Today we’d like to introduce you to Glennise Matthews.
Hi Glennise, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Glennise Matthews, and I am the owner operator of She’s Cakin It Cakes. I am also the general manager of Candytopia Atlanta, Supervisor for the Atlanta Hawks Flight Crew (16 seasons), and fitness instructor (15 years) at Onelife Fitness in metro Atlanta. I started off working with my aunt (Mary Evonne Johnson(Von)) who taught me everything I know about cakes. I worked with her while in my senior year of high school, and also in college. She loved to bake. I worked with her for well over 10 years until she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to close up shop. While she took sick, many people expressed how much they missed her cakes, so she gave me her blessing to continue on with her recipe.
I currently have the honor of being the only one who knows her secrets. When she passed, she left the cake shop to me. I would do cakes for our clients while holding down a full time job and teaching four fitness classes a week. I am a natural people person. I often say customer service runs through my veins. I would fit cakes in when I could. As the years went by, I worked a corporate job, did cakes, and worked part time with the hawks. In 2016 I was laid off from my full time job which was very underwhelming. I felt like I was placed in a box. I landed gig jobs and continued to bake cakes.
In 2019, I was hired as the Operations Manager for Candytopia Atlanta. Candytopia is an interactive candy museum with many different themed rooms with sculptures made out of candy. I like to describe it as Willy Wonka on steroids. Candytopia is a pop up that normally stays for 6 months, and move on to the next city. Due to Atlanta has such a great team and provided so much fun for customers. I was blessed to be asked to assist with hiring and training staff in other cities. Atlanta was so successful the first go round, that Candytopia decided to come back. I was offered the role of general manager and have loved every bit of it. I get the chance to hire young adults, many of which are coming into the workforce for the first time. I get the opportunity to mentor and coach them on how to have jobs. Not to mention, this a fun place to work. Our entire job is to ensure our customer is having a great time. I love pouring into people be it customers or employees. A good encouraging word goes a long way.
During the pandemic, I had the opportunity to get my cakes in a small restaurant near Lithonia, GA called Good Eats Healthy Living. They order every week to ensure their store is stocked. To say that I am blessed, would be an understatement. I am still doing cakes, working for the Atlanta Hawks, and teaching group fitness classes. These are all things I love to do.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road to get where I am today was not a smooth one. Before becoming the fitness instructor, I was struggling with weight issues of my own. I lost over 150 lbs. Just by eating right and exercising. I became a fitness instructor after keeping the weight off for two years. I have always been told to keep a hustle that keeps you healthy. When I teach, its like I am living a dream just due to the fun I have.
When I was laid off from my corporate job, I had no clue what I really wanted to do. I landed a gig job working with Live Nation. The hours were no less than 12 hours a day. I worked with production for concerts mainly, so it could be fun, but the long hours started to weigh heavy. I could hardly find time to fit cakes in or teach my classes. One day I had a friend named Anthony send me a link to Candytopia’s website for a brand ambassador position. He said this company is describing you! I went to the interview, and was hired as an assistant manager on the spot. Two weeks later I was promoted to Operations Manager.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As the general manager of Candytopia, I get the chance to work with many youngsters. Many of which who have never had jobs. I help mentor and teach them the importance of good communication and keeping your word. I have had many terrible managers in my lifetime. I want to ensure that we create a healthy fun work environment. I want them to look forward to coming to work. This may sound cliché, but I want everyone to win. If I see any type of behavior that is less that stellar, they will hear about, and I will show them myself how to correct it or do the job so they can see it in action. I’ve seen first hand employees who when they first started was quiet as a mouse and walked with their heads down. They now walk with their heads held up high, talk and work with customers with no hesitation. This makes me very proud. I like to think I am not your traditional manager. I am not the suit and tie/button up type of manager. Fun is in my blood, to where I do not know how to spread sunshine everywhere I go. I do not take myself too serious, but I ensure they understand that I say what I mean and mean what I say.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The interactive museums or pop ups are here to stay. In the world of social media, and fast trends, people continue to look for the next best thing. Moving from city to city is what keeps us fresh. If it’s not broken, no need to fix it. 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: Candytopia.com
- Instagram: @shes_cakin_it
