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

Hi Tracey, thanks for joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Being successful does not happen by accident. Success is dependent on many factors. First, you must have faith in yourself. Then you must be willing to put in the work to achieve your goals. Finally, you must surround yourself with the right people and be resilient. Success is the cumulation of hard work, perseverance, learning from failures, making sacrifices, and being open to new ideas. If you dedicate yourself to the work, you will be rewarded. You must have a desire for success and believe that anything is possible.

I want to expand on my point about surrounding yourself with successful and positive people. High achievers know exactly what it takes to achieve success because success leaves clues. By sharing their wisdom and helping us tap into our natural talents and abilities, mental blocks are opened that override our fears and insecurities, ultimately supporting us in realizing our full potential. I have been mentored by many successful people who have saved me money, countless hours, and from the consequences of destructive mishaps.

I have achieved success in a variety of ways. To date, my greatest business accomplishment was being selected to participate in a networking event that served over 10,000 people. Seeing my products being consumed and enjoyed by so many people was one of my most successful highlights. It was an honor being selected to display my products in such a big way.

Tracey, 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?

Irresistible Pound Cakes was started in 2012 from a family recipe from my Aunt Ola. I remember my aunt’s pound cake being the centerpiece of every family function growing up as a kid. When my aunt made her pound cake, it was a family affair. She would gather her kids in the kitchen as she carefully placed the ingredients on the countertop, explaining the purpose of each item. She began by creaming the butter and sugar together until they were light and fluffy. As the batter became thicker and thicker, the fresh eggs and flour were added. Aunt Ola would allow the kids to take turns assisting. Back in her time, there were no cake mixers available; everything had to be mixed by hand. They whipped and creamed for hours in a hot kitchen with no air-conditioning, which was typical living conditions in the South. No one complained because they knew if they did, they wouldn’t get a chance to lick the bowl – and licking the bowl was the best part!

Irresistible Pound Cakes provides flavored southern-style pound cakes to businesses, government organizations, and online customers. Our flavors are butter, lemon, chocolate, red velvet, and butter rum and come in two sizes, an 8-inch and individually wrapped minis.

We saw a need in the market where customers were looking for a unique branded gift experience. We allow our customers to customize our packaging by adding their company’s logo or picture, which can be used for grab bag gifts, special events, and corporate gifts. We work with our customers to provide detailed packaging to suit their needs according to their specifications. Our pound cakes are also great gift ideas for birthdays, anniversaries, or as a treat for yourself. Aunt Ola’s tried-and-true family recipe remains the company’s signature product, made with patience, kindness, and love. We can ship nationwide and deliver to local businesses.

COVID-19 had a significant impact on our business. Due to the cancellations of expos, conferences, and large gatherings, the lack of events affected our corporate sales. As we continue to pivot, I am most proud that our business has survived this pandemic, especially during the COVID-19 shutdown.
We want our customers to know that once you try our Irresistible Pound Cakes, you’ll never view pound cakes the same way. We are here to serve you and look forward to providing additional new flavors this year and expanding into food service. We thank all our loyal customers who have been with us since our inception as we continue to expand and grow our business.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

When I started, I funded my business with my savings and income from my job. I saved enough money to move into a commercial kitchen through hard work, although it is not open to the public. The business has since received some grants and a small loan, which has allowed it to grow to where it is today. For the next phase of my business, I am looking to increase my production capabilities to serve more people. However, expanding into a larger facility will require additional funding.

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

When I received my Aunt Ola’s pound cake recipe and tried it for the first time, it brought back many happy memories of my aunt. I had to learn how to manufacture her recipe on a large scale when I started the business. Now that the company has grown, I am searching for a copacker to manufacture my pound cakes. The biggest lesson I have learned so far in searching for a manufacturer is to make sure I find the right fit. There are many different factors to consider when hiring a manufacturer, and you can’t rush the process. Since the copacker will be an extension of your brand, it is crucial to hire the right one. Once everything is in place, the manufacturer can drastically streamline the process, which will allow you to focus your efforts on other areas of the business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://irresistiblepoundcakes.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irresistible_pc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/irresistiblepc
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/irresistiblepc

Image Credits
Ahmad Barber and Reggie Tolbert