Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellie Garcia
Hi Ellie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My interest in baking started at a pretty early age. I remember watching my older sister make cupcakes in her easy bake oven and keeping up with all the baking related shows on tv. I was pretty in awe about the whole process from start to finish. I always thought, how cool could would it be if I tried to make one of those fancy cakes? It didn’t look easy, but it also didn’t look impossible.
One day, for my mom’s birthday, I decided to make her a fondant cake (since I couldn’t afford to buy one.. they were an arm and a leg!) so I DIY’d it. I baked the cake out of a box, and rolled my fondant like it was play-dough. It was fun and I totally got lost in the process. She loved her cake and encouraged me to keep up this new hobby of mine. I never wanted to stop making cakes after that. Everything about it made me feel good.
Years later, I would make cakes any chance I could. In the back of my head I always knew I could make it a business one day, I just didn’t know exactly how to. I didn’t know anyone with a business at the time.. so I went on to study Business Management and Marketing at CSULB. During that time, I had already established my business name “Ellie Baked It” and started implementing all the things I was learning in school, directly into my small business. I learned how to market myself, how to network, how to stand out as a business and build relationships with my customers and my community.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
For the most part, it’s been a smooth road. Sure, there have been bumps a long the way, but as a small business owner, you learn that these are all challenges to learn from. Many struggles can lead to a break through.
Being patient, realistic, and positive minded are all things that have helped me deal with these type of situations.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a cake and cookie artist. I specialize in custom cake and cookie designs from birthdays to weddings. The best thing I do for my clients is take their ideas and inspiration into something beautiful and delectable for their events and celebrations. It can be something so simple and neat to something colorful and highly detailed.
What sets me apart from others is the relationships I build with my clients, many of them have become friends and some even family. I end up being one of the people they think about when they plan the most special days in their lives. I get to be apart of people’s real life events year after year and I think that’s super special.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I loved the idea of having my own business for as long as I can remember. I tried so many things out when I was young. I had a candy store with my sister when I was around 5 years old. We sold our favorite candy and chips from our apartment patio. At 8 years old, I begged my neighbor to let me sell Avon at school, I still remember how excited I was when she actually let me do it.
When I was 15, I learned how to use Adobe and designed wedding invitations for en event planner. I always had a “side hustle” no matter how old I was. My older sister called me an “entrepreneur” before I even knew what the word meant. I absolutely loved having my own business and making my own money. I always had a gut feeling that I would own a business one day I just didn’t know in what. Once I started making cakes and cookies, it became my life. I haven’t looked back since.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://elliebakedit.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/elliebakedit
Image Credits
image credit for self portrait photographer: Vanessa Ayala
