Today we’d like to introduce you to Deja Radway.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Deja. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started my cake business nearly 10 years ago. My daughter was a few months from turning 2 and as I was going crazy over who was going to make her cake. I decided I would give it a try. I told my mom I wanted to learn how to make cakes, so for Christmas she and my sister got me cake decorating supplies and signed me up for a simple cake decorating class. I’m mostly self-taught and also loved to watch Food Network Cake Challenges bc it gave me tips and showed me how to do things. For my daughter’s 2nd bday, I made her a 2 tier butterfly/flower themed cake and it turned out better than I expected as I had only been doing this for a couple of months.
Everyone loved the cake and that’s where it all began. I started taking orders from friends and family and slowly my name started spreading and people I did not know started ordering cakes from me. I had a full-time job and would do my cakes on the weekends. Last year, I was pregnant with my 3rd child and made a huge decision to quit my day job and focus on working full time from home so I could be with my kids (& let’s be honest, to not pay an arm and leg for daycare) Throughout the years I started making hand written signs for my mom’s furniture shop, Dumpster Diva’s, so I felt with cakes and the signs it would be ok financially to be able to work from home, I would thank God for giving me a talent I didn’t even know I had.
Unfortunately, when I was I was around 6 months pregnant my husband and I decided to separate. It was very hard and confusing but I have such a great support system helping me along the way. With that being said I didn’t know how I would be able to provide for my soon to be 3 kids with just my cake business. God was definitely looking out and sent an Angel to me, my mom’s friend Joanne would be moving to CT soon and decided to let me take over her candle business, she taught me everything she knows about making her candles. So with my cakes, signs, and now candles I am doing just fine as a single mother.
My candle business is named after the Bob Marley song “3 Little Birds” bc of my 3 children and the message of the song is “Every little thing is gonna be alright” and that is my motto to keep pushing and doing my best to learn more and do better to grow my business and to be the best mom I can be to my 3 babies!
Has it been a smooth road?
Definitely has not been a smooth road. Working a full-time job and having to work all weekend on cakes was such a struggle to not be able to spend that time with my kids. It was also very draining on me physically. So thankful to God I am able to work from home and be with them but still work all day long!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I make custom wedding cakes and specialty cakes, for my boutique I make custom handwritten signs on wood or canvas and I now make my own handpoured candles. I am proud of how far I have come with my cake decorating abilities and how I’m managing my business and my family!!
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I’m in a great location. I stay very busy throughout the year. I definitely think it’s a great location for someone starting out. Everyone loves cake so business isn’t too hard to get.
Pricing:
- Birthday Cakes $35-$150
- Wedding Cakes $150-$600
- Signs $15-$100
- Candles $5 – $20
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.facebook.com/dejasfancycakesboutique
- Phone: 469-247-9855
- Email: dejasfancycakes@yahoo.com
Image Credit:
Sofia Thompson Photography
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