We recently connected with Katie Jock and have shared our conversation below.

Katie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Taking care of customers isn’t just good business – it is often one of the main reasons folks went into business in the first place. So, we’d love to get a conversation going around how to best help clients feel appreciated – maybe you can share something you’ve done or seen someone do that’s been really effective at helping a customer feel valued?

Honestly, the best thing I can ever do for any client of mine is working within their budget to bring their vision to life to the best of my ability and the extent of their budget. I have had clients come through with enormous budgets so the sky is the limit, but I have more often than not had many clients come to me with small budgets and big ideas. I never want any client to feel as though their idea is out of reach, I prefer to explain why we cannot accomplish all the parts of their vision but we can collab to find the best possible plan to bring it to life within what they can afford. Whether it’s a character cake or a private coursed out meal with white table cloth service. This small act of consideration leaves my clients feeling heard and validated in their ideas. There is always so much gratitude for my patience and appreciation of my service shared with me once the order is completed.

Katie, 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 an Indigenous business owner from the Mohawk Territory of Akwesasne, deeply shaped by the strong matriarchs in my family who kept me by their sides as they prepared meals for our loved ones. Those early teachings inspired me to pursue formal training in culinary school after high school, where my drive for knowledge and curiosity about the world led me into the dynamic world of culinary arts and hospitality.

After gaining experience in a variety of roles across the restaurant industry, I chose to carve my own path as an entrepreneur. That decision brought me to the creation of SK Specialties (formerly Katie’s Kakes), a business rooted in passion, creativity, and community. Today, we specialize in small-batch gourmet products and unique specialty ingredients, alongside catering and private chef services—with the occasional custom cake order that started it all.

Currently based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, I continue to grow SK Specialties with the same mission: to bring locally sourced, thoughtfully crafted ingredients into both restaurants and home kitchens—reducing reliance on imports—and to create memorable experiences through curated menus, events, and cakes.

I take immense pride in working closely with clients to bring their vision to life, always mindful of their budget, needs, and expectations. At the heart of SK Specialties is a constant commitment to growth—both personally and professionally—and a deep respect for the people and community we serve.

How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.

SK Specialties currently sells through HotPlate, a platform designed for both home-based food entrepreneurs and culinary professionals.

Pros: HotPlate is an all-in-one solution, offering email subscriber management, payment processing, and product sales in one streamlined system. It’s efficient and user-friendly for both entrepreneurs and customers, with account fees that are fair and manageable.

Cons: The platform offers limited integrated marketing tools, particularly when it comes to connecting with social media and building a broader online presence.

Ultimately, our decision to use HotPlate came down to overhead costs and usability. The platform provides the essential tools we need at a reasonable price point, checking most of the boxes for what we’re looking for in an online sales platform.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

Simple, I do my best to be involved in the communities that we sell to. Whether I’m working a local market or simply attending the market as a customer. Creating the human to human connection in the local communities will never be beat. From these interactions I have acquired many repeat clients. On top of in person connections, social media is an amazing tool for business owners and clients alike.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hotplate.com/sk.specialties
• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/sk.specialties
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/SK.specialtiesPR

Image Credits

Kat Prashaw

Jennifer Tanksley Coss