We recently connected with My’Asia Jaaber and have shared our conversation below.

My’Asia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I wanted to own a bakery business before I knew what a bakery business was. I loved to cook to with my mama but I also loved sweets. Birthday cakes and wedding cakes were my favorite desserts. As time went on, I forgot about my passion of wanting to own a bakery. The shutdown during covid allowed me to slow down and get back to what I was passionate about. I was in graduate school at U of M between navigating classes, not being around family and friends, I turned to baking. Baking reminded me of my childhood and spending time in the kitchen with my mama. My kitchen became a space for me to be myself. It was a space for me to release, make errors, and spend time in the presence of my ancestors who have transitioned. It was something I really needed but didn’t know I needed. It was also something I looked forward to. My passion continued to grow and I was encouraged by family and friends to make it an official business. I was really nervous about making it an official business because I tended to overthink things. I didn’t know if others would love my desserts the same way my family and friends did. I relocated to Dallas, Texas and started to promote my business. I quickly realized I was wrong. People did enjoy my desserts, especially non-vegans. I became more and more excited through attending farmers markets, pop-up shops, and small events in the community for small businesses. Those events helped me to realize there was a need for amazing tasting vegan desserts.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is My’Asia Jaaber. I am the owner of Linda Renee Sweets. In addition to owning Linda Renee Sweets, I am a certified special education teacher and postpartum doula. I started Linda Renee Sweets as a part-time business to supplement my income. The products I provide are vegan cookies, cupcakes, and cakes. I recently added decorated sugar cookies to my menu and they’ve been a hit. Something that sets me apart from other bakery businesses is depending on the event/celebration taking place I provide complimentary gifts for my customers. Those gifts can vary but they are truly a wow factor when customers are given their desserts and a gift. I am most proud of operating a business with integrity and a business that is a reflection of my gifts and passions. I am thankful to share my gift with others.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

When I”m not baking, I absolutely love reading and listening to podcasts. One of my favorite books I’ve read is Worth Every Penny by Erin Verbeck and Sarah Petty. It has shifted my perspective as an entrepreneur especially with providing stellar customer service. A podcast I’ve grown significantly from is Baking it Down with Sugar Cookie Marketing. The podcast has changed my approach to owning a bakery business, and marketing.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best source of new clients for me has been word of mouth. I have so many clients who have recommended my business to others which has contributed to me increasing sales. Another source that has worked really well for my business is attending pop-up events and different markets around the DFW. These events have allowed me to not only expand my clients but also network with other small businesses.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lindareneesweets.com
• Instagram: @Lindareneesweets
• Facebook: Linda Renee Sweets
• Twitter: @Lindareneesweet
• Youtube: @lindareneesweets
• Yelp: Linda Renee Sweets
• Other: Email – [email protected]