Today we’d like to introduce you to Ernestina Flores.
Hi Ernestina, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Thank you, Voyage, for allowing me to share an update from 2019. Just a quick recap of how I got started:
I grew up watching cooking shows on PBS and often tried to replicate the recipes. After graduating from high school in 1993, I enrolled in the pastry apprenticeship program at El Centro Community College. Through the apprenticeship program at El Centro, I worked for three years as a pastry apprentice at the Omni Mandalay in Las Colinas. I worked full-time and went to school part-time. I worked crazy hours and completely immersed myself in learning the craft of baking.
I stepped away from working in the kitchen to dedicate more time to my family. I worked as a program coordinator at a local hospital.
Fast forward to December 2016, my husband suffered a major medical crisis, and he was unable to return to work. Times were hard, and I began baking again. At first, I sold to my friends and family, then started taking more and more orders.
In October of 2018, I began to have pop-ups about once a month.
Present day we provide wholesale baked goods to local coffee shops in the DFW metroplex and continue to have pop-ups now and then.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has been filled with numerous twists, turns, and bumpy detours. A few months after our first interview, the pandemic hit; I was still working at my full-time job and was able to have a few pop-ups here and there.
Towards the end of 2021, I decided to take the big leap and left my full-time job to pursue Flores Bakehaus full-time.
2022 and 2023 was full of ups and downs. There were markets where I sold out then and then there were markets where I barely make my vendor fee back.
Halfway through 2022, pop-ups were not the same, and I thought about creating a wholesale menu to offer to local coffee shops. I just needed to figure out the logistics. Running a kitchen requires high operating costs and is very labor-intensive. Fast forward to April 2023, my kitchen was ready, and I acquired my first wholesale account. It was not until a few months later that I had an actual profit. Some challenges we have experienced along the way are varying food costs, balancing work and family life, and food trends.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Flores Bakehaus?
At Flores Bakehaus, our mission is to bring joy to the community through delicious and high-quality baked goods. We are dedicated to using only the finest ingredients and crafting each item with care and attention to detail.
We believe that our pop-up bakery is more than just a place to buy baked goods; it’s a hub of the community, where friends and neighbors can come together to share a moment of sweetness, support other local businesses, and now conveniently find our delectable treats at local coffee shops.
We strive to be a positive force in our community by not only providing exceptional baked goods but also by supporting local causes and initiatives. Our commitment is to foster a warm and welcoming environment for everyone while ensuring that our delightful creations are readily available at local coffee shops for your convenience.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
You can support us by supporting the following local coffee shops. Find a variety of our baked goods, such as: banana breads, scones, muffins, and our popular pan de nopal at the following coffee shops & markets throughout the DFW metroplex:
Everyday Works Coffee & Market in Oak Cliff
Coffee del Rey in Plano
Watermark Coffee in North Dallas
Juju’s Coffee in East Dallas
Bodega Provisions in Duncanville
Stay in the loop and get the latest pop-up event information when you sign up for our weekly email. Head over to our website to sign up.
Contact us today to learn more about our catering services and start planning your next event with ease!
You can also collaborate with us by becoming a wholesale partner.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.floresbakehaus.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/floresbakehaus/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/floresbakehaus
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/floresbakehaus
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@floresbakehaus
Image Credits
Cinthia Jaimes
Paul Arturo Torres
