."
"My dad was very interested [in] me in learning the business. When I was a little kid, he would sit down and, like, show me a [profit and loss statement]. To this day, I bake good cookies. I'm a great cookie baker. It was a formative summer job that set her up for success in helping turn around her father's legendary snack business, and launching two of her own brands."
Nicole Bernard Dawes began her entrepreneurial journey at age 12, selling homemade cookies to local delis with her best friend, earning $500 over one summer. Though modest financially, this early venture taught her fundamental business lessons about costs, sales, and marketing. Her father, Steve Bernard, founder of the $4.87 billion Cape Cod potato chips brand, served as her mentor, teaching her profit and loss statements, cost structure, product pricing, and quality standards. This formative experience prepared her for later success, including turning around her father's company and launching two of her own brands, most notably Late July organic tortilla chips, which achieved $100 million in annual sales.
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