Today we’d like to introduce you to Quiyanna Wilder.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Quiyanna. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My overnight business began one summer night in June 2019. My then, six years old daughter and I had a small argument over the last strawberry shortcake ice cream in the freezer. Being the mother, I let her have the ice cream. Immediately after, I told her, “By tomorrow I will have the recipe to the strawberry crunch and you just watch me make it last forever!” I was joking about the ” make it last forever part,” but we love a friendly competition so why not. I stayed up reading different recipes and got lucky. Providentially, my granny introduced me to baking at a young age, reading recipes and learning to add your own twist to them was nothing new to me. We would bake cakes, make potato souffle, and homemade icing for most holidays and family gatherings.
In the midst of those memories, I came up with the idea to bake strawberry shortcake cupcakes opposed to an actual strawberry shortcake. I decided to use a vanilla cream cheese icing topped with my new strawberry crunch recipe garnished with a fresh strawberry. The following day, I went grocery shopping for all of the ingredients. Came home and started the baking process. Enthusiastically, when everything was finished I was able to choose my granny as a sampler. Her response, “Wow, this is really good! It’s missing a little sugar but it was really good!” Granny had me hype, I posted the cupcakes to my Instagram story and instantly, my direct messages blew up with inquires. During this time, I was on summer break from working in the school system and chose to drive Lyft for extra cash.
A few weeks prior to baking, I stated I was tired of being scared to pick total strangers up so this was. I decided to make a post that said, “the first ten people to send me a dm with inquiries can meet me for a sample. The majority of the people let me record them while they gave a review and the following day, I had five orders. A couple of months into baking cupcakes daily, one night I was sitting at a party and decided to make a business Instagram page. I wanted to keep my personal life and business separate. I came up with this catchy and cute name called, “Yummy Yum Cupcakes” I thought about what people would say and remember most about how my cupcake made them feel after eating one. I added pictures and promoted my page consistently. Friends and family started following me. Friends of family and friends began to follow me along with random people. I believe I’ve gotten to where I am today by being consistent, humble, persistent and promoting #1 quality customer service.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I would not say that the roads have been smooth more so a challenge. I have to learned how to balance being a single mother, working in a school and running a business that started overnight. It was challenging learning how to balance all three and still have a life for me. I stayed up for nights. Woke up early mornings just to play around and bake until I found the best recipe for me. It was challenging being interactive with my followers on both Instagram accounts. Along the way I have learned how to, Balance it All Out” – Rocko
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Yummy Yum Cupcakes & Treats – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Yummy Yum Cupcakes & Treats is an in home bakery. We specialize in cupcakes. Our signature Strawberry Crunch Cupcake is what we are well known for along with the Peach Cobbler and Funnel Cake Cupcakes. We also have treats such as Chocolate Covered Strawberries, Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods along with Candied Grapes, I am most proud of how my company started as an argument between my daughter and I now it is a conversation among friends and families. What sets me apart from others is my uniqueness, my creativity, and the way my consistency.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
In the future, I plan to open up a walk-up boutique-style bakery in the Southwest Atlanta area. Offering all-day service with an idea insight of offering breakfast muffins alongside our cupcakes and treats along with introducing freshly squeezed juices and water refreshers. Right now, we are currently working on our website to make it easier for people who are interested in us but are not into the whole social media thing. I also plan on expanding to another social media platform after the website is finished.
Pricing:
- $2.50 per cupcake
- Half Dozen Cupcakes – $15
- Dozen Cupcakes – $30
Contact Info:
- Phone: 404-312-5633
- Email: yummyyummcupcakes@gmail.com
- Instagram: yummy_yumcupcakes
Image Credit:
John Pridgen – photo credit (image of the interviewee)
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