Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Vanessa Iniguez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Vanessa, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
My optimism comes from the incredible support and excitement I’ve experienced at vendor pop-ups. Meeting customers in person, offering samples, and hearing thoughtful feedback—beyond just “this is good”—has been so rewarding. People genuinely want to know about my flavor combinations, how I come up with them, and where they can find me next. The fact that they follow my updates, seek me out at events, and keep coming back has been a huge confidence boost. Over the past few months, shifting from strictly online sales to in-person pop-ups has helped me grow within the Des Moines area. Now, businesses are reaching out to me first, inviting me to be a part of their events. The energy at each pop-up, the conversations I have, and the way people light up over new flavors keep me inspired. Seeing familiar faces return, excited to try something new and share my bakery with friends, is what fuels my optimism.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Before fully diving into baking, I started my career in graphic design. I went to college for it right out of high school and worked in the field for most of my life, always baking on the side for family and friends. While I still do freelance graphic design—creating my own branding, packaging, and labels—baking has taken center stage.
In early 2024, I was laid off from my senior graphic design position, which pushed me to take a leap with my sourdough starter. I spent months recipe testing, refining flavors, and building my business. By October, I officially started selling my baked goods locally through Hotplate, offering weekly porch pick-ups. It was both exciting and terrifying, but from the moment I started, I knew it was the right decision. Seeing people light up over my creations, return for more, and meet me at pop-ups has been incredibly rewarding.
As I continue to grow, I’m focused on expanding my menu, experimenting with new recipes, and popping up around Des Moines. A long-term dream would be to open a local bakery cafe, but for now, I’m taking it one step at a time, getting my name out there, and sharing my love for baking with every person who supports my business.
I also have several upcoming events:
📍 March 25th – Reading in Public for a vendor pop-up
📍 March 29th – Hosted by ChaCha’s Bakery for a vendor pop-up
📍 April 12th – Paws & Pints DSM Wellness Weekend Vendor Market
📍 April 27th – Captain Roy’s for a Spring Festival Vendor Market
📍 Waukee Farmers Market (starting June) – I’ve applied to be a vendor for the season, hosted every Wednesday!
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?
Looking back, three key things have helped me on this journey:
1️⃣ Not being afraid to ask for help. I used to hesitate to ask questions, but once I did, I realized how much I could learn from others. Whether it was reaching out to fellow bakers, researching best practices, or seeking advice on marketing, asking questions helped me grow.
2️⃣ Patience in the process. Success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, trial and error, and a willingness to keep improving. Trying new recipes, testing different ways to engage with customers, and learning from each experience have been crucial.
3️⃣ Pushing forward, even when things didn’t take off immediately. It’s easy to get discouraged when things don’t explode right away, but consistency and perseverance make all the difference. Every small step adds up.
For anyone starting their own journey, my biggest advice is simple: just start. Take that leap, ask all the questions, do the research, and connect with others in your field. The baking community has been incredibly supportive—people have shared product recommendations, recipes, and advice that helped me figure out what works best for me. Those connections have reassured me that I’m on the right path.
If something feels right, keep going. And if you ever feel like changing directions, that’s okay too—you have the power to evolve at any time. I never imagined I’d step away from full-time graphic design, but now that baking has taken hold, I couldn’t be happier.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
My boyfriend, Justin, has been my biggest supporter and an incredible help throughout this journey. With his background in photography, videography, and marketing—plus his skills as an excellent cook—he’s played a huge role in my recipe testing and development. His taste palette has been invaluable in fine-tuning flavors, and anytime I hit a roadblock, he’s always there to help me work through it.
Beyond that, he’s been my steady source of encouragement, especially when I felt overwhelmed or nervous about putting my business or new recipes out there. His expertise has also been a major asset in my food photography and marketing, but what I appreciate even more is that he’s willing to teach me. He helps me build my own skills so I can take on more of these tasks myself, expanding my knowledge beyond baking and design.
Having that kind of unwavering support means more than he’ll probably ever know. He inspires me to keep moving forward, growing, and pushing my business in new directions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hotplate.com/crustcrumbbakery
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crust_crumbbakery
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1NZrWh9J7v/?mibextid=wwXlfr
Image Credits
Justin Gora Media
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
