Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Valencia.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Vanessa. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve enjoyed baking as far back as I can remember. I’ve been self-teaching myself since about the age of 13. One of my fondest memories is baking pies for my favorite uncle as a little girl. He absolutely loved my pecan pie and seeing how excited he was after each bite was priceless. Family and friends encouraged me to continue baking but it was mostly for special occasions. It wasn’t until the Summer of 2017 that I truly stepped out of my inner circle and offered to make cookies for someone’s retirement party. I honestly wasn’t fully satisfied with the end product but the client wouldn’t stop raving about how great the cookies turned out. As I felt I needed more practice I decided to make more cookies for Halloween and just for fun posted these on Facebook. My friends immediately started asking about the cookies and people started to share my post on their own social media platforms. Everything took off from there!
Great, 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?
Attaining a permit was a bigger challenge than I thought it would be and I wasn’t approved right away. It required making adjustments to my recipe and following specific labeling guidelines. It was definitely a process and it was stressful but completely worth it. As my customer base has grown so has my need for bigger space and additional supplies. I’ve had to build additional storage for my supplies and ingredients which I like to keep organized at all times. It’s the only way I’ll find the unicorn cookie cutter when I need it. I sometimes have moments of doubt and get nervous about going into business for myself while holding down a full-time job but it doesn’t stop me. Every ache and sleepless night that I spend creating that special cookie for my client makes it all worth it. Having my cookies be a part of people’s celebrations is a very rewarding experience.
Please tell us about Nessa’s Goodies.
I create and custom design vanilla sugar cookies for all occasions. I think what sets me apart is my enthusiasm for each order I get, I treat everyone like a member of my family. My cookies have been a part of different celebrations and holiday events including birthdays, baby showers, retirement parties, and most recently after someone’s hip replacement surgery. In good times and in bad my cookies are there to sweeten up people’s days. I’m proud of the many lives I’ve been able to touch with Nessa’s cookies. I have been able to be a part of some special moments.
What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
Don’t give up on your dreams. Anything worth having is hard work and the most satisfying feeling is saying I did that; I accomplished my dream with hard work, sweat and tears. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, it doesn’t need to be financial. It could be by spreading the word about your business, packaging or even bringing you a meal while you’re elbows deep in your work. Every little bit helps trust me.
Contact Info:
- Email: nessas.goodies.shop@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/NessasGoodies/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nessasgoodies-256318511843425/
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