Today we’d like to introduce you to Tess Levin.
Hi Tess, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am 27 years old and have a passion for food. I started baking at a young age with my mom. She made banana bread every week and packed it in our lunches for school; I still have people I grew up with reaching out to reminisce about her banana bread! I started baking cupcakes in high school and would frequently sell to local coffee shops and take small orders from friends and family! Fast forward to post-college, 2017, I was in a job I hated, I thought, “there has to be more to life than working a crappy job, living in a tiny apartment in LA”. So, I turned to baking to help relieve stress from my daily job. I loved baking so much (and eating, lol) that I decided to share it again with my community. I began my business, Fluff Cups, as a custom home bakery and served the LA area as a side hustle. For the next few years, I grew my small business and sold my cakes around the city, but began to realize that I loved creating content around food, mental health in the food space, and food humor. In 2020, I made a shift from a custom bakery to your foodie best friend. I wanted to be the individual people came to for a funny food video, a restaurant or dessert recommendation, or to see a fun decorated cake I did in my free time. I found solace is food, making it, eating it, talking about it and I want to share that experience with everyone around the world. Now people know me as Tess a.k.a Fluff Cups!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has absolutely not been a smooth road. I think lasting success takes years. We have all heard that “overnight success takes 20 years” and I completely agree with that. I don’t believe I have yet hit a peak or hit the success I desire for myself. I think the struggle I have, as do many content creators, is how do you create quality content, stay true to yourself, and grow your business into a sustainable entity. I have yet to answer that question, it is something I struggle with daily and push through…daily. I think we always need to adapt and that is the joy and hardship of building something from the ground up.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
The accomplishment I am most proud of is that I won episode 3 of Hulu’s Baker’s Dozen in 2021!
I love that I have been able to pivot through my business journey. I started as a custom bakery, I transitioned to food content creation, and now I am known for my food/restaurant reviews and fun food creations. Since I have the most experience in desserts, I love reviewing and promoting dessert shops’ offerings. I think the coolest thing about the point I am at now, is that I get to do what I love (food content creation) while helping small businesses grow their own audience and loyal fan base! It is great to use the tools and resources I have to no longer promote my own desserts (as I have pivoted from custom bakes) to promoting businesses that do sell yummy food!
What’s next?
My plan for the near term is to continue to work with small businesses and food brands to grow their brand awareness via social media. I look forward to all the new people I get to meet and help! Additionally, I have my eyes set on being a judge of a food network baking show/host of a baking show. WHENEVER THAT MAY BE! I am manifesting and working towards that goal and might as well state it for the world to hear :)!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fluffcups.net
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/fluffcups
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fluffcups/
- Youtube: youtube.com/channel/UCOX3H6GmLCjBV8jOrx4eBhw
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@fluffcups?lang=en
