We recently connected with Tamesha Calhoun and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Tamesha, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
In my previous career, I was often the only one in the room that looked like me in color and as a woman. I had to quickly learn how to communicate and navigate through situations as a “man” would. Often times, women of color aren’t taken serious in their skills, especially in corporate America. Many years ago, when I first started as an assistant manager, my store manager at the time micromanaged EVERYTHING I did. This was my first experience dealing with that, because previously my manager trusted me with everything I was responsible for. It was so bad, to the point I almost considered quitting my job. I had a talk with my mom, that reassured me that I had worked too hard for every promotion I’ve received. From that point on, I knew she was right. I belonged here and was not about to settle for defeat. I called a meeting with my manager, went over all of my roles and responsibilities given to me by him. I asked had I not been completing everything needed on time, swiftly and correctly. He stated yes that I have. I told him in a respectful way that I don’t like being micromanaged, addressed my concerns with our working relationship, or being pre-judged to think just because I’m a woman, I can’t handle the job. If I wasn’t qualified, I wouldn’t be hired for the position. He stated that he didn’t know his behavior was affecting me, and that it was not his intention. He gave me his word that he would back off and only correct me when deemed necessary. He also apologized , and from that day on, we were the best of working friends. In every situation I’ve been in where I was singled out, I learned to set the tone for myself well ahead of time. Great communication goes a long way in order to set yourself up for a successful journey. This method has carried over into my business. I’ve learned to demand respect, offer great communication, and display professionalism to each and every customer. This allows me to work well with B2B and B2C because I have set the tone for success No matter what race, male, or female, I can assure you that Calhoun’s Sweet Treats will satisfy your sweet treat needs.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Who we are: A Family-owned and operated bakery, Calhoun’s Sweet Treats is a premier bakery in Memphis, TN. We strive to model economic empowerment to underfunded communities by being the example of doing and achieving more with one treat at a time. Since 2017, our candy apples, baked goods, and treats have combined our love for great food with modern baking techniques. We initially started by offering only candy apples, but since have expanded with chocolate covered treats, popcorn, baked goods such as cakes, chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, brownies, and confectionery artist supplies. Always made with love, Calhoun’s Sweet Treats cakes and cupcakes are known for their great flavor and moistness, cookies that are soft with the right amount of crisp with each bite, creatively decorated candy apples and chocolate covered treats.
We offer a since of hope to working women that a balance between your career and family can be obtained. As women, we’ve been groomed to believe that we have to choose between career and family time, but we strive to show that these two things go hand in hand. After a long day of work, it’s ok to take a moment to treat yourself and/or family with our delicious treats while incorporating family time.
Our Story:
I started my business in a small apartment in Sept. 2017. As a traveling audit manager, I had just had my baby in September 2016. I knew my job/lifestyle no longer was suitable for raising a newborn. Since I breastfed her, I was determined to not quit because of the career I had, so I traveled with my baby, pumped in between shifts, worked, and paid sitters to travel with me. I was so unhappy doing this, so I started a hobby making candy apples for my family and friends. I knew one day that I would have to find another job in order to raise my daughter how I saw fit. At the time, my job did what they could to accommodate me and my needs, but I knew there would come a time where I could no longer keep working the way I had been. In 2017, I offered candy apples for sale to the public. Everyone loved them, so I kept selling them on the weekends since I worked Monday-Friday. In 2018, there were major layoffs at my old job of people who had dedicated their lives to the company were released with, and some without, severance packages. That motivated me to take my business even more serious, as I had already dedicated almost 13 years to this company.
From then on, I prayed for increase in my clientele, revenue, & services offered in my business. In 2020, Covid came and that scared me as I thought my business was over. To my surprise, everything I had prayed for was happening. I was sent to work from home, as travel was cut out. My clientele and revenue increased, and I had more time to offer different services outside of just candy apples.
In that year, my largest revenue, at the time, occurred. However, I still had no intent of leaving my career at that point. I prayed again, and later that year (Nov-Dec 2020), my job announced that my position was ending. I had to figure things out, QUICK! I took a leap of faith and quit Dec. 14th, 2020. I am most proud that this year makes 3 years of full-time entrepreneurship.
Our Mission:
Calhoun’s Sweet Treats is a huge advocate of community advancement and growth. We have participated in and hosted several give back initiatives over the years. We have a YouTube channel to offer free courses to women with a child(ren) like me so that they can have other ways to make ends meet or possibly leave their job to start a bakery business. I’m located in a disadvantaged area in my community, but I strive to offer hope that businesses can thrive regardless of the location. As time goes on, I look back at the neighborhood I grew up in. It’s so run down, so my goal for Calhoun’s Sweet Treats is to go back to those neighborhoods to create a connection between thriving businesses and underfunded areas.
Our Goal:
My ultimate goal is to bring corporations and small businesses to those areas so that we can create a sense of hope for low-income households and thriving businesses to offer job opportunities, increase in property value, and community growth.
Be sure to follow us on all social media outlets at Calhoun’s Sweet Treats to watch our progress.
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?
I think there are three main qualities a business should have: 1. Great communication
2. Creativity to set their brand apart
3. Consistency in your business
I believe these qualities and skills will take any business far.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Yes, I’m looking for local businesses to partner with such as restaurants, real estate agents, schools, and other businesses that need cakes or treats for special events, celebrations, and day to day operations. We can offer cake slices to restaurants, closing gifts for clients of real estate agents, cakes, cupcakes, or treats for colleges and local schools, and other business that need sweets for celebrations, business meetings, and etc. We are a vendor with Shelby County Schools and Southwest Community college, but we’d love to partner with many more businesses.
To contact me, please email [email protected] or TEXT 901-235-5088. (no calls please :))
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cstsupplyshop.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calhounsweettreats/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CalhounsSweetTreats/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/calhoun-s-sweet-treats-837997283/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/tdcalhon
- Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/CSTreats/
Image Credits
The last two photos were shot by Casper Grant. His company name is Captured By Cas Photography.
