We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Deborah Brown. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Deborah below.
Hi Deborah, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I was born and raised on the Eastern Shore, Maryland. I grew up on a farm and raised by my grandparents, aunts, and uncle. My grandfather and great-grandfather built the home we lived in. They shared crops and raised farm animals. They worked very hard. The men in the fields and garden. The women in the kitchen cooking and baking from scratch. I gave you the background so you could visualize the picture. When I say I got my work ethic from how I was raised. I was taught to work hard for what you want.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My career started in the dental field many years ago. I ‘ve been a dental assistant, benefits administrator, and dental office manager.. After making all these dentist rich, and going on interview after interview to get a better job. To be told you’re not the right fit or we have moved in another direction. That’s when I decided to do what I know I can do very well. That was taking my baking skills to the next level. I have always baked since age 4 with the matriarchs of the family. I wanted to specialize in pound cakes. It’s hard to find a good pound cake made from scratch. They sure don’t sell them at your favorite restaurant. When I turned 50 that’s when Sweetdele’s Sweet Treats was created. I wanted to give customers something they can’t find everywhere. The taste of grandma’s desserts.
As of know it’s been eight years followed by hard work, trails tribulation, the good, and the bad. We have touched a lot of customers and pleased their sweet tooth. I work out of a commercial kitchen called Tastemakers DC. I do events, wholesale, and catering, For the future I would like to get into retail stores, get more corporate orders and wholesale orders. For the grand finale is to have a storefront.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. The Will – You have to be dedicated to the cost. It takes hard work, lots of money, time, and patience. Having your own business is 24/7 ,until you get to were you want to be. That means working a full time job and running your business at least in the beginning. Also, working your business alone. Good help is hard to find!!!
2. The Product – Have a product that stands out, and master that craft. True, there are millions of cake makers, but my product is not like theirs. I put a lot of love and passion in my product.
3. The Finances – The struggle is real. Expenses will eat you alive. That’s why you might have to keep the day job for a while. Try finding grants or crowd funding. Also, keep that credit score up.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I would love to work with hotels, hospital, corporations,schools, and private airlines. I can image my cookies and chocolate covered pretzels being passed out on a private jet. I would love to be part of a gift basket with 1 800 flowers.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sweetdelessweettreats.com
- Instagram: @sweetdelessweettreats
- Facebook: facebook.com/sweetdelessweettreats
- Yelp: Sweetdele’s sweet Treats
Image Credits
Lakeisha Veney
