Today we’d like to introduce you to Chey’na Micciche.
Chey’na, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started baking when I was nine years old following the cheesecake recipe on the Philadelphia cream cheese box. That led to making sugar cookies from the c&h package.
The joy I got from creating things that made other people happy was amazing. So I continued baking into my adult life.
I enrolled in the professional baking program at LA Trade Technical College after high school (2004) & learned to perfect the skills I’d been working on most of my life.
I was going to school full-time & working a full-time job around 2007. I started bringing the desserts I would make in class to my job. One of my coworkers enjoyed the desserts so much they placed an order. Then more co-workers started ordering! I had made desserts for people before throughout high school but this was when I realized that I could really monetize my talents.
I started brainstorming names for my business & while talking with a customer Chey’Dough came up.
I took that name, went to my local courthouse & filed for my DBA. I didn’t want anyone else to have it because I’m Chey & I’m making the dough. I had no other sets plan except to bake. I had a lot to learn!
There have been some ups & downs but I’ve been working on Chey’Dough since 2008/2009.
Has it been a smooth road?
My journey as an entrepreneur has been a rollercoaster. There have been many ups & downs.
Let me start in 2008 when I got my DBA (doing business as) & started Chey’Dough as a business with no real direction. I was in my early 20’s, I enjoyed baking & creating something that made other people happy but that was all I had. There was no plan, I only offered cookies & brownies, Chey’Dough was pretty much a hobby.
I work a full-time job I liked & saw a future with while going to school full-time. I was comfortable. That all changed when I was laid off from my job in 2009. The level of uncertainty was something I wasn’t used to & I fell into a depression.
Instead of placing my attention on my business, I was spending hours a day looking for a new job. I needed security & at that point in my life it looked like a job with competitive pay, matching 401k & health benefits. Mind you, I was still baking on the side while I was searching for this new job.
Finally, I find a new job at a call center that I ended up HATING! I started really thinking about what my next move would be & trying to make that move. I was looking for another job while working & on occasion baking for people when they ordered. After a year in the call center, I left but now life had another curveball, I was pregnant with my first son.
After I had my son in 2012. I decided that it was go time for Chey’Dough! I had this renewed motivation & was ready to see my hobby become what is was meant to be. I was so excited to be working on something that I could leave behind to my child. Then in June that year took a turn for the worst. I lost my stepfather to pancreatic cancer & my grandmother three weeks later.
Chey’Dough was a priority now but it wasn’t moving as quickly as I felt it should have. At this time, I had been silently battling postpartum depression & the added the grief from losing such close family members. I was losing hope for my dream to be a reality. Although I was still working on Chey’Dough it wasn’t my main priority. It was on the back burner now & instead, I put most of my energy into being a working mom & rebuilding my mental health.
From 2013-2015 Chey’Dough was still “Baking People Happy” but mainly with cookies, decorated cookies & cupcakes. I would not take cake orders.
In 2015, I got pregnant with my daughter. I fully decided now that it was make or break it time for Chey’Dough. I baked all the desserts (except the cake) for my baby shower, I was giving a full display of what I could offer. She was born in March of 2016 & I started working again in April. This was my year! I was turning 30, my 12 years relationship ended & again I was battling postpartum depression (again). Instead of giving up on Chey’Dough I threw myself into my work. I had two children, was working & was determined to make my dreams a reality.
I started selling my signature dessert jars & had them at a restaurant in downtown Long Beach, I have added cakes to my menu & have a number of other things I’m working on for Chey’Dough. I have been going full steam since then. I’m constantly learning & growing.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Chey’Dough offers a variety of desserts from banana pudding to custom cakes. The most popular items I offer are my dessert jars.
The dessert jars come in 4oz (12 minimum), 8oz, 16oz & recently added 32oz sizes. The current flavors offered are banana pudding (made with from scratch shortbread cookies), caramel brownie banana pudding, strawberry shortcake, lemon cheesecake, brownie turtle & strawberry cheesecake.
I also offer cakes, cupcakes, decorated cookies, brownies, cookies, bread pudding & pies/ cobblers seaseasonally. I require at least a one week notice for anything custom.
I’m most proud of the growth Chey’Dough has seen over the years & the continued support of so many beautiful people. Being able to “Bake People Happy” & create content that’s relatable is so important to me.
What sets Chey’Dough apart is that I’m a mompreneur who is looking to build a brand known for supporting others & creating a welcoming space. I recently started my “Mommy & mini” series with my daughter Callie. We are both excited about it & have so much in store!
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Los Angeles is a huge place! There is honestly space for everyone to grow. I will say that if you’re not from here & don’t know anyone is can be a difficult place to start because LA is not cheap!
The key is finding the area of LA that’s best for you, finding your niché & creating a name for yourself.
You must be genuine, have a good product, provide great customer service & believe in yourself! There really are endless possibilities.
Pricing:
- Cake pricing starts at $5 per serving then varies on complexity of the design.
- Decorated cookies start at $36 per dozen (minimum order 1 dozen)
Contact Info:
- Website: cheydough.com
- Phone: 323-609-8604
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: Instagram.com/chey_dough
- Facebook: facebook.com/CheyDoughPastries
- Twitter: Twitter.com/misscheydough
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