Life & Work with Yvette Carter

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yvette Carter.

Hi Yvette, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Currently, my little business is focused on custom cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. I am not inherently a baker, but I have had to pick that part of it up and adjust accordingly. I was given the opportunity to learn the skill set of decorating cakes while I was in college for Fashion Design. What makes my little business unique is the absolute joy behind the scenes. Locally, when word got out amongst the moms in my area that I could offer custom cakes, I found myself taking more orders than I ever expected. Mostly for kids’ birthdays and showers and even a few wedding cakes. It didn’t take long before I was working at a volume that warranted seriously organizing my hobby to transform it into a tiny business. I owe the vast majority of the credit for any success I’ve achieved to my husband for all the support he’s shown me in this venture. Of course, I wouldn’t be anything without my clients, and I’ve been very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with so many amazing people who contact me when they have something to celebrate. That’s the best part, really: The only time someone reaches out to me with a need for my product is when they have something to celebrate. How cool is that?! I love getting to know my clients and building their orders completely around them and their favorite things to celebrate birthdays, milestones, life achievements, and whatever else they value and find joy in. It makes me happy to add to the celebration and cultivate that joy within my community. Not that long ago, I realized that I want that – that feeling of celebration – to be the center of my business and I plan to incorporate it when I’m able to expand beyond cakes and back towards my original creative calling of fashion design.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Ha! Is it ever? No, not entirely smooth. My business was set up with the understanding that I was a mother first and therefore, any sort of schedule that I held was enterally based around my daughter and her wellbeing. As I mention, I’m not a baker by nature. My degree is in Fashion Design, but the tie that led me to decorate was the art background necessary for any design career. My biggest challenge was translating the knowledge that I had from previous jobs in bakeries where I was only a cake decorator to being the one person who does everything for the business. I’ve been challenged on figuring out my own costing and margins, inventory levels for perishable and non-perishable goods. I am maintaining my own website and social media platforms. Propagating and nurturing client relationships, as well as creating a reasonable schedule for myself regarding what “booked to capacity” for a week actually looks like. For someone with an art background who relies heavily on that creative side of their brain, literally, everything outside of decorating cakes has been a challenge in regards to actually running a successful custom cake business. I learn something every day. I guess the biggest challenge is just keeping up with it all.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At this time, my small business is entirely focused on custom desserts – primarily cakes, cupcakes, and sugar cookies. I work with my clients to create edible art that they are proud to showcase at a gathering but also won’t break their budget. It occurred to me one day that the only time I get a request for the goods that I offer is when there’s something to celebrate and I wanted to focus in on that. This means that I’m almost always immediately met with enthusiasm and excitement in my line of work, and I take it as a huge honor to be involved in the creative process for part of the party. I think that’s what sets me apart from just picking up a cake from the grocery store. I love taking the time to really get to know who you’re honoring or what milestone you’re celebrating to make something totally unique specifically for you. I can work off of a theme or a favorite color – inspiration can come from whatever speaks to you. That’s probably my favorite part of the process, but the most rewarding part always comes after the party. When my clients take the time to send me pictures of the sweets being enjoyed or admired – that’s what makes my heart happy. My prideful moments come from new clients reaching out due to a recommendation for my work that they received. I don’t have an advertising budget, so 100% of my income is generated from word of mouth. It means a lot to me when that word is positive.

What were you like growing up?
I am still growing up, so this answer is ever-evolving, haha! For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been attracted to artistic things. People have described me as “creative” my whole life, but I honestly never felt that I lived up to the meaning of the word. It’s a huge compliment, in my opinion, to be thought of as creative. I love making things or embellishing something I already feel connected to. I’m most drawn to work that gives tangible results and the more intricate, the better. My friends also describe me as a “social butterfly,” but I’m an introvert in my truest self. Growing up, I was instilled with a belief in the power of words, so I have many self-affirmations I still speak daily. “The Golden Rule” is also a strong childhood lesson that really stuck with me, and I try very hard to instill that in my girls as well as live with the intention of treating others in a kind manner, just as I’d like to be treated. That’s one of the strongest foundations I recall from my childhood, and I think it continues to shape me as I get older and continuously learn more about the world and the people I share it with.

Contact Info:

• Email: outpast2@gmail.com
• Website: www.outpast2.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outpast2/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/outpast2
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/outpast2

Image Credits
The two images showing people (my family) were by Susan Brooksby.