Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Lozoria.
Hi Alexis, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As cheesy as it may sound, I actually have always been into baking and decorating cakes since I was a kid. I would always bake my family and friends cakes even if they were not always the prettiest but I was always excited to make something new for them. I was that girl in town that everybody knew as to make cakes or treats. I grew up majority in Frisco, Texas most of my life, since 2004 to be exact. In high school, I took a culinary class which was at a Career and Technical Center. This class was my favorite class Senior year because we got to work and learn from two amazing Chefs while also learning how to run a small Deli that the center had. We would be in charge of making menu items for the Deli as well as desserts. The best part about it was that we had the opportunity to work and learn from a commercial kitchen. It was all such an amazing experience. After I graduated high school, I ended up going to culinary school and I graduated with my Associates of Applied Science in Pastry Arts. In culinary school, I learned a lot about baking breads, tarts, chocolate, and a fair amount about decorating. I am all about being creative and decorating cakes, cookies or any type of desserts were my favorite thing to do.
After graduating culinary school in 2015 I ended up working for a small bakery in Frisco that focused on custom cakes, cake pops, cookies, and more! I was absolutely ecstatic to be working where I was because it was a very well-known bakery in town at the time and I learned so much. Unfortunately, the bakery did close down a couple months later so I had to look elsewhere for a job.
I ended up getting an opportunity to work for another well-known bakery in Frisco called Celebrity Cafe and Bakery. I was one of their cake and cookie decorators and I was also given the opportunity to work along other talented people. My favorite thing about working here was that we did a lot of bridal show events and a few pop-ups here and there which was something that I had never done before. I always enjoyed talking to people during these events as it was something new and exciting for me. With these events came a lot of prepping as well so I gained a lot of experience working on model cakes and prepping large quantity of desserts, which again was something I have never done before. Long story short I worked for Celebrity Cafe and Bakery from 2015 until 2020, just before the pandemic happened.
Just like most people in 2020, I was not able to work much which was a bummer because 1) there is a global pandemic and I needed some sort of income just like everybody else and 2) when you are able to do what you love everyday work is not really viewed like work. I was very disappointed to not be able to work because baking and decorating is something I have always loved and it is a part of me and who I am.
Fast forward to everyone in the U.S. being quarantined for a while now and its May 2020. I decided to use these new Russian tips I had ordered. These tips are used to make a variety of different flowers and I wanted to make a cupcake bouquet just for fun. I ended up recording myself and the whole process and posted it on TikTok and social media at the time, Once I posted the video, I got so many messages from family and friends asking if I was taking orders for Mother’s Day. I was so excited and since then I would continue to get requests from family, friends, and people in town.
Since many people already knew me as the “girl who makes cakes”, I would continue to get messages from people through social media asking if I could make cookies for their kid’s birthdays, or cakes for special celebrations. It wasn’t until September 2020 that I decided to officially create Baking your day. It was definitely scary and exciting at the same time to finally be able to do something like this on my own.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I first started, I did not get much business. The first month I had accepted to work on 2 orders? The following month maybe 4? I was feeling discouraged and realized that there was a lot that I had to learn about (and also to be more patient).
With social media playing a big role nowadays, I struggled a lot with advertising and making “Instagram-worthy” content.
I think also staying consistent was something that I had a difficulty with because I had so many ideas on the services and kinds of treats that I wanted to offer that I might have confused people.
One day I decided to be brave and have my very first pop-up that was hosted by DFW shops at Pegasus Brewery, I was very nervous as I did not know what to expect or how to truly prepare. This day ended up giving me so much confidence on what my small business had to offer as I actually ended up selling completely out! You can imagine the amount of hope and confidence I had at the end of the day. I ended up getting new customers after that day as well as building new relationships with other small business owners. Ever since this day I learned a little bit more on other tools that I needed to help run a small business.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Although I can pretty much make all kinds of treats. I mainly focus on custom cookies, custom cakes, and lunch box cakes which are mini cakes in a bento box. I am most of proud of the work and detail that I put into my work. When customers send me pictures of what they want to order, I try and will do absolutely all I can to make sure that I execute their order the way they want it. Most of the time when I get sent pictures of cookies, the final result is almost the exact same. I am also honest with my customers if I am not able to execute an order but my customers have faith in me and trust me more than I trust myself sometimes. I also love that I have created relationships with my customers and it’s not just a sale. I am just happy to be able to do what I love because it’s always something new that I get to work on even if I am doing the “same thing” every day.
I also focus on Texas theme cookies a lot anytime I have pop-ups because I love Texas and I am a proud Texan just like anybody else.
My bento box cakes are mainly decorated with sweet and corny messages. Reason for this is because I consider myself a very positive person and like to spread joy even if it’s with cake.
What’s next?
Since my small business is a team of 1. I am most looking forward to doing more pop-ups in the DFW area or even outside skirts. I always enjoy pop-ups because I am also able to meet other small business owners and build relationships with them. I think that is one of my favorite things about Dallas, is how it is filled with so many amazing small businesses and entrepreneurs and we all support one another by simply buying something or recommending the services that are offered to other friends and family.
But I do plan to do more pop-ups for now and see where the future takes me! I have so much support from my family and friends that they even join me during my pop-ups to set up and talk to customers to share my services. That is the only time I am not a team of 1 but rather a team of 4+. I am very blessed and lucky to have such great support as they are also the reason my business has gone up.
Contact Info:
- Email: bakingyourdaytx@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bakingyourday.tx/
