[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Womeneur Spotlight” google_fonts=”font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Take a walk down the path of these entrepreneurs, business owners and progressive women.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”vc_default” bg_type=”image” parallax_style=”vcpb-default” bg_image_new=”id^2930|url^https://www.womeneur.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/womeneur-spotlight-the-ladies-of-im-pastry-studio_650_650_90_ffffffgrayopac-7_s_c1.jpg|caption^null|alt^null|title^womeneur-spotlight-the-ladies-of-im-pastry-studio_650_650_90_ffffffgrayopac-7_s_c1|description^null” css=”.vc_custom_1461295155864{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1461294836271{margin-bottom: -2px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”]
THE LADIES OF IM PASTRY STUDIO
OWNERS[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”custom” border_width=”5″ accent_color=”#e3672b” css=”.vc_custom_1460496937176{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]Website:
Social Media: [dt_social_icons animation=”none” alignment=”default”][dt_social_icon target_blank=”true” icon=”facebook” link=”https://www.facebook.com/impastrystudio” /][dt_social_icon target_blank=”true” icon=”twitter” link=”https://twitter.com/impastrystudio” /][dt_social_icon target_blank=”true” icon=”instagram” link=”https://instagram.com/impastrystudio” /][/dt_social_icons][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”2929″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Baking trio, Tiffany Washington, Jo-Laine Duke-Collins and Tamika Young, are the hands behind the Brooklyn, N.Y.-based customized pastry company,. In 2009, the team turned on the oven to bake up batches of cookies, couture cupcakes, and a range of desserts for celebrities, athletes and televised music events. Each Womeneur brought their valuable skills to the table to create an appetizing business.
How did the three of you journey into the business?
Tiffany has been baking since she was a little girl with her grandmother, Ilene Miriam – who the company is named after. In 2009, Tiffany started to do bake for friends and family. Her days of shuffling cookie sheets shortly turned into a full fledged business.
Jo-Laine, who has a keen eye for design and pastry aesthetics, was introduced to Tiffany by mutual friends. Tiffany and Tamika have known each other for quite some time as their husbands are really close friends. Tiffany then introduced Tamika and Jo-Laine and we all hit it off and have been unstoppable ever since.
What steps did you take to start your business?
We wouldn’t say there was one thing that we did to start the business. We were able to raise $33,000 in 33 days through our Kickstarter campaign. From there we worked with a supportive team of people who helped us along the way.
What are your biggest fears?
Naturally, the biggest fear is not succeeding. For us, failure is not an option.
What do you do to stay motivated when you feel like giving up?
Our children, our husbands, friends and family keep us going.
What are your weakness in business and how have worked pass them?
In the age of digital media, communication has been the one thing we strive to work on. In the beginning, we would communicate 90 percent of the time through text or email. We decided that we will meet at least once a week in person to go over specifics pertaining to the business.
What’s been most rewarding?
The most rewarding is seeing this all come to life after all that we have gone through to get to this place. Sharing this moment together is the best feeling ever because we all have the same dream. Its very rare to find three women who all have the same visions and goals.
Who were you before you started your business?
- Tiffany – An account manager at a publishing company
- Jo-Laine – Worked in education
- Tamika – Currently works in entertainment
If you had to do it again, what would you do differently?
Through all of the ups and downs, we wouldn’t do anything differently. For every obstacle that we faced, we learned how to face it and come out on the other end wiser. This process taught us so much, that we now have all of the learning tools for when we open our next location.
What’s one software or application you cannot live without?
Social media. We love connecting directly with our customers and getting feedback on what they love. It’s like a focus group unlike any other.
What’s your secret to cultivating a relationship between you and your customers?
There is no secret. We just aim to provide our customers with the best product possible. Customer service is also important.
Where do you see your business in five years?
In five years, we hope to be a household name.
What are three tips you can share with budding and current entrepreneurs/business owners?
- Patience
- Communication
- Determination
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