After spending over a decade in NYC real estate marketing, Legally Addictive founder Laura Shafferman was suddenly laid off and bound by a non-compete clause that prohibited her from working with other firms. (Yes, you can get laid off and also held to such things!)

Laura had lost her usual means to earn a living for a full year and was determined to take control over her future and not wait for that non-compete clause to expire. As a creative trapped in a long series of jobs that required constant spread-sheet making, this was somewhat of a relief and also the catalyst needed to make actual change. Fatefully, after making a batch of her favorite childhood cookies for a party, a friend suggested she sell her homemade toffee and chocolate covered crackers at a holiday market. After selling out in only a few hours, she knew they were a hit and a new business was born!

She spent the next year learning the food business and recreating the recipe for shelf-stability and during the day, worked various odd jobs to support herself. Eight months later, a few stores in New York City agreed to carry Legally Addictive, including the flagship location of Dylan’s Candy Bar. At the time, Laura was making cookies in the off-hours of a bakery in Brooklyn, often until well past midnight, and then delivering them around town on the subway and bike.