We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Necolle Williams. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Necolle below.
Necolle , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
Life can often be full of risks big or small. Knowing myself, I have been often fearful of potential opportunities or my own goals BEACAUSE of the risks they require. However, one day despite my insecurities, I did decide I would finally do it whether I won or loss.
In lue of that, starting Colley Cakes was a huge step for me. I have worked for many companies using their rules/recipes but never my own concepts. Colley Cakes changes things completely.
Though my buisness hasn’t been too profitable and is just in the beginning stages, just knowing I have my own brand is fulfilling in itself.
In about 2 weeks I will be doing my first showing at a jacksonville film event( called “premiere”) hosted by great artists and talents. It’s thanks to them I even got the opportunity so special shout out to lol film festival and Jeremey Ryan who is constantly helping evolve(along with others) the film, music, and arts scene in jacksonville and around the country.
Necolle , 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?
Baking didn’t come to me at first. In short, I always thought I’d be a modern ballerina in early ages, and later I wasn’t sure about that either. It wasn’t until one day it hit me upside the head that pastry arts really was it.
What sets me apart the most from other pastry businesses is the addition of cake jars instead of just offering baked cakes. Layered with cake and icing my cake jars come in a variety of flavors that keeping you saying “the flavor has landed”.
The second distinguishing factor with Colley cakes is my longing for having a honest living. My main goal is to have a very affordable buisness that meets not only my needs but my customers as well. It’s one thing to want a cake made but another to find out it’s 500 dollars. I want it to be beautiful and affordable. I also offer only buttercream and whipcream icing options to make that cost option more feasible(as far as costs).
The main thing I want my potential customers and followers to know is how much I want them to be happy. Just seeing smiles on people’s faces as they eat my creation means the world. Maybe just having something sweet was the one thing that would help comfort someone’s day. That’s what really matters in the end. These people make my career better. I care much for others and I want that to show that through my desserts.
Colley cakes may not be where it’s supposed to be right now but I know it will be as time goes on.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
The lesson I had to unlearn was honestly one I told myself. I taught myself a lot and adopted a lot of techniques from many outlets. However, because my skills aren’t as good as I want them to be I often taught myself that I wasn’t as capable at pastry design due to my lack of fondant design or my artistry skills.
It took a lot of self talk and motivation but in the end the new lesson I talked myself into is knowing I can still create beautiful things even if it was in my own way. I am my own pastry artist, baker, and cook and I can do all things in him who strengthens me so, I got this, I know I do.
Sometimes we can be our own worst enimes so best advice stop listening to your worst self. Start thriving in your confident self.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Right now I am promoting on Instagram however word of mouth has been what’s been getting me clientele. As I have a small group of friends they have really pushed me and motivated me to create better and better cakes. They have pushed me past my own limits that I often put on myself. It has been a lot of fun seeing the opportunities I have been receiving.
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