We were lucky to catch up with Dianna Brown recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dianna, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Who is your hero and why? What lessons have you learned from them and how have they influenced your journey?

I have always called her my “Shero” . I watched my mother work sometimes 10 hrs at the school, she would then come home and prepare a full meal for us. If someone had a event, church service or funeral, she would bake a cake as well. I would often think Man.. I know she is tired..but no complaints..

Everything that I do today, I always say to myself.. What would Fannie do.
Although she is not here in the earthly realm. She is with me spiritually. I have learned a lot of my baking secrets, my recipes and my love of baking from my mother.

I dedicate my business to her.
Etter Jean Elliott…Fannie!

Dianna, 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?

I am a 3rd generation Baker…some call me a Baketress. I kinda like that name. I am the owner of Sweet Treats by Thick. We are a family ran bakery. A little different than your traditional bakery, we offer desserts that not only look pretty but taste delicious. I used to make treats and carry them to work and sell from my desk. I used to go out daily to the local Motorcycle Club houses with a basket full of sweets and walk around. I have always had a passion for baking.
When I was a small child, my mother told me, as she baked I would play in the cabinets. I would take the pots and pans out and put them back in..over and over again. I feel I was destined to be in the kitchen.
I moved back home from college with a baby and was offered a job with a major telecommunications company. I remember my mom saying, that’s as good job. Do 20 yrs then retire and do your passion, your love. At that time I had no clue what that was. I worked 22yrs and was forced out due to medical conditions and unable to perform my job duties. I felt like that was all I knew…this was the only adult job that i had and it helped me raise my children. I literally travelled to the same are daily and did the same job for over 20 yrs.
It took me awhile to figure my calling, see i lost my mother Dec 2018 to Bile Duct Cancer…she was my everything. My sisters and children became my #1 support team.. i remember telling them.. I want a Bakery.. matter fact I want a small storefront and a mobile bakery. Their response was Do it.. so I did. With the help from family I purchased a Travel trailer. 15 yrs prior I saw a similar trailer on Pinterest and was like one day…I want this. I fixed up the trailer and named her Cupcake. Although she isn’t used for actual baking. She is a 1973 Sprite 400 fully remodeled. Vintage…like me. She comes out to serve at events, Farmers Markets and places where we vend. She attracts a lot of attention and travelers from all around the world have asked to take a Photographer with her.
After doing vending opportunities and then shutting down for Covid. I was offered a few opportunities to sell my sweets and treats publicly. I did a few opportunities and they were awesome. One venture I’m proud of is our time at Westfield Mission Valley Mall 2021. For 6 months we ran a kiosk in the mall. This opportunity had not been done before and I went through a lot for the county to recognize me as a bakery business in the mall. It was ruff being open daily and on my feet. See, I suffer from a autoimmune disorder…Fibromyalgia. often my body says no..but I keep pushing. Covid hit us pretty hard being a business that makes pastries for the public, I closed my kiosk and we shut down. My team consist of my children and sisters. It was very important to keep us all safe so that decision was best. At this time Sweet Treats by Thick was my only source of income so I had to figure some things out.
I was offered to bake for a local.coffee shop.
Another one of my dreams coming true, so I started my relationship with Cafe X…the mother and daughter duo.
I was so determined to get back up and running. I drove around looking at very small storefronts where I could sell my prepackaged pasties. Everything was so expensive! One of my sisters own a Plus Size Boutique and she called and told me she found a place. I called and began subleasing a small cafe . It was my dream. The ambiance the energy was perfect for me. Small and quaint. I was able to prepare lavish desserts plus have all the favorites that my customers would call about. Lemon Jello cake and Cinnamon Roll Cake.
I was able to stay in this space a couple of months and then the owners returned. So back to mobile and vending we went.
It is hard being a business owner. So many obstacles that can detour a Entrepreneur. I feel like I have experienced all of the obstacles. I am still pressing forward. I am proud of myself for that. Many times I want ed d to throw in the towel and shut down. But I didn’t, I havent. We will be reopening soon and we can’t wait to serve our customers the desserts that they have grown to love.
We are a business that based on love and family and I believe that sets us apart from many other business. I sometimes call us a mom and pop shop of baking.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

Over 20 yrs my side hustle was baking amongst other crafts but I always fell back to my main love..baking. I figured that when you happy, sad, stressed or whatever life may bring, a cupcake or slice of cake would put a smile on your face. I canvassed events with a basket of sweets, I took sweets to my main job for years. My peers used to tell me open a bakery you can do it. I was scared. I was used to a biweekly paycheck and consistancy. Change…no too much for me.

After going thru family deaths and transitioning from employed to unemployed I gave it a try. My side hustle became my main hustle. I absolutely LOVE hustling sweets and treats.

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

Although I worked in a telecommunications industry for over 20 years I am not to techy. What i do have is children that are and my daughter is behind my social media. I didnt know how to even log in to a tiktok. I am thankful for the snips that she creates for our family business. Some have went viral. Since everyone is now on Social media that is a audience we like to capture. My advice to others… if you want to capture a crowd.. have Instagram, Facebook, Snap Chat, Tiktok. Do videos, lives and reels. Connect with the audience. My sister told me post 3 times a day something about your business. You never know who will see your content.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.sweettreatsbythick.com
• Instagram: Www.instagram.com/sweettreatsby_thick
• Facebook: Www.facebook.com/sweettreatsbythick

Image Credits
Ivarie Giles Kamyle Lowndes Photography