Meet Amber Lloyd

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Lloyd.

Hi Amber, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m the baker in charge of SunniSweets by Amber LLC. I bake tasty dairy-free cakes, cupcakes and everyday treats that everyone can enjoy. Growing up, my love for being in the kitchen was nurtured by both my mom and great-grandmother. Though my mom wasn’t a big baker, her and I learned how to bake from Mom Mom Beulah. I like to think that I’ve adopted the “effortless” skills of judging batter by sight and baking times by smell from Mom Mom. Baking for me is an act of love and peace in the kitchen and is a skill I owe to these brilliant women.

As a self-taught baker, I bring a level of passion and sunshine to my creations every day because I believe that every indulgence should bring joy. In fact, one of the cornerstones of my business is the belief that you should be able to celebrate what you eat, not regret it. After baking for upwards of 20 years, I officially launched SunniSweets in the later part of 2019; however, I took time to regroup at the height of the pandemic. During that time, SunniSweets transitioned from a traditional baking business to one that specializes in dairy-free products in 2020. Like many individuals, I found that while my family strives to lead a healthier lifestyle, we still struggle to give up ingredients that have been linked to chronic inflammation such as dairy. I then realized that besides occasionally indulging in cheese, I would only purchase traditional milk and butter when baking. The choice to transition to a specialty bakery was made to better reflect my personal life since I deal with a couple of autoimmune diseases myself. Besides being a personal decision, I realized that having a dairy-free bakery that provides premium products can help consumers feel good about their indulgences. Once I was truly satisfied with the quality of my products, I obtained my cottage food license and formed SunniSweets by Amber LLC in 2021 so that I could reach the masses! Well, at least those located in the greater Atlanta area.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s been a smooth road… definitely a little bumpy. One of my primary challenges has been scaling up my business. I only recently decided to commit to my journey as an entrepreneur full-time so that I could focus all of my energy into growing. Working in a traditional job setting with full-time hours while trying to promote my business, acquire customers and fulfill orders was quite the challenge.

I’d also have to say that overcoming any mental blockages has been a struggle too. There’s a certain amount of strength, determination and self-belief that’s required to continue moving onwards and upwards. I’ve learned firsthand what Imposter Syndrome is and overcoming that is a daily task that has been worth taking on.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Keeping the belief that you can enjoy baked goods without traditional milk and butter has remained a major compass in my business. My passion to create the most delicious, dairy-free goodies for my customers’ everyday enjoyment is a huge part of my desire to grow. Another reason that I specialize in providing dairy-free desserts is because there are approximately 30 million people who suffer from dairy or lactose-related allergies and sensitivities across the United States. That’s a lot of people who struggle to find good quality sweet treats or custom cakes! I think that a lot of folks with these sensitivities are willing and able to indulge in traditional goodies whenever they’d like because their reaction(s) tend to be minor. However, for others, having these allergies or intolerances prevents them from being able to enjoy truly delicious custom cakes, cookies and other everyday treats. This is an issue that I personally know all too well so I’m looking to change that narrative by providing the tastiest dairy-free confections without sacrificing flavor or texture.

Currently, my most popular menu items include products such as jumbo cookies, peach cobbler flavored cinnamon rolls, jumbo sweet potato muffins and gluten-free chocolate cake just to name a few. In addition to providing everyday baked goods, I’ve been honored to whip up custom cakes and dessert tables for weddings and birthday celebrations. While my business is primarily dairy-free, I also have a number of products that happen to be vegan. One of my proudest achievements is that I have successfully been able to shock and satisfy customers who don’t identify themselves as vegan or dairy-free. I love how many times I’ve heard people rave over the fact that they can’t tell something is “missing”.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to ask for help and look for resources. Whether it’s asking a friend to help at an event or utilizing the resources provided by the Small Business Administration. As someone who is always trying to do things on my own, this is a lesson that I’m still learning to fully embrace– but it’s an important one. My journey has gotten so much clearer by utilizing my current resources and making the most out of the wealth of knowledge that I’m privy to. Entrepreneurship can feel a little lonely at times so it really helps to lean on others.

Contact Info:

• Website: sunnisweets.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunnisweets/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunnisweets23/

Image Credits
Amber Lloyd