Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ann Hoang. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Ann thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
At a young age I started baking with my Dad because he had the biggest sweet tooth. It was also always my favorite memory with him growing up. I have always been intrigued by the world of baking, thanks to my dad, Thomas. He was a remarkable man with a genuine passion for everything that he put his heart into. His warm smile and infectious enthusiasm made the kitchen his domain of joy and creativity. That is the reason why it made me fascinated by the art of baking, the way simple ingredients could transform into mouthwatering treats that brought joy to people’s lives. He taught me values of patience, attention to detail, and the joy of sharing homemade treats with loved ones. As I grew older, my passion for baking flourished. I would spend hours poring over recipe books and youtube videos, exploring new techniques, and adding my own unique twists to traditional recipes.
Ann, 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 am a full time dental hygienist on the weekday providing oral health care and education to patients. On the weekends indulge in my passion for baking as a hobby. I started this hobby by creating delicious treats for family and friends and ended up starting a small home-based baking business on the side. I am a one woman team and hoping to add to my team in the future. However, before hiring on a team member I need to start measuring my ingredients so I can teach someone else. I eyeball all my baking so if i get a bigger mixing bowl I will be doomed. I love getting my baking inspiration from social media and adding my own twist to it. I love to experiment with new flavors and challenge myself until the product is perfect. It is rare that I eat my own product because I don’t have a sweet tooth. I have a long list of new baking trends that I want to try when I find the time to experiment. What I am most proud of recently is being in the the top 3 Charlotte’s best cupcakes in 2022 by the Charlotte observer.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I think what helped build my reputation was definitely word of mouth from family and friends. It is hard to compete with other bakers in the area so having people that already tried my product helped. Word of mouth referrals from trusted sources are highly effective in attracting new customers or patients.Also, social media plays a big part by posting my products so they have an idea of what they are ordering. I try to create delicious and visually appealing baked goods that leave customers wanting more. I have built strong relationships with my customers , and taken the time to understand their needs, provide personalized care or baked goods.
What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?
Juggling a full-time dental hygiene career while pursuing part-time baking can be challenging but rewarding at times. What started as only a few baking orders a month to fully booked orders every weekend. Sometimes its hard to determine how many hours per week I can realistically dedicate to baking without compromising my work life. In past few years I was letting customers order months and months in advance leaving me to a limited weekend schedule. I felt like all my life consisted of was dental hygiene and baking and no time for barely anything else. The burnout was definitely real. Then my best friend suggested to open my schedule a month a time so I can have a life outside of both, Now I enjoy the fulfillment that comes from pursuing passions in both fields.
Contact Info:
- Website: cupcakefairy803.com
- Instagram: cupcakefairy803