By Justin Fedich | The Selma Times-Journal

After months of effort, Robert Armstrong’s journey to win G Mommas Cookies a free Super Bowl commercial is over.

Armstrong, owner of G Mommas Cookies, learned this week at Intuit’s Quickbooks Connect Conference in San Jose, California, that his Selma-based cookie business was not one of the three finalists in the Small Business Big Game contest.

The three finalists were Chubbies Shorts, Death Wish Coffee Company and Vidler’s 5 & 10.

While G Mommas Cookies couldn’t crack the final three, Armstrong said he believes that G Mommas Cookies finished strong in the voting polls.

“I felt like we did well on voting, and even afterwards they did tell me that we did well, that we were very competitive compared to everybody else,” Armstrong said.

G Mommas Cookies had an uphill battle from the start, competing with companies like Chubbies Shorts, which is much more nationally known, and Vidler’s, which has been around for 85 years.

Armstrong knew G Mommas Cookies was at a disadvantage, but it didn’t deter him from believing in his business.

“I was really optimistic,” Armstrong said. “That was really my goal, was just to be in the top three.”

Armstrong said G Momma’s received a big boost in publicity from the contest.

Interacting with owners of the other businesses in the contest also gave Armstrong some insight on how to improve his business.

“It was cool to talk to some of the contestants to hear their struggles that are very similar to mine,” Armstrong said. “When you start talking to them, you realize they’re fighting the same battle as you are.”

As much as Armstrong was looking forward to advancing in the competition, he said there’s a little relief too.

“It was probably 99 percent of me that wanted it, but there was a small percentage, one percent, that was like ‘Whew. That would’ve been crazy if we would have won,’” Armstrong said.

Armstrong values the journey he went through, but he’s ready to go back to putting all his energy into growing his business.

Armstrong thanked everyone who voted and support his company. He’s looking forward to coming out with a smaller bag for G Mommas Cookies soon and continue to grow his footprint, especially across the Southeast.

“I’m glad it’s over with,” Armstrong said. “It was a lot of fun, but I can have my focus on just the business now.”