Friday, January 24, 2025
At just 13, Philip-Michael Pierre has already established himself as a successful entrepreneur. An eighth-grade student at Lawrence Road Middle School, he has his own cookie business — Philip’s Cookie Shop — that has not only attracted loyal customers, but also earned him recognition at a number of local fairs and festivals.
Pierre’s entrepreneurial journey began when he was 7, as a spark ignited by his mother and grandmother’s cooking company, Choices by M&R. They specialize in international cuisine, and the time Philip-Michael spent in the kitchen with them, watching and learning, was a huge influence.
“They’re really what inspired me to do this,” he said.
What started as a simple interest in baking soon blossomed into a full-fledged business. Pierre now makes and decorates all of his cookies from scratch, focusing primarily on sugar cookies. His large ones sell for $4, and the smaller ones for $2.
He takes pride in crafting cookies that reflect the events at which he sells them, with one of his recent creations being apple-shaped cookies that were sold at his school’s Health Fair. His talents have earned him a fairly steady customer base, Pierre said, with at least 10 regulars who look for his cookies at fairs and festivals year-round.
One of the highlights of Pierre’s developing business career came earlier this year, when he sold his creations at Raymour & Flanigan in Garden City. “To be in a store like that and be selling really made me think of the scale I was at,” he said.
Despite the pressures that come with running a business, Pierre said he manages to balance it with school and other activities. He is an active member of Lawrence Road’s National Junior Honor Society, and participates in various school clubs, including the debate team. He has competed in the prestigious Harvard National Speech and Debate Tournament, held in February, for the past two years, and said he hopes to return this year.
In addition to his academic pursuits, Pierre also volunteers at St. Martha Roman Catholic Church, in Uniondale, as an altar boy.
“There are some times where it can feel a little stress-inducing,” he said, “but for the most part, I’m able to manage everything.”
What makes Pierre’s business unique is that he donates 10 percent of his profits to Cohen’s Children’s Hospital in New Hyde Park, a cause that is close to his heart. He estimated that he has given roughly $300 to the hospital since he started his business, and he said it makes him feel good to know he can make a difference in children’s lives with his donations.
While Pierre said he finds joy in every part of his cookie business — whether it’s the “relaxing” process of baking at home or the thrill of selling his treats — he acknowledged the challenges he faces.
“The most challenging part is getting myself out there, to some degree, because marketing is a very hard thing,” he said. “Also, I don’t have that much trouble with balancing my other schoolwork and stuff, but sometimes I have homework at the same time as this. So balancing is not a major struggle, but it’s one of the struggles I have to deal with.”
Looking ahead, he dreams of going to Harvard in few years, and studying to become a doctor or a lawyer. But he doesn’t want to give up his business. “I would definitely try to keep my cookie business with me along the way,” he said.
Having a successful cookie shop at a young age has taught Pierre some lessons, about work and about life. He offered some advice to other young aspiring entrepreneurs.
“The hardest part of running a business is having the motivation to get up and actually keep doing it, repeat the process over and over, and to really put themselves out there,” he said, “because you may feel uncomfortable with doing what you’re doing at first, but you’ll really feel rewarded at the end of the journey.”
