Today we’d like to introduce you to Briana Johnson.
Hi Briana, 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?
I started Sweet Bri’s Bakery in 2012 when a co-worker asked me why I didn’t bake for a living. Oddly, it never dawned on me that my hobby could be a career. I’ve baked since I was a little girl. I remember watching cooking shows with my grandma and asking my mama for an Easy-Bake Oven. Not realizing it was a plastic box with a light bulb, I was highly disappointed. Thankfully, my mama let me use the “big oven,” and every since then, I’ve been known for my baking.
I have over 30 years of baking experience and am completely self-taught. I learned to decorate from watching YouTube videos. I do everything myself out of a tiny apartment kitchen. My goal is to show everyone that quality goods can and do come from home bakers.
I bake because it makes me and the people I serve happy. I love seeing faces light up when they see a custom cake I made and the “oohs” and “mmmms” that follow when they take that first bite. Baking is very therapeutic for me and it gives my life balance. I work in Social Services full-time and it can be very stressful. I started at a foster agency and now work with people with intellectual disabilities. I end my day in the kitchen as a way to decompress.
Baking has been a journey. It has helped me calm my mind, ease my nerves, and show me what I’m made of and what I can handle. I’ve had my hand in many projects that couldn’t quite come together, but baking comes naturally and it’s a gift that I am trying to share with everyone.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the biggest challenges is convincing the public to give a home baker a shot. A lot of doors are closed because I work out of my home. People seem to be in the mindset that quality goods come from a storefront. Many times I’ve been close to securing an order and when I say that I work from home, they cancel. I’ve been very fortunate to have customers who give great reviews and share my information to friends and family. This has been keeping me going and it keeps me from getting discouraged. I know I can be successful because I produce a great product.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Sweet Bri’s Bakery specializes in custom cakes and desserts. My menu includes a range of options from cookies, cupcakes, brownies, breads, and pies. No celebration is too small or large. I have options to serve a few people up to large parties and weddings.
I am the owner, baker, and decorator all in one! All of my desserts are made from scratch using recipes that I’ve spent years tailoring in order to produce a quality product. The one thing that I take pride in that also sets me apart from other custom bakeries is that my desserts look and taste good. I love playing with flavors and putting a twist on familiar desserts, such as my banana pudding pie and German chocolate brownies. I am currently online and offer pick up or delivery for orders. Shipping for select menu items is also available for anyone in Texas.
Can you talk about how you think about risk?
Choosing to share my love of baking with the public was one of the biggest risks I’ve taken. In 2015, I appeared on Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship Season 2. I competed against professional pastry chefs and learned a lot about where I needed growth, how to handle stress, manage my time, and take on feedback. Running a business is difficult on its own and on top of that, I now have an entire community judging my skill as a baker/decorator. I know I won’t be able to please everyone, but I take any criticism that may come my way and use it to become better. Because I love baking and serving people, I don’t get discouraged by negative comments. I use these as lessons to figure out what changes I need to make and what I can do better the next time. Without risk, there truly is no reward. I stepped out of my comfort zone by starting Sweet Bri’s Bakery and it has propelled me towards the dream of owning a storefront one day.
Pricing:
- Decorated Cookies start at $36 per dozen.
- Signature cakes starting at $40
- Drop cookies starting at $21, 16 cookies per order
- Cupcakes starting at $21 per dozen
Contact Info:
- Email: briana@sweetbrisbakery.com
- Website: sweetbrisbakery.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/sweet_bris_bakery?igshid=1bg5ytl9lu20o
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/SweetBrisBakery/?__tn__=C
