Lovely Treats and Cakes to Your Satisfaction

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Consuella James, owner of SwayCakes and More LLC, located in Homestead, FL, USA.

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

SwayCakes offer Custom cakes and treat for any occasion. We specialize in creating and bringing smiles with our tasty cakes and treats, customizing them to your liking. We also have a treat shop in Southland mall where you can stop by and pick up tasty treats while you shop.

Tell us about yourself

I was a cake decorator for 11 years at the whole food market, making simple cakes that started to get boring to me. Being in the cake world, it was all kinds of trends I wanted to try, but I couldn't. In 2016 I was asked to make my nephew eight birthday cakes, and the rest was history. Everyone was raving about how I did his cake and the taste. Family and friends of the family started asking me to make their cake. So I started making cakes at home as a hobby baker didn't know it would take me further in my cake career. I was nervous, and I didn't think no one would like it. See, everything at wholefoods was pre-made to the cakes and frosting, and all I had to do was decorate the cakes. So baking at home and making my own frosting is what scared me to venture out, but to my surprise, everyone loved it, and before you know it, I got a lot of clients. I love a challenge, and I love to learn new things. It was days I didn't sleep cause I was working full time at Whole Foods and making cakes at home. Making cakes at home kept me motivated no matter how much sleep I didn't get. Seeing the faces of the clients when I delivered the cake kept and still keeps me motivated to this day. And that is where creating and bringing smiles come from. That's what I love to do. I try to make sure the customer is always happy, cause that makes me happy. And I would do anything to keep it that way.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

It opened up my sweet treat kiosk in Southland mall on Sept. 2021 and left my corporate job to do what made me happy. Putting smiles on clients' faces with my creations.

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

Ohhh, the business part is in finances, inventory, sales, promoting, and marketing. Slow days where you don't have any customers coming in the mall. Trying to make sales to pay for your overhead and bills. See, doing your craft, you can do that with your eyes close. But the business part is what you got to learn. Trying Not to give up and scared to fail. This is the hardest for me right now.

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

Marketing, learning the business part of your business, learning the area where you want to open up. You will have slow days in your business, and you will also have good days. Just don't give up on something you love no matter what. This is what I tell myself every day. Do what you love and love what you do, no matter how hard things get. It will get better.

Where can people find you and your business?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sway4cakes/

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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