Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sydni Calais. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Sydni thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

Circa 2013, I was a senior in high school. Not quite sure what I envisioned yet for my career going into college. I knew I wanted to do something based around art. I always loved drawing, & the creative process of making something beautiful out of nothing. I also knew I really loved baking for my classmates & family- but never thought of combining the two. My algebra teacher (shout out Juleanna Lee) believed in me when I didn’t see the potential for myself. One day, she asked if I could make her some cake pops for her son’s baseball team, of course I said yes- I was thrilled! She then recommended I come up with a business name, enter “Sweets by Syd”, & said I should get some business cards made. After that first order, I was inspired to start advertising festive options for holidays, which turned into more custom orders-and I never looked back!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Once I realized I wanted to go the pastry artist route for my career, I enrolled in San Jac College’s Pastry Program, & landed a part time job at a cupcake bakery while trying to build my business on the side. I graduated from the Pastry program, & worked at the bakery for 4 years until I felt I had enough clientele to keep myself afloat. Juggling school & working full time was absolutely stressful, but I knew my goal- I was determined to see it through. I’m confident that those tough years helped me to develop discipline & focus, they taught me to work skillfully & efficiently, & they showed me that consistency is everything. Today, I’ve been full time with Sweets by Syd for 5 years. I specialize in custom, decorated shortbread cookies, for all types of events & gatherings. Whether it’s a baby shower, birthday celebration, corporate event, wedding or retirement, I love that I can be a small part of the big moments for my clients- through the art of sweets.

Over the years I’ve received opportunities to work with some amazing corporations & clients. A few being Kendra Scott, LuluLemon, & Chance the Rapper. I’ve built great relationships with my wholesale clients (Fluff Bake Bar, Robinette & Company). I’ve also had the pleasure of hosting Cookie Decorating Classes, & have taken part in vendor pop ups around the city.
I am inspired by making people feel seen, equal, included, & loved. I am inspired by the character, diversity, art & pride that comes from my hometown – Houston, Texas (H-TOWN BABY). My creativity in my cookie design typically leans towards fun, bright colors, pop culture references, relevant trends, & modern aesthetics.

How did you build your audience on social media?

When I say consistency is everything, it’s definitely the case with social media. Social media is the only way I’ve ever advertised my business (other than natural word of mouth), & it’s really all you need to market your brand. However, it can be a journey. I started my Sweets by Syd page 10 years ago, & currently have about 8,600 followers. My growth on social media has been extremely slow & organic, as well as my growth in my craft. I recommend posting regularly (at least 3-4 times a week, the more the better). Reels are the best way to gain attention to your posts, & try to create content based on what’s trending. It can be hard to see growth with how saturated the socials are today rather than a decade ago, but if you’re consistent, you should see an upward trajectory over time.
But try to remember that your worth is not represented by your number of followers, algorithms don’t have good taste ;)

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Having a business doesn’t come without its hardships, as all good things come with a bit of struggle! I’ve relocated few times & lost some clients, but in turn gained some new ones & new business connections that are based in the area I’m residing. COVID was the most stressful time having a small business. All of my orders were cancelled & I was struggling to pay my rent, in my first apartment living on my own. To stay afloat, I started selling Cookie Decorating Kits, sold a ton of quarantine themed cookies, & thankfully was able to keep my head above water though the help of my clients, & Houston’s amazing community. Though completely overwhelming, that era taught me how to improvise & still be able to serve the joy of cookies to people, even during some of life‘s roughest moments.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sweetsbysyd.com
• Instagram: @sweetsbysyd
• Facebook: Sweets by Syd
• Other: TikTok: @sweets_by_syd

Image Credits
Portrait- @gavincalaisphotography Cookie photos- @sweetsbysyd