09/02/2026
🗣️Something has been on my mind a lot lately & I want your thoughts: AI & Customer Trust🗣️
I think we’re entering an era where being REAL is going to be one of the biggest competitive advantages a small business can have.
The other day I heard the term “trust economy” and I thought, what a great term to label our economy right now.
So what exactly is a “trust economy”?
Basically, it’s the idea that trust has become one of the most valuable things a business can offer to its customers.
To me, I think a trust economy is customers want to see the real person behind the business. They want to see the actual product. They want to know that the photos are real, the reviews are real and that the person taking their money is actually the person making what they ordered.
And honestly? I get it!
Especially when it comes to something handmade.
That’s one reason I’m intentional about showing you MY cookies. Not AI-generated cookies. Not a picture of a “perfect” cookie that doesn’t actually exist. Not something designed to make you think, “Oh, THAT’S what mine will look like.”
When you order from Bushel & a Peck, I want you to see the actual cookies I make. The actual colors. The actual designs. The actual buttercream.
Because I want you to know exactly who is on the other side of your order.
I’m not a big bakery. I’m not a factory. There isn’t a team of people or an algorithm making your cookies.
It’s just me, Haley.🥹
And I think that’s worth something.
Small business might not always be the cheapest or the most polished option. But you know who you’re supporting. And I think that matters more than ever.💝
And let me be honest, I don’t think AI is inherently bad. There are absolutely ways it can be useful for small businesses. For me personally, it helps me color match almost perfectly!
But I do think there’s a difference between using technology to help run your business and using it to create an illusion of a product or experience that doesn’t actually exist.
So let me ask you:
When you’re buying from a small business, what makes you trust them? Reviews? Product photos? Or something else I’m not aware of?
Tell me! I really want to hear your thoughts on this one!👇