Today we’d like to introduce you to Janet Johnson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Janet. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Christmas was my favorite holiday growing up, mostly due to the smell of gingerbread and making gingerbread houses from scratch with my mom. When you place gingerbread, candy and royal icing together it creates a magical, yet delicious decorative treat. For years my mother was told she should sell her gingerbread houses as she donated them to almost everyone in town.
Once I had a family of my own, the smell of gingerbread houses filled our holidays as well. My boys loved decorating gingerbread houses. We began to get creative, playing with different ideas from lifesaver candy windows to decorating gingerbread houses for different holidays.
I was also told I should sell my gingerbread houses. So I did!! I went to arts and crafts fairs, doing my best to sell my idea of gingerbread houses for all holidays. And then, boom! 2007 recession hit! I was a single mom, working six days a week and trying to build a gingerbread house business on the side. Something had to give; I had to put my dream on hold.
Fast forward to 2015. I remarried, had a baby girl (Lily), and mentioned to my husband and dear friend my little gingerbread lovin’ dream. With my cheerleaders by my side, I went for it again. My husband and I dove in, creating sugar glass windows with personalized pictures, lighting systems, different sizes, loads of candy and lots of fun! We now have a website full of gingerbread houses for every holiday, corporate gifts, and special events. We ship our gingerbread houses across the continental United States and hand deliver locally to the Los Angeles/Orange County areas.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Many challenges presented itself from day one, both mentally and structurally with the gingerbread houses. While I have the passion and drive to keep going, it’s not easy when you fail again and again. From the sugar glass windows melting, surviving shipment from the coast to coast without crumbling, humidity destroying the gingerbread house, and technology is not my friend, to many more problems. Many days have been difficult and exhausting.
It’s all about the passion, it’s not work for me, it is my dream. A dream of bringing smiles to people’s faces, creating traditions of a beautiful gingerbread house for everyone to enjoy.
Most of my life, I have felt inadequate. Judging myself for having difficulties in school. I have suffered through learning disabilities and attention disorders. I realized in my 30’s, success is not determined from a formal education. Creativity and drive can take you where you want to go, where I wanted to go. It was terrifying at times. My inadequacies from my childhood came back with a vengeance. I felt futile. I thought to myself I have no business running my own business. I have no training to do this. As I worked long nights, I reminded myself at 4 am in the morning, don’t give up. You got this. It’s going to work. With the constant support of my husband, I persevered through the difficult days. It took two years, but we did it. Our gingerbread houses ship intact and smell amazing as soon as you open the package. The windows don’t melt or become cloudy. The pictures in the back window are clear. Technology is still not my friend, but I’ve learned to tackle it best I can. ☺
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Lily’s Gingerbread Lane story. Tell us more about the business.
We create personalized gingerbread houses for corporate gifts, birthdays, special events and EVERY Holiday.
I am the creator, owner and operator of the company. We are a family-owned and operated business.
We offer a unique approach to gingerbread house making. Each fondant figure is handcrafted; every branch on our trees are piped and thoughtfully created by us. Aside from the handmade details, what makes our gingerbread houses stand out are our unique and magical sugar glass windows that appear in the back of each gingerbread house. You can customize the back window with a corporate logo or family picture. Every gingerbread house comes with a lighting system, creating an enchanted glow from within the gingerbread house. It was important to me that every house was edible. From loads of candy to the trees, the windows and even the decorative fondant figures. Each house can be used as a show stopping decorative centerpiece for months or dive right in and enjoy the deliciousness.
I am most proud of the happiness we bring to people’s lives. Our gingerbread houses are not just for kids. People of all ages love them. Creating a bit of fun, magic, delight, and yumminess is extremely rewarding. When I meet someone who has been gifted one of our gingerbread houses, the biggest smile comes to their face. Right then and there, I am aware that our little gingerbread company brightened their holiday or special event and that makes the long days worth it.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I wouldn’t describe it as luck. I truly believe, what you put out into the universe, you shall receive in return. I have worked hard to become my authentic self. I don’t pretend to be anyone other than who I am. I live a life of honesty, acceptance and love. Because of this, I have brought beautiful, kind, and caring people into my life. My husband, children, family members and a dear friend who’s belief in me has never wavered. With their support and my acceptance of who I am, I built a business from the ground up, educating and teaching myself along the way.
Pricing:
- Small gingerbread houses range between $75- $95
- Medium gingerbread houses range form $150-$175
- Large gingerbread houses $300-$325
Contact Info:
- Website: lilysgingerbreadlane.com
- Phone: 562-794-9354
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @lilysgingerbreadlane
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilysgingerbreadlane1
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