Hidden Gems: Meet Yesenia Morales of Yesi Sweet Empire

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yesenia Morales

Hi Yesenia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have always been passionate about bakery goods, especially cakes since I was a little girl. I would watch cooking/baking shows or YouTube videos to expand my knowledge of the culinary arts. Baking cookies and creating desserts for my family and friends became a hobby. My sister would tell me I should start a business since I kept baking and giving my friends the treats. I took her advice and started my business as “Yesi Sweet Factory”. My business journey started in high school, my freshman year at Reseda Charter High School in 2020. It all started with selling strawberry-covered chocolate till COVID-19 hit Los Angeles and schools were shut down. Returning to so-called normal I started selling cake pops at school, they were a big hit. I would make around 30 cake pops daily. My schedule was hectic, I would sleep very late and wake up at 5 am to make the cake pop and package them, right on time for school by 8 am. I would get called or stopped by my classmate for their cake pops. Right after school, I would walk to the grocery store for the ingredients and walk my way back home by 4:30-5 pm. Having to still do my homework, my chores, and a social life was the most difficult process but having the most supportive friends and family around me made it easier. I had many teachers, staff, and classmates supporting me from telling others about my business to ordering from me. Since my business name seemed a little off to me I made a small change and created “Yesi Sweet Empire” and even created a logo. In 2022 I transferred to Cleveland Charter High School, my second semester of being in my junior year. I was already known in the new school due to middle school friends and social media. I took an easy route for the rest of the school year with easy classes and many electives, I continued selling cake pops at the new school. I made more friends and expanded my business with bakery goods to also create floral arrangements. I would carry a sports bag filled with cake pops, my school backpack, a rose bouquet, and mini cakes. My senior year was the most stressful, I was clueless about what to study and was unsure about applying for college, it was either real estate or business major. Due to the economic state we live in, I felt like real estate was one of the quickest and smartest financial career paths to consider and end my small business. My parents are the most hard-working people I know. From no to little education, they have given me and my sibling and nephew everything we needed and wanted. I took my mother’s advice instead of my school counselor’s and took the full risk of continuing my passion, my business. I have felt the unnecessary to go to college and learn about business since I have been doing it for 4 years already. There has been inconsistency and no discipline at the beginning of the journey, but since I graduated in 2023 I was really for the full commitment. I started filling out documents to make my business official with a friend Marcelo from the California New Business Bureau, I started to be part of the pop-up community, and I started my first pop-up with The818Nightmarket. Gathering so many more supporters and customers, to now having less chance to be back to doing pop-ups due to a busy schedule. My social media have interacted with people allowing me to create sweet artwork for their special occasions. From being a little girl who was only able to see her older sister bake cakes and her father planting roses to now not only being able to bake pasty goods and create floral arrangements but also having a business since she was 15. Now today age 20, I know I have been truly blessed and grateful. Knowing those sleepless nights and late homework were worth it.

Alright, 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?
Having to balance school, mental health, a social life, family, and business is never easy. I would take honor classes that would give me so much homework that I would rather have a passing grade than straight A’s on my report card. I have struggled with my mental health, having anxiety and panic attacks. I used to have a mentality of thinking I was alone, I could do everything with no help. I used to worry about things I couldn’t control especially the future. I was juggling a lot with the present and future in my senior year, and a few months after worrying about income. I wouldn’t make much profit or would get one order a week. I would compare myself with others and doubt myself, to just go to college and just pick any quick career and get a 9-5 job instead. Even when I applied for a cake decorator job it would be the weekends when those are my busiest days of the week, so I continued having faith in my business.

As you know, we’re big fans of Yesi Sweet Empire. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Yesi Sweet Empire specializes in the customization of pastry goods and floral arrangements. It’ll be an excellent choice to purchase all at once from Yesi Sweet Empire with party treats, cakes, and floral arrangements. Combinations like a 50-stem rose bouquet and a special design of strawberry-covered chocolate as a perfect gift for a loved one or a partner. Ignore the hassle of purchasing different desserts from different bakery stores with having them unable to accommodate your party needs with a cake, decorated sugar cookies, cake pop, cupcakes, etc. to match your vision. Yesi Sweet Empire will fulfill your request even offering local delivery to make your day less stressful.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I see my business change from a home-based business to becoming a business chain.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yesisweetempire?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==