Life and Work with Leann Rogers

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leann Rogers.

Leann, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Ty’s Treats (named after my son Tyler) officially began in October of 2018, but I have been baking with my mom since I was a little girl. It’s always something I enjoyed, but I never really thought of it as anything more than a holiday hobby until I started making cakes for my son’s birthdays. I started experimenting with more decorative elements that I had seen on baking shows and started challenging myself to learn more. I was soon getting requests from friends and relatives which then turned into orders from friends of friends and I realized I could actually make a business out of this. Since officially starting Ty’s up, I’ve been steadily busy with orders for all sorts of cakes, cookies, and cupcakes. I make a lot of birthday cakes and wedding cakes and cookies for all sorts of occasions! Every order I learn a little bit more and certain things push me out of my comfort zone but ultimately always teach me more than I knew before. I’ve had so much support from friends and family which is amazing and I’m so grateful to have such wonderful people surrounding me and encouraging me.

Great, 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 my biggest struggles has been time management and scheduling. Along with running Ty’s Treats, I also work for a local theater company running their education programs and I have a toddler at home. Things can get crazy if I’m not mindful of my time. At first, it was difficult finding a balance between my two jobs as well as being present with my son. It’s easy to just get caught up in work or play and let other obligations sit until the last minute, which can be stressful. I’m still working it out, but I think what helps me the most is setting aside certain days or chunks of time for certain things that way I know how much time I have and I know how many orders I can take on in a week. My advice for other women starting this journey is to make sure that you find a balance between your work life and your personal life. Neglecting things like fun and self-care and your family because you are building a business is easy to do but you will burn out so fast if you do. It’s exciting to start something new and get it going, but it’s all about sustainability and balance.

Please tell us about Ty’s Treats.
I specialize in decorated cookies, cakes, and cupcakes for all sorts of celebrations. I do a lot of wedding and birthday cakes as well as cookies for many different occasions (anything from weddings to buying a house to thank yous!). Almost everything I make is custom ordered with the exception of some holiday treats that I make to sell at fairs or markets. I’m very proud of the products I create for my customers and I love using my creativity to bring people joy. I pride myself on creating something beautiful but also something that my customers will love to eat. In my book, taste is just as important (if not more) as design and I’ve worked hard to create recipes that taste delicious.

Who have you been inspired by?
There are so many amazing bakers and decorators out there today on social media who inspire me daily. I’m lucky to be a part of an awesome Instagram group of bakers in the Denver area and there are some incredible women in there who always support and inspire each other.

My mom is one of my biggest inspirations. She was the one in the kitchen with me when I was young teaching me how to make Christmas cookies and she’s still the one I call if I’m having a problem with any of my baking. She’s also always told me to go after what I want and is a constant support in my life.

Theatre has always been my greatest love, I studied acting in college and still love being on stage whenever I can. One of my inspirations is the character Jenna from “Waitress” the musical (it’s also a movie, but I love the musical!). Her story is similar to mine in so many ways and I often listen to the soundtrack while I’m in the kitchen baking. Her words (written by the incredible Sara Bareilles) feel like mine sometimes and have helped me through creative blocks and much more.

Pricing:

• One Dozen Cookies start at $36/dozen
• Buttercream Cakes start at $5/serving
• Fondant Cakes start at $5.50/serving
• One Dozen Cupcakes start at $36/dozen

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tystreats.com
• Email: tystreatscake@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/tystreatscake
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/tystreatscake

Image Credit:
Wedding Cake: Photo by Paris Tews, All other photos: Leann Rogers

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