Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabrielle Williams.
Gabrielle, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
While my mom was preparing to retire from the military, one of the decisions she made was enrolling me into a school that was closer to our home. Unfortunately, it wasn’t an easy transition for me. One day, at lunch, I was saying grace and a student asked “what was I doing” and stated “we don’t do that here.” Immediately after, I started being bullied by my classmates. Eventually, it took a toll on my confidence and self-esteem. I went from having a bubbly and fun personality to just keeping to myself.
I was first introduced to baking from my godmother. It became a tradition that we would bake various desserts every time I spent time with her. The one thing that I began to notice was when I baked the stress from being bullied was no longer there. It was obvious that baking had become a form of therapy for me. I was able to take that negative energy and transfer it into the creativity of my desserts.
In August 2013, my mom took me to an empowerment event for women and girls called “Create Your Own Sizzle,” by Dr. Cheryl Wood. It was there that I saw a young entrepreneur named Gabrielle Williams (now known as Gabrielle Jordan). What drew me to her table wasn’t that she was the youngest vendor in the arena, it was the irony that we shared the same first and last name. It was her final words to “Dream Big” that sparked my interest in becoming a businessowner.
At first I started making jewelry because I wanted to emulate the older Gabrielle. I had fun making jewelry, but I wasn’t really passionate about it. I was passionate about baking, though. When I brought the idea of baking from scratch to my mom, she gave me an ultimatum that required giving her three homemade frostings. It only took one which was my Chocolate Expresso Buttercream Frosting to convince her. However, I didn’t stop there. I told my mom that I wanted to start my own business. I thought I would get immediate financial support from her, but I didn’t. She made me pitch my business idea (in a Shark Tank like setting) and provide a business plan to both her and my godparents. In November 2013, I introduced Glorious Pastries by Gabrielle, to the world at the age of nine.
While my business was doing fairly well it wasn’t until March 2016, that things drastically changed. In an instant my business grew tremendously. I was now being spotlighted and contacted by numerous media outlets, ranging from local news stations to the likes of ABC’s Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts. My business went from just baking for family and friends to now having celebrity customers.
My story and business success has provided me with the opportunity to travel and speak to youth about bullying and starting their own businesses. My messages resulted in me being honored with the iChange Nations Youth Add Value Award, awarded by United Nations Ambassador Dr. Clyde Rivers (Republic of Burundi, Africa). In my first published co-authored book, The Science Behind It: Formulating Success at Any Age, I also share my story and journey to a becoming a successful businessowner.
I’m still amazed at how I went from being introduced to baking in my godparents’ kitchen to standing in Walt Disney World’s kitchen with Chef Jeff Henderson, as a 2019 Steve Harvey and Essence Magazine Disney Dreamer Academy participant. In February 2020, in Atlanta, I was honored by the National Black Chef’s Association becoming one of three first-ever young chefs to receive such recognition. I was also named as the first-ever DMV Jr. Chapter President from the association.
Has it been a smooth road?
It definitely has not been an easy or smooth road. There have been so many challenges and struggles that I faced. I had to constantly deal with people having negative things to say about business ownership and on top of that seeing many small businesses closing its door. So, I had to keep reminding myself what my vision was. There was a time where I hadn’t received any orders for four or five months. It was difficult, because I thought it was the end of my business. I remember crying and telling my mom that if I went another two months without an order, I would shut the business down. I would say three days later, I received an order for over 150 cupcakes.
When I first expanded my business outside family, friends and the local community it was hard convincing people that I really was a legitimate business owner. I had to convince people to not consider my age, but consider my product. I didn’t want to be considered the cute kid who just happens to sell cupcakes, I wanted to be known as the young entrepreneur giving her adult competitors a run for their money. I must add that baking, in itself, is very difficult because the slightest miss calculation can change the whole dynamic of your dessert. Because people can be or are very finicky when it comes to desserts, there’s very little room for error. I pride myself of being consistent in my desserts taste and presentation, so it’s always a challenge to get it right the first time.
Like most young people I want to spend time with my friends. Well, being a businessowner there were times that I had to sacrifice being able to hang out with friends, go to their birthday parties/cookouts and attend after-school events, because I had orders to fulfill or had to cater an event. At this moment, it has become even more difficult because I’m currently in high school and enrolled in college working on my Associates Degree in Hospitality Service Management. I’m very grateful that my mom has taken on some of my business operation responsibilities while I’m in high school and pursuing my Associates. I still make the final business decisions and bake all the desserts, but not having to worry about the administrative aspects helps me a lot. Although there have been challenges, I wouldn’t change anything. I am truly living and fulfilling my dream.
We’d love to hear more about the company.
Glorious Pastries by Gabrielle specializes in homemade desserts that utilizing fresh ingredients. As the Head Baker, I try to stick as close as possible to my grandma’s and great-grandma’s recipes, while also creating some of my own. Even with creating my own recipes, I try to envision my grandmas’ and what they would do with the ingredients on hand. So, no matter what I bake I want you to get that old-fashioned childhood tasting dessert.
What I have become widely known for is my Southern Classic Red Velvet Cake, Peach Cobbler Cake and my Buttercream Frosting. I’ve had people ask to just order the frosting by itself or asked how did I make it, but that’s a secret that will stay in the family.
What I’m most proud of about my company is how I started at the age of nine and have continued to sustain the business for this long. I went from baking for family and friends, to catering large events and baking for numerous local and national award-winning celebrities. I never envisioned some of the opportunities that have come my way, but I’m so glad that God saw it differently.
What sets me apart from others is my desire to just show and teach others how to overcome adversity by incorporating that negative energy into creating a work of art that happens to be edible. It doesn’t hurt either having culinary mentors, such as Chef Kenna, to guide me along the way.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
It’s hard for me to say where the baking/pastry industry will be in 5-10 years because the industry is always coming up with innovative concepts. You can have someone bake a basic box cake to someone creating a life-sized/realistic imaged cake. I believe that’s the beauty of my industry; someone is always coming up with the next great baking idea or concept. This is becoming more evident with the number of baking shows/competitions that are now being televised.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gloriouspastries.com
- Phone: 240-416-2994
- Email: gloriouspastries1@
gmail.com - Instagram: @gloriouspastries1
Image Credit:
AJ Photoz
Glorious Pastries by Gabrielle
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
