We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jennifer Williamson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with jennifer below.

Jennifer , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

I never imagined I would be a business owner. I never really thought much about what exactly I would do. At a young age, I knew I loved creating art, specifically sketching and sculpting. I knew I loved to cook, specifically bake. I knew I loved to bake and cook for my loved ones, and it was always an act of love. I never imagined I could turn these passions into a living and thriving business. Maybe I was too naive to think about it, which I’m absolutely grateful for. It kind of just naturally happened.

Fast forward 27 years later. My wedding cake business has given me more than I could ever dream of. Was it easy? Hell no. Is it easy now? Nope. Craftspeople and artists are not wired to be business minded. Would I trade it for a nine to five? Not for a second. Don’t get me wrong, it would be SO much easier to get a job, go to work, go home, and sleep at night knowing all I have to do is go back to work the next day. It would be great to have weekends off and do the weekend things that people do, go to the beach, maybe hit Home Depot on the way home, hang out with friends and neighbors. Many of us in the industry fantasize about it, but we all know, we are not cut out for a “regular job.” You know what they say, entrepreneurs are the only people who work 80 hours to avoid working 40. Nothing could be further from the truth.

For me, the benefits WAY outweigh the ups and downs, and uncertainty of being a business owner. Of course, I get to make a living out of two hobbies I loved, which is a dream for so many of us. You are never actually “working”, what could be better than that?! The other benefits weren’t so obvious. We are responsible for all of our mistakes, which are many, if you are the risktaker you have to be to take on entrepreneurship. This is how you learn. We also get to claim the successes, which I won’t lie, can feel pretty good. We get to be proud of that. We never stop working, it’s always on our mind. At the same time, we get to schedule our time off. I can take my daughters on vacation when I want. I can take a day off to take my mum to the doctors. Those are some of the small benefits. The other benefits I did not even see coming.

I cannot begin to put a price on the freedom my business has given me. I was able to support myself on my own and support my household of myself and my two daughters solely on the income from my business. Without even being aware it was happening, I was able to change the narrative for my daughters and break the cycle for women in my family. I am able to leave a legacy for my girls. I now see how they pull together for our family. I now see how they are proud of me. I now see how I am setting an example for them to be strong, independent young women. I now see how they see the world as a place where they are not limited as to what they can accomplish.

Since then, I have developed an online course/mentoring program to teach other bakers to become entrepreneurs do what I have done, which is just as rewarding as creating art for a living. I am seeing these talented people transform their lives to have the freedom I now have. I never would have been able to help other creatives like this by working a regular job.

Do I wonder what it would be like to have a regular job? Often. Yes. Would I ever trade my business for it? Not for a minute.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I started my business, Jenny’s Wedding Cakes, almost by accident. My background is in art, and I always loved to cook, specifically bake. I had planned for art school, but instead took a year off. After travelling a bit, I ended up back close to home where I took a full-time job, enrolled in business school at night, and started a small catering business on the side. This led to making desserts for a local restaurant. Around that time, a high school friend asked me to make her wedding cake. This is how it all started. I dove right in! I read books, researched the industry, and practiced making wedding cakes. Since then, I have created an award-winning business, had my work featured in countless print publications, my creations have adorned several magazine covers. and I accomplished more than I had ever dreamed of.

Two years ago, I decided to take my knowledge and experience and developed the Wedding Cake Business Academy, an online course and mentoring program to help other bakers become successful business owners and entrepreneurs, making a living out of a hobby they love. I cannot tell you how amazing it has been seeing these bakers completely transform their lives. This has honestly given me more fulfillment than I could have imagined. My dream is to help other achieve their dreams and leave a legacy for their loved ones.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I often get very candid with my clients. I talk about my personal live a lot, mostly to inspire others. When I decided to leave my marriage, I knew that my business was my biggest resource for moving forward. I decided to forfeit child support, and alimony in exchange for having my business intact in the future. Though it was difficult, I was able to buy a small condo where my daughters and I would live. Since then, I sold that condo, and made enough money to buy the most adorable antique home. I am not kidding, I wake up every day and thank the universe.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Nine months before the world shut down in 2020 is when I bought my dream home. I put every penny into this home. I had no idea what was to come in March of that year. I remember all of my friends and I in the wedding industry watch as one hundred percent of events were cancelled. As a wedding cake designer, I usually would have had reserve funds left over to get me through winter, but I had spent it all on my house for my daughters and myself. One hundred percent of my projected income just got eliminated.

I immediately eliminated any expenses I had but I still had zero income. I did, however, have a commercial kitchen, cooking skills, and many people who were so bored, food was the only thing to look forward to.

I told my daughters, who were 12 and 15 at the time, “get dressed, we are having a bake sale” It was a lot of work, I had no idea how this was going to unfold, and I just spent precious money on groceries. We made quiches, cinnamon rolls, scones, brownies, and anything people would pay money for. I posted the sale on Facebook and waited to see what would happen.

Well, the outcome was overwhelming. My community and friends were so incredibly supportive, I wanted to cry. I think I did, actually. When my daughters and I got home, we piled all the cash on the table, and realized we made enough money to buy groceries for a month!

These sales got so popular, we continued them throughout the year. I am so incredibly proud of my daughters for pulling together, and so grateful for my community for showing support of a small business owner who just suffered a one hundred percent of loss of business. Never take your skills for granted, there is always a way to make things happen.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jencakes.com, www.puresweetsuccess.com
• Instagram: jennys_wedding_cakes
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennysweddingcakes
• Linkedin: Jenny’s Wedding Cakes

Image Credits

Christian Pendergraft
Lauren Killian