We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shantil Piper. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shantil below.
Shantil, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s jump right into the heart of things. Outsiders often think businesses or industries have much larger profit margins than they actually do – the reason is that outsiders are often unaware of the biggest challenges to profitability in various industries – what’s the biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?
The current biggest challenge is costs. As inflation rises, the cost of ingredients are high. With that being said, us bakers have 2 choices; raise prices in our products or cut costs and go with cheaper ingredients. I choose to increase my prices. I use specific ingredients and will stick to them. Its Quality for me.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’ve always known how to bake it is in my genes. However, towards the end of 2018, I started gaining interest in really taking my baking skills and starting an actual business. I am self-taught. Not knowing exactly where to start, I registered my business as Shantil Piper DBA Sweet Dreamz in Ellis County. I created my social media business pages and ran a few ads. Yes, it did start slow but it was good for me as I have 3 teenagers in sports and work full time. By the beginning of 2020, I started gaining traction and decided to take my business to another level. I filed my LLC and of course, Sweet Dreamz was taken so I had to come up with another name. After days of going through names, my boyfriend came up with The Sweet Lab LLC. Together we came up with a logo, and BOOM there you have it. He is like my silent consultant LOL! Soon after, Covid hit and I hit a pause on orders and honestly, it was like starting all over again once restrictions started to slowly lift and people started back having small gatherings. Fast Forward a little, and in 2021 I decided to take it to another level again. I signed up for the Waxahachie Farmer’s Market to sell baked goods. Since I am considered a cottage baker there are certain things that you are allowed to sell, I sold different types of cookies, pound cakes, and brownies. I also added a few keto items so that I could have something for everyone. What some don’t know is I have a lot of help. My mom helps with the packaging and labeling along with my sister and nephew when they are free. My twin daughters come to the market and take payments and explain the different treats we have and my son helps with loading and getting everything that is needed together. The market gives me a chance to meet new people and promote my custom cakes, cupcakes, etc. I’ve done the Country Reporters festival, the Ellis County Livestock Christmas Market, and a few other events and branching out to do more. I have also started decorating with balloons etc. so that I will be a one-stop-shop. Yes, I work full-time, I make it to every one of my kids’ events that they have going on, and make sure my mom and 2-year-old niece are taken care of. I am still growing in my business and looking to grow even more. Alot of times people question if I can do it. The real question is do I have the time to do it.
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
For my 1st year, I would buy ingredients and supplies with my own money and once I made it made I continued to pour it into my business. Still today, I would buy things with my own funds.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
Growing my clientele has mostly been by word of mouth. I have 2 types of followers. I have those who will literaly come to every event that I am at to purchase products and those who follow me for sales on custom orders and by word of mouth. I continue to post my products as well as create social media adds.
Contact Info:
- Website: thesweetlaboratory.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/tsl_thesweetlab
- Facebook: facebook.com/tsl.thesweetlab
- Youtube: Coming Soon