Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Ellis.
Hi Erika, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When the world started going through a crisis, I was reminded that my little girl’s birthday was coming up. When the world had a cloud over them, she was singing her songs, making her birthday lists, and asking for a cake. When stores were closed and cakes weren’t readily available, I could at least make her day as bright as her. Growing up, when I was a little girl, I saw my grandmother spark magic with brides and grooms. I saw her make each holiday a magical experience with her desserts. She sat there by the table–not partaking of her creations, but partaking in the atmosphere she helped engineer. Brides smiled when they saw her cakes, the family stayed when she made her famous (and secret-recipe) desserts, and life-long friends were made. I grew up with that. And when I saw my daughter, just about to turn 8 years old, oblivious to the harsh darkness the world was taking away from her birthday, I knew that I could give her the celebration and feeling my grandmother gave to us. Brides still get married. People still have birthdays. Anniversaries still happen. Friends still are made. I feel, in some small way, I get to keep my grandmother’s legacy of helping people celebrate their moments.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wouldn’t say it’s a smooth road, but I wouldn’t say it’s a road full of struggles either– I would rather describe it as a road I’ve chosen to go down, yet I can only see 10 feet in front of me at any given time. I know it will twist and turn, and I don’t know where the ultimate destination will lead me. Along the way I will pick up hitchhikers, my car will break down, people will help fix my car, and I will get some awesome vehicle upgrades along the way. I have faith that the journey will be a great one. It will lead me to places I will have never in a million years predicted, and I will one day look back and see a vast road trip that I won’t have regretted one bit.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in custom wedding cakes, custom celebration/event cakes, truffles, and personalized gourmet cake tastings.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Listening to customers, absolutely. A business is not successful unless you SERVE your customers. Customers have likes, dislikes, allergies, budgets, mothers, mothers-in-law, wishes, and desires. For a wedding, this is the day they’ve DREAMED about since they were little. That cannot be smashed to pieces by budgetary constraints. For a mother giving their child their first smash cake, this is a photo shoot to remember forever.
Success is always in serving customers, and always listening to their every need.
Contact Info:
- Website: SweetEsBakes.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/SweetEsBakeryProvo
- Facebook: facebook.com/SweetEsBakeryProvo
Image Credits
Salt Lake Photo by Sadie
Shannon Volmar Photo
Savvy Leigh Photography
Alisa Mason Photography
