Today we’d like to introduce you to Susie Harvey.
Susie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in Eufaula, a small city in Southeast Alabama with a very small-town feel, but I always had big dreams. Ironically, I could have never fathomed my dreams would circle back to the thing I’ve loved for as long as I can remember – baking!
I grew up with two very phenomenal bakers in my family – my mother and grandmother! Always eager to learn their secrets, I stayed in the kitchen, watching and absorbing. I loved everything about baking, the science, the precision of measurements (everyone who knows me, knows I’m a fanatic over even the tiniest detail), the smell of fresh-baked goods, even the flour that sometimes went flying in the kitchen.
My mother had a collection of those hardcover cookbooks we all probably recall seeing a time or two (or dozen) as kids. You know, the ones with the old school pictures and drop cookie recipes for days. I remember the first time I asked my mother if I could bake something on my own from one of those books. I was six years old, and I remember her saying, “Just don’t burn the house down.” What did I make? Peanut Butter Press Cookies, and they were good too! From that day, the satisfaction of a perfectly baked dessert, no matter how simple, has always stayed with me.
Fast forward a tad over a decade later, I was off to college to study nursing, graduate, and finally be able to move to Californ-I-A (far far away from Alabama) where I’d flourish in my chosen career of travel nurse. But my life took a turn. A back surgery mid-way through college, quickly put that in my rearview. However, that didn’t stop me from getting to California.
A few months after graduation, I packed my belongings and my little Yorkie, Samson who is now deceased, in my SUV and headed to San Diego to start a new job – in a city where I knew no one. It just so happened, that the godson of a friend of mine, from Birmingham, AL, introduced me to this amazing woman who took me under her wing and quickly became my friend and mentor! It’s amazing how things work sometimes!
About five years later though, I found myself in a stagnant place yet again. My job was extremely stressful, and there were times I felt like I was drowning. Long story short, I ended up moving back across the country to a city, that for me, had about as much potential as my relationship that was on the fast-track to nowhere. It was a short chapter in an otherwise long story, but that failure led to my next phase of life. You guessed it, I packed my belongings yet again and ended up in Atlanta, and although this chapter is still being written, I can confidently say this is home.
Back to baking! Just how does all this translate to things coming full circle, you may ask? Although I initially shied away from pursuing a culinary career, baking was never a thing of the past! I like to say it’s in my DNA. I would bake treats for potlucks, holidays when I taught preschool, work meetings, birthdays, special occasions, any occasion, you name it, I’d find a reason to bake something! I would always get requests for items I had made, asked to share recipes, etc. but it wasn’t until someone told me that I had “missed my calling” that it clicked! Why hadn’t I turned my talent and passion into a business? It was then, that I stopped running and embraced a calling that for so long has been not only natural to me, but incredibly fulfilling. It’s really icing on the cake (pun intended) that I’m blessed to be able to turn something I love into a business that brings me so much joy.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all! One of my biggest challenges was getting out of my own way. Taking the next step into entrepreneurship was by no means an easy decision. Baking for fun or enjoyment and creating/running a baking business is completely different.
For me, it’s also about balance and time management. I have a full-time career in higher education and typically put in 50-60 hours weekly (on average) in the kitchen, creating, recipe testing, perfecting, filling orders, you name it. More often than not, that means I’m up baking before the crack of dawn, burning the midnight oil, or baking into the next day. I’m no stranger to a 24-hour workday any day of the week, especially on weekends.
Entrepreneurship requires many hours of dedication, sacrifice, and persistence and the results aren’t necessarily immediate or smooth for that matter. I’ve had to learn to allow myself to have moments to express doubts, accept failures, etc. and keep it moving. It’s OK to be OK with those things as they’re learning opportunities, but the key is to not allow failures to become defeat. I know, that quite frankly, the success and growth of my business is on me!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about OMG Sweets! – what should we know?
OMG sweets provides a variety of desserts, including cakes, cakesickles, cupcakes, cheesecakes, cookies, pastries, and more. So much of my baking style comes from my upbringing. Creating classic desserts with a modern twist is one of my specialties.
Quality and love are everything! Every dessert is created using quality ingredients, and as cliché, as it may be to say, I believe in baking with love. I’m a true southern gal, and I grew up experiencing the love of baking as well as the togetherness of food. A little bit of that love is in everything created in this kitchen, and I truly believe it is imparted into the flavor experience.
I am most proud of my ability to grow as a baker and challenge myself as an artist. In the past, my artistic skills typically consisted of anything drawn with a ruler. However, baking has pushed me to explore my creativity and become a better artist. I learn something new every day and my decorating skills are continuously evolving.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
It’s so hard to narrow it down to just one thing. Passion and dedication are essential. Because I have such passion for baking, it never feels like work. I could literally spend all day baking in the kitchen.
Dedication is equally important as well though. I’m dedicated, not only to my business but to creating exceptional desserts and providing experiences that exceed my customers’ expectations. So much of my business has come from repeat customers and referrals, and it’s been great. My goal is to keep my customers wanting to come back for more.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 404 618-5520
- Email: omgsweetsbyq@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omgsweetsbyq/
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