Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amber Holmes. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Amber, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

After returning home from working on Norwegian’s Pride of America cruise line, I had no clear vision what I wanted to do business wise. I’ve always baked and sold desserts, but I didn’t have a solid business plan. Ironically, I was watching a reality show of a business that had a dessert catering business. It peaked my interest and thought it was a great idea. I started doing my research to see if anyone in my city or elsewhere was doing the same thing. I saw that there was a need and want for dessert tables so I put together my business plan and created my own website and business cards. I was blessed to be booked for my first event a couple of months later, where I was able to cater a bridal shower. I continued to be consistent and book weddings and other events. And as of February 2023, I was able to open up my own storefront.

Amber, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My passion for baking started at a young age with just playing with my Easy Bake oven. In middle school I started my first business where I baked and sold homemade desserts and cakes to classmates, church members, friends and family. After graduating high school, I attended Florida State College at Jacksonville and received my A.S. degree in culinary management. I then went on to attend Le Cordon Bleu in Orlando and received my diploma in baking and patisserie. Since then I have worked in fine dining restaurants, hotels and on a cruise line.

Sweet & Chic Events is a luxury dessert catering company specializing in custom dessert tables and cakes. Our custom dessert tables offer our clients to a have a variety of desserts for their guest to choose from and enjoy during events. We find that this allows guest to have other dessert options other than your traditional cakes and cupcakes. We are also able to customize desserts to fit our clients colors and theme.

My biggest accomplishment is opening my first storefront back in February 2023 where we’re located at 5310 Lenox Ave Suite 13 inside of the Kingdom Plaza and now being able to celebrate one year of being open.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn under charging for my products and services. I would accept orders from clients and would let them low ball my prices to fit their budget. This hurt me financially in the long run because now I was having to buy supplies and ingredients out of my own personal funds and my business was not profiting. I had to learn that every customer is not a good customer.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I wanted to start booking higher end clients and more luxury weddings and events. I knew I needed to rebrand my business in order to achieve this goal. In 2020, during the pandemic while I was laid off from my full time job, I worked on rebranding my business. I hired a professional web and logo designer, revamped my dessert menu and packages and redesigned my business cards. I also joined The Knot website to advertise my services for weddings for engagement couples. These things helped grow my business tremendously.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sweetandchic.events
• Instagram: @sweetandchicevents
• Facebook: Sweet & Chic Events