Hidden Gems: Meet Miriam Quirarte of Coated Berries

Today we’d like to introduce you to Miriam Quirarte

Hi Miriam, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Miriam Quirarte Fausto, I’m 23 years old and I was born in Ameca, Jalisco Mexico. I’m a person that comes from extremely humble beginnings and strong faith based ideals. Regardless of all the shortcoming I’ve experienced, God blessed me with the best mother one could have. It is because of her kind, gentle, and loving nature that I grew up to be a woman who enjoys taking care of other people and showing my appreciation through gift giving. Ever since I could remember I have made it a thing to make special occasions such as Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, or any other holiday special for my family and friends, which is why this business was truly started with a passion of using my hands to create special moments for others.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No human on earth has had a smooth sailing in life, otherwise it wouldn’t be the interesting gift it is. Although I could write books about the traumatic experiences I’ve encountered throughout the years I’ll tell you instead what directly triggered the start of this business. It’s no secret to anyone that the pandemic affected the world in drastic ways and my family was no exception. Although we managed to stay clear of Covid-19 during the majority of the pandemic, our finances suffered drastically because of it. Living with an immune compromised family member amidst a new virus and financial burdens made this pandemic all the more frightening. Before starting this business I was a full time student at California State University, Long Beach and I was on track to graduate with a Bachelors degree in Psychology and Children Development and Family Services. Because of the unforeseeable circumstances that the pandemic created I was almost forced to drop out of school because I couldn’t afford the commute or to keep paying my tuition. Being stuck in a place of uncertainty has always brought out the best in me which is why I chose to join the wave of people who were brave enough to open their own small business to generate extra income. As time went by this was an excellent outlet to not only distract myself from the harsh reality of the world at the time but to continue going to school and not giving up the years of hard work I had already invested into my career. Although the pandemic has subsided and the world isn’t as shaken up by Covid, we still live in a world full of people with extremely high expectations and an unhealthy desire for perfection. While these traits are not always a bad thing, it can certainly make the process of owning a business much harder. Another problem that I’m faced with quite frequently is that people believe that baking isn’t a complicated skill and that cakes are rather simple senseless/overpriced simplicities instead of the luxury that they really are. While there’s certainly lots of challenging ideas there’s also a selective few people who know and value the work and attention to detail that it takes to be in this business. As a final and perhaps most prominent issue within the industry is the everyday expenses and the daily rise in prices that still stand to this day that continue to make it complicated to make a living out of this business. The continuous comparison between big corporations and small businesses causes friction between people but on a personal level it is the passion for my craft that keeps me going. I consider myself blessed enough to have encountered people who show me grace and continue to allow me to perfect my skills everyday that goes by and for that alone I will always give my best in return. No matter the hardships, I’ll continue to provide the best service possible and put my best foot forward.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Coated Berries is your one stop shop for cakes, chocolate covered treats, cookies and many other sweet delicacies ideal for treat tables in any special event. Whether it’s a birthday, wedding, graduation, anniversary or any other life achievement, we’ve got you covered! At Coated Berries we love creativity and we enjoy coming together with our clients to make their vision of an ideal event theme come to life. Our love for the craft and desire to stand out is what sets us apart from the rest. We will always try our best to turn simple treats into core memories. If there’s anything I’d want people to know about my business it would be that I truly love and value every person I get to work with. This business has allowed me to meet incredible people that I would otherwise never have the opportunity to come across. It is because of those relationships I’ve created over the years that this business isn’t just about financial freedom or numbers, but it is ultimately running to help build relationships through our creations.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I believe our industry is very special because it opens the door to people who are willing to take a leap of faith and start something from scratch. Running a baking business is an art form and it requires lots of patience but it’s a skill that can also be perfected with time and practice. The sun shines for everyone in this industry and although social media is unpredictable and maybe even frustrating at times it’s still a great tool that helps you connect with customers in new levels that weren’t available before. Special events will always be part of life and because of that so will these treats. A hefty part of the process is in dedicating your time to your clients and making sure your work is as perfect as possible in order to earn trust and generate long lasting client relationships.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @coated.berries