Today we’d like to introduce you to Deidre Peak.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am a stress-eater and began to bake as a hobby while attending law school. I created Sweet Addict Bakery in 2009, which specializes in gourmet candies and desserts. It was not until my firefighter husband and I decided that we needed to make a change for our family, so in 2015, I began to work on building the Sweet Addict business full-time. I chose to leave my law enforcement career in order to have a more flexible career and be more available for our three young girls (ages 2, 5, 7). Sweet Addict Bakery has since become a top 1% Etsy seller!
In the fall of 2016, I was invited to be a part of a cooperative to have a pop-up storefront during the holiday season in downtown Colorado Springs, sponsored by the Downtown Partnership. Thus began Crafted Colorado Handmade Market. We were so successful that following the next holiday season, we won the Springs Best of award for Best New Shop (silver)! In Oct. 2018, myself and three other partners signed on a permanent storefront location and made the leap to solidify Crafted Colorado as a permanent fixture in the downtown Colorado Springs area. We are a collaboration of currently 60+ handcrafted vendors who all work and reside within Colorado. We are no longer a “pop-up” and have our own year-round storefront right in the heart of Colorado Springs.
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?
Absolutely not! Being a self-taught entrepreneur is inherently troublesome. I have had to learn everything from marketing and social media to filing taxes, to constructing my own commercial kitchen from scratch to managing a storefront with 60+ other small business owners relying on us to make it profitable – very stressful but also very fulfilling once all the pieces come together. It’s a constantly evolving and growing organism that we strive to improve and build upon for continued success and expansion.
And don’t get me started on shipping – between rising costs of shipping, quality of shipping from point A to point B, plus the consumers’ rising expectations for speedy and cheap service – shipping has been one of our biggest and ongoing hurdles.
Crafted Colorado Handmade Market – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Crafted Colorado Handmade Market is a collaboration of over 60 independent small businesses. All reside in Colorado and all the products are made by hand in our own state. All of our owners are crafters as well! It is the perfect opportunity for small businesses to have access to a low-risk storefront location because we each pay a portion of the rent and it makes it more affordable for everyone. We help encourage steady and sustainable growth and expansion for the independent businesses we partner with.
CCHM is a nice mix of just about everything: we have gourmet food & candy, jewelry, clothing, signs, candles and even SLIME! We also offer a ton of workshops and even cooking classes (French Macarons, gourmet caramels, kid’s gummies, etc).
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My husband and I have three young girls, ages 2, 5 and 7, that we put first and foremost in all our decisions. Since beginning with Sweet Addict Bakery in 2009, my family has experienced the phases and adjustments necessary to being an entrepreneur. Late nights, early mornings, weekend events, bad reviews, tight budgets, etc. Not all aspects of business are positive, but all experiences are learning opportunities that we take to heart.
Our entire family has witnessed firsthand the amount of hard work and dedication that is required to have an idea and make that idea come to fruition. And then the wave of gratification and contentment when that idea takes form and leads to success.
I have since assisted my mom in forming her own crochet business. My husband has his own sign and laser engraving business. But ultimately, my proudest moment to date has been inspiring my two oldest girls to want to make something to sell. Of course, their passion lies in SLIME. So each month we make a few batches of slime where they choose their own colors, glitter, toys, etc. They mix, help package it all and label the containers – some labels are a bit…..askew, but that’s part of the charm, right? Once it sells, we divide the earnings between the two of them (some for spending and some for saving) and then some to mom and dad for repayment. But they’re learning money, some marketing, spreadsheets and everything else that comes with running a business – including hard work and integrity and are coming into their own as young entrepreneurs. If anything, that is my greatest achievement.
Contact Info:
- Address: 327 N. Tejon St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903 - Website: www.CraftedColoradoltd.com
- Email: craftedcoloradoltd@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/craftedcoloradoltd
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/craftedcolorado
- Other: www.SweetAddict.etsy.com
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