Pure Confections - Jesebel Gumogda

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jesebel Gumogda, owner, and pastry chef of Pure Confections, located in New York, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Pure Confections is a M/WBE (Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise) certified small business based in New York City. We specialize in handcrafted custom cakes and treats for weddings, celebrations, and corporate events. We cater to newly engaged couples, mothers who plan parties, and event professionals. We also collaborate with fellow local small business owners. We provide a personalized experience that our client is worth. Honoring traditions and culture through our innovative custom cakes and treats, making our products and services exceptional.

Tell us about yourself

My name is Jesebel Gumogda; I was born and raised in the Philippines. I moved to New York City in 2011 after I graduated from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, where I studied Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management, majoring in Culinary Arts. I worked alongside well-known chefs for ten years in the fine dining restaurant industry of New York City. That molded me into the experienced Pastry Chef that I am right now.

In 2014, I started my business as a side hustle to earn extra income while juggling it with my full-time job as a Pastry Chef in the restaurant. It started from a co-worker who asked me to make his son's first birthday cake, and from there, the word spreads. I used to do the same thing while I was in college and high school, which my goal was to earn extra income to help ease the school expenses. I reached the point in my career when I realized that it was time for me to start something I could call my own and take my career to the next level. I wanted to establish something that I could pass on to my next generations. I enjoyed working in the restaurant industry because I learned a lot from it, but at the same time, it took a lot of sacrifices for me to be able to climb up the ladder. One of those sacrifices is the freedom of time. I missed a lot of family gatherings and quality time with my loved ones. I know that if I have my own business, it will at least give me the flexibility of managing my own time without asking permission from a boss.

I love being my own boss! It's been four years since I went full-time to my business. What keeps me motivated in doing this is knowing that this is something I can pass on as a legacy to my niece's nephews and my future kids, and the next generations of our family.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

So far, the biggest accomplishment is keeping my business afloat during the pandemic. Like many other business owners, I have to pivot my business to meet what my clients need at that time and to make sure my business survives. From making big wedding cakes good for 200-500 people, I started offering small cakes good for 2-3 people. And another thing is that all those cakes need to be delivered since nobody can really go outside and half of the orders came from a family member from another state who wants to surprise their loved ones here in NYC. No one else can do that task but me (perks of a one-woman-run business!). At that time, I have no choice but to overcome my trauma from a car accident and get back on the road to do all the deliveries that led to another big accomplishment.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

At the beginning of my business and even up to now, I have to wear a lot of hats. Having limited funds, I have to be practical on how to use what I have. This means doing everything on my own until I can afford to outsource. I started this business by myself. I do everything from answering emails, fulfilling orders, marketing, bookkeeping, picking up supplies and ingredients, and many more. It's very crucial to have a strong mindset, dedication, and discipline when you go on this kind of venture.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

1. DO YOUR RESEARCH. 1 year prior to going full time to my business, I did a lot of research in terms of the business side. I researched what I needed to put up my business, from permits, licenses, etc. I looked up all the regulations related to the type of business that I have to make sure everything is in accordance with that. I also network with other professionals to broaden my knowledge to help me prepare in taking this leap of faith.
2. WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN. During that time, too, I started writing my own business plan as a lot of places will ask this when you try to secure paperwork such as permits, licenses, and if you're thinking of getting a loan. Writing this is not an overnight task. You have to think it through and incorporate the research that you did. This will serve as your guide as you build your business. It will give you direction on how you will grow your business. Make sure to revisit this on a yearly basis and update it to fit the current status of your business.
3. BE PRACTICAL. Like I mentioned earlier, I have limited funds to run my business. I chose to grow my business in a conservative way. Instead of getting a storefront right away, which we all know comes with a lot of overhead expenses, I chose to be in an incubator/ghost kitchen instead since all I need is a commercial kitchen to produce my cakes and treats. Take into consideration the stage of your business is at or what your plan says. Yes, there are expenses worth spending on to make things efficient, but you have to be wise about it. Baby steps are still steps in moving forward.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

One of the things I learned in this journey as an entrepreneur is that mistakes are bound to happen no matter what, and that's ok. That is how and where we learn from. Don't be hard on yourself when that happens; it's ok to be mad and be frustrated about it. Feel your emotions because you are human, but don't let it take your best. Try your best to look for the positive things that you can take away from it, learn from it, and apply it to your future decisions.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.thepureconfections.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pure.confections
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pure.confections/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesebel-gumogda-195148a2/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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