As we shelter in place & Covid-19 wreaks havoc to our lives, work & economy there are still shining gems among us. So I'm highlighting a few who are doing their best to stay afloat & maybe even come out of this pandemic as a stronger business, whether as a brick & mortar storefront or home-based.
Having recently moved to the Fort Worth area, I am constantly on the look out for small local businesses that will become a part of my life. I happened upon this wonderful local bakery through my local neighborhood app. They were offering fresh baked cookie decorating kits to pickup & create at home. I was immediately intrigued & ordered 2 sets for my kids to decorate & enjoy.
As I drove up to this sweet treat of a shop I wanted to know more about the owner, Amy Meza, and Love Sweet Things Bakery. So here's her story....
Amy Meza developed the love of cooking from her grandmother as a young child. Learning recipes and the delight of creating something that would be enjoyed by others. As she entered middle school, her passion turned to baking and she began creating birthday cakes for family celebrations. As an early baker, she didn't really have a personal sweet tooth, but she definitely loved how delicious everything looked and she was thrilled that others raved about the way her creations tasted & looked!
Once out of school, she entered the corporate world & put in long hours on a weekly basis. She very quickly realized that she desperately needed to find a hobby. Naturally she turned to her love of baking & creating things for others to enjoy. As the years passed, her passion developed into a sustainable business plan and she exited corporate America to open her very own brick & mortar bakery.
Love Sweet Things Bakery is a small local Fort Worth bakery that has been open for the past 6 years. The bakery specializes in celebrations with cupcakes, cookies with buttercream and of course cake charm! They delight in baking simple yummy creations to more creative artistic designs perfect for any occasion big or small. Amy employees culinary graduates who quickly become more than just employees, but are considered family. They all love what they do and they have created a simple business plan & goal. They believe desserts spread cheer and happiness anytime because even the smallest things in life are worthy of celebrating!
Like any small business owner, Amy has weathered the ups & downs in the past. As Covid-19 and the severity of it arose, she obviously was first concerned about all the events that might be canceled that would also lead to a lot of cancelled orders. She also was worried about the safety of her staff & family. When the week of March 16th arrived, every event cake had been cancelled and she felt as if she was being put to a very hard test as a small business owner. Amy decided to close the shop to walk-ins, but still wanted to give people the option to celebrate the little things in life. So she opened her business to pre-orders only, through the website.
In times like this, small business owners have to contemplate the survival of their businesses and whether or not they are able to weather the storm. Amy & Love Sweet Things Bakery is currently facing those hard decisions and trying to figure out what a post Covid-19 world will look like for her business. Although help is being given to many small businesses, it truly is just a band-aid to all the lost revenue they are facing. The Payroll loans are helping keep their employees paid, but does little to keep the rent paid and the business itself afloat. Amy is facing some tough decisions and is praying hard for answers and guidance through this gut-wrenching time. She luckily has a wonderful support system within her family that helps keep her grounded and loved. Her mother has been there every step of the way throughout her business, and now is no different. Amy is taking this time to refocus on her business goals, and re-discovering who her ideal client is and how best to serve them during this time & beyond, even if that means in new creative ways in the future.
Love Sweet Things Bakery wants their walk-in customers and their clients to have an amazing experience when they walk in the doors. A full sensory experience from the first smile & scent to the last crumb on a plate.
Please keep Amy, her family, as well as her staff at Love Sweet Things Bakery in your prayers during this time. Remember that as we are all staying home & safe, even the smallest moments in life are worth celebrating....and they have just the thing to make that celebration just a bit more sweet!
If you'd like to place an order to celebrate a moment or occasion, give Amy at Love Sweet Things Bakery a call, or swing by their website & place an order. They appreciate all the support they can get, and if it results in a smile & soothing of a sweet tooth, even better!
Love Sweet Things Bakery
7430 N. Beach St. #318, Fort Worth, TX 76137
817-849-2111
lovesweetthingsbakery.com