We recently connected with JoeAnne Renteria and have shared our conversation below.

JoeAnne , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How has Covid changed your business model?

As you know covid was very hard for many small business and since my livelihood is parties! My business was completely over!! I had to return money, which in my small business is never good! I had to figure out what to do next. So I started to practice techniques that I’ve alway wanted to learn. So when things began to open up. I began to take orders again and was able to show off some of those new techniques I learned on my cakes. As a small business I wasn’t able to get any assistance for my business. Now that things are opened again, I’m doing good ,keeping busy and trying to grow everyday!! I’m booked for months in advance and I’m looking forward to my business expanding!

JoeAnne , 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 name is JoeAnne Renteria I’m based in La Porte,Tx. I started making cakes because my daughter was born premature ( at 28 weeks) and it was difficult time in my life because of her health issues we had to stay inside most of the time, so I would watch shows like Ace of cake- Duff Goldman and cake boss- buddy Valastro, as I watched in amazement I thought to myself “ WOW I’d love for my daughter to have a fabulous cakes for her birthday since every birthday would be a blessing” considering the way she was born. So I set off to find out what I had to do to be able to create these cakes. I found out I could start by simply taking classes at Michael’s arts & crafts and so I did. that was over 13 years ago. I’ve always strived to do better. having continuously taken courses to help me refine my craft. I practiced and perfected recipes and set off to make it a viable business. I’ve worked hard to give my clients something different, like the service they receive, from personal cutting charts to special insultaed boxes to insure the cakes make to there destinations safe and cool, since this is Texas and cakes will melt in this heat lol..

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

I started my business as a word of mouth type of business, no real advertising and doing a lots of cakes for family and friends that would allow me to try these techniques. as I learned more techniques and continued my education, taking any and every class on techniques , that I knew would help my business I did. As I slowing gained a reputation for making cakes at the last minute for customers. I knew I needed and wanted to grow. so I grew to having more elevated cakes in style and design, from structure pieces to 7 tiered wedding cakes. I know have a reputation for my amazing structured cakes and creating one of a kind cakes for my customers!

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

With every cake order! I will very often create videos of cakes ordered and post on my social media thanking my customers for their orders and the continued business!! for very client that orders their child’s 1st birthday I gift a free smash cake that match’s their birthday theme. I also offer a discount for LPISD order as i am a vendor for my local school district!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cakesbyjoeanne.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/cakesbyjoeanne
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/cakesbyjoeanne
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/@MoreCakePleaz
• Other: TicTok:: www.tiktok.com/@cakesbyjoeanne