Small Business Spotlight: Donutology

DONUTOLOGY
Founder-Owner Andrew Cameron
https://www.donutology.com

Year founded:

October 2016

Tell us a little about your business?

As a donut lover and savvy entrepreneur, Andrew Cameron realized while growing up in Lansing, Kansas, that buying donuts wasn’t an interactive experience—something he always dreamed of changing. He imagined a more engaging way to enjoy the iconic sweet treat, found a solution, and ran with it.

Cameron opened Donutology in Kansas City’s West Plaza District, reimagining a classic art deco building that had housed Tower Cleaners for over 40 years. His respectful renovation earned a Kansas City Business Journal Capstone Award for preserving the building’s roots while giving it fresh purpose.

In 2023, Donutology expanded with a second location in the River Market, serving donuts out of a beloved vintage Kansas City trolley.

Though 10 billion donuts are produced annually in the U.S., most are still served with a one-size-fits-all mentality. Cameron believed they deserved a glow-up. Donutology’s signature-from-scratch mini donuts are customizable with curated icings, drizzles, and toppings—a choose-your-own-adventure for donut lovers.

Beyond the minis, Donutology offers seasonal specials, “fancy” creations like the cinnamon roll donut, gluten-free and vegan options, and clever pop-culture tie-ins. Cameron has created donut tributes to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and Kansas City’s football, baseball, and soccer teams. The Swift-inspired collection made such a splash that Billboard, USA Today, Forbes, and The Toronto Star came to town to experience the donut frenzy firsthand.

In 2023, Donutology was among 20 local businesses chosen for the NFL Draft Experience, where it sold thousands of donuts to fans on the lawn of the National WWI Museum and Memorial.

Cameron also obsesses over the donut lifestyle, developing proprietary merchandise including T-shirts (some in collaboration with Charlie Hustle), a DIY Donut Kit so donut lovers can recreate minis in their own kitchens, socks with the colorful Donutology logo, and mugs featuring iconic Kansas City landmarks like the Shuttlecocks and Sky Stations.

A firm believer in giving back, Cameron donates product to nonprofits, schools, churches, and fundraisers throughout the metro.

What benefits have you found to being a small business?

Creativity, community engagement, getting to know other small business owners and hear about their challenges, solutions, and hopes.

What's a recent success story or milestone you're proud of?

Launching another successful collaboration t-shirt with Charlie Hustle, collaborations with Children’s Mercy, SAVE, Inc., and Love Fund (upcoming) where a portion of donut sales benefit the organizations with our Care to Share program; a continued partnership with Wonderscope, and much more.

How can our Chamber members best support your small business?

Cameron encourages Chamber members to order donuts for meetings, as client appreciation tokens, for holiday celebrations, to purchase seasonal donuts and gift cards.

What would you like our Chamber members to know about your business which isn’t necessarily obvious?

“We’re living in a world of constant and concerning change,” Cameron says. “Sometimes we need a reminder of a happy, in-the-moment escape."

“Donuts have always been a happy food, and everyone has a donut story – usually nostalgic,” he often shares with writers and reporters. “Have you ever seen anyone unhappy while eating a donut?”