We recently connected with Liliana Villasenor-Sanchez and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Liliana, thanks for joining us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Having a plan of attack and sacrifice, a lot of it! It requires early mornings and late nights, constant meetings, networking, and lots of research. You need to understand the industry you are trying to break into. Ask yourself, what is trending? What do my customers want? What experience can I give them to be unique and have them coming back? Join a business group within your industry, because they will be the perfect support and encouragement you need to be successful. And last but not least… never give up!

Liliana, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I attended my local community college right after high school. Like any teenager, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my future. After some time of switching majors (like 4 times), I started my business classes and it sparked something in me. That’s when it hit me, my goal to become an entrepreneur. But of what? Well of the one thing I felt passionate about, baking! I was working at a local bakery at the time and although I was not the one baking or even cake decorating, I couldn’t help but stand by and watch the masters work. I was in awe in how the bakers could just “eyeball” the recipes and it would come out close to perfect, and how the decorators could smooth and decorate a cake with such a steady hand. Not to mention, I was inspired by the owners story. They made something so incredible over the years. Their sacrifice and hard work inspired me to set a goal for my own journey. That’s when I started doing my own research. I practiced at home and made treats for my family and close friends. But then Covid hit.

Like many others, I needed to make some life changing decisions. My husband and I decided to move down to San Diego in the middle of the pandemic to be closer to family! So we packed up the Uhaul and drove 8 hours to our new home. The scariest decision we made but at the end, it was worth it. With the amazing support of my husband and family, I started my own bakery business in our new town! I met some amazing planners and vendors, and I advertised like crazy in the beginning. I’m not going to lie, it was a lot of work and sacrifice, not to mention a lot of money, but it was the most exhilarating experience I’ve had. I have some amazing customers and business friends that keep me motivated to keep on going. Without them, I would not have been able to continue.

This November, Lily’s Whisk turns 2 and I am extremely proud of how far it has come. And although we do not have a store front (yet), you can always order your cake/desserts for your special occasion or find us at a local makers market providing desserts.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I would have to say it’s all thanks to my amazing industry friends! Without them, there is no way I would have the clientele I have now. When I moved down to San Diego, I had an upper hand. I had an amazing local photographer who is my sister and friend. She helped introduce me to some amazing business owners. I did a few styled shoots with her to get my work out there and it has been a success. From there I was able to network with business owners within my “target market” and be referred when someone needed a cake. We tend to forget, that the beginning of any business will be bumpy. But if you reach out for help within your industry, you will succeed.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Building an audience on your social media is very tricky. I am by no means an expert, but there are people out there that are pros. Find them! They are will provide the best advice and guidance that you need. That’s exactly what I did and what I still do. I enlisted the help of Amanda from Curated Marketing, to help with my business goals, as well as joined Clubhouse to connect with social media experts. Not to mention, there are many podcasts that can help. Listening to them talk about the ups and downs of social media, really helps put things into perspective. Trends change, algorithms are tricky, and your audience can lose interest from one day to the other. Social media requires constant research. At the end, you have to know what your goals truly are. Don’t be fooled with the amount of followers. Know the difference between having followers and having customers. Set your goals and expectations, and lead with those!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mycustombakes.com/lilyswhisk
• Instagram: @lilyswhisk
• Facebook: Lily’s Whisk
• Other: TikTok: @lilyswhisk

Image Credits
Sandra Yvette Photography – San Diego Wedding Photography Camila Margotta – San Diego Wedding Photography Katrina Thaxton – Photographer