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

Hi Andrea, thanks for joining 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 was always taught to work hard & what i have learned now being a business owner, is work smart. Being a mother of 3 I have to maximum my time, making sure everyone gets to where they need to be & have the tools that are needed. Being able to do both work from home for myself & be a hands on mom is what keeps me going. When I was first starting off I would have a week or two where I didn’t have an order, it was hard not to be tempted to apply for a 9-5. Some days you’re not motivated but your discipline & focus on the end result was what keeps me on track. I will say buckle up & enjoy the ride, its not a one size fits all kind of thing. Everyone will have struggles & strengths specific to what business they have & where they’re trying to go with it.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Baking has always been a fun hobby, something fresh from the oven always was good after dinner. Being ask by friends to make their birthday cake or selling some baked good at their businesses was what really pushed me in the baking world. I never thought I would be able to make a living off of something I love that I consider an outlet, what a dream! A few people started catching on that I baked so I make a instagram page to show my work & to also promote myself. I think I’m the most proud of who I have become through the process. Following through with dream I have proven so much to myself. Hard word does pay off, you just have to be patient to see it play in motion.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think the most important thing is to be professional & away stay consistent. Personally for me as a consumer that is #1. Word of mouth is 90% of my how people hear about me & I would have it any other way. The biggest complement for me is a referral, That means she told her best friend, mom, co worker all about how much they loved what i made they have to order their dessert through me. So grateful.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Social media is where everyone is at including Pinterest, Youtube, etc. Being on social media for me is key! Anywhere from posting new items, sales, shoutouts. Most of where people look is on these platforms. Being a business owner you need to be on them.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cakesbydrea.com
• Instagram: cakes_by_drea_

Image Credits
Miguel Pizarro, Clara Wang I Glean & Glow, dual.production