Meet Kaitlin Hayes | Baker & Decorator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kaitlin Hayes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kaitlin, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
Honesty is by far the most important value to me in all aspects of life. It is the best way to gauge someone’s true character and integrity which are both important when making decisions on what role that person plays in your life. As a business owner it is so imperative for me to always be transparent and open with my clients. I do my best to make sure I can meet their needs in both budget and design. If their original idea doesn’t fit within their desired budget I take the time to come up with alternative suggestions. If they request something I simply cannot do I am sure to let them know why. I would rather be honest instead of giving them a product I know will not be what they deserve. That’s the difficult part about this market, too. You have to acknowledge that sometimes you’re not the best person for that job and that’s perfectly fine. At the end of the day creators just want the clients to be happy with their work and honesty plays a huge role in that.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m really proud of myself for taking the plunge to put my work out there in the public space. It can be hard for me to be vulnerable and open to judgement or criticism. There’s a common misconception that all decorated cookies using royal icing are hard or taste of chemicals. I’m so proud of myself for creating cookies that are not only beautiful, but delicious! My business started by accident. I was doing cookies for a Secret Santa gift at work and they were not the cutest. They were tasty though and everyone kept commenting on them, asking when I was going to start selling. A few weeks later, my coworker placed a large order for her son’s birthday. It was my first paid order ever and I’ll never forget it. I stayed up late into the night to finish all 4 dozen cookies. I learned so many things in relation to timing, the best products to use, etc. I also learned that pricing is extremely tricky. You have to not only take into account the cost of ingredients, but also your time and skill level.

Like any business owner I faced many challenges along the way. I had times where I underestimated how long an order would take and therefore sacrificed sleep to get it done. Nothing about owning a business is easy and finding your balance can take time. For me, I learned that my business functions best if I bake after my family is asleep. This ensured nobody feels neglected and allowed me to work uninterrupted. I also have a full time day job and it can be exhausting trying to juggle everything. I learned quickly what my maximum number of orders could be during a single week and that has made a huge difference.

I’ve grown so much in the two years I’ve been making cookies and am always honored when clients book with me to help celebrate some of the most important moments of their lives. I’m just a cookier creating edible works of art in my humble apartment kitchen and to be able to bring joy to others through my work is incredible.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I absolutely LOVE the museums in Dallas and make a point to take everyone to the Dallas Museum of Art or the Perot Museum of Nature & Science if there’s kids coming with us. I love taking friends to some of my favorite spots for brunch like Bread Winners Cafe & Bakery, LoLo’s Chicken & Waffles and Oddfellow’s. Benito’s, Esparza’s, Hanabi, JOY Macarons and Fogo de Chao are also places I’ve taken friends and they’re always impressed. There’s something for everyone from casual Tex-mex & ramen to more formal dinner options with the perfect sweet treat mixed in. Another activity that’s always fun is the Four Day Weekend comedy show! Sip on some drinks and have an evening full of laughs.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My business wouldn’t exist without my friends & family encouraging me to just take the leap to believe in myself. I am completely self taught and so thankful for them supporting me during the times I was ready to give up. My husband Stephen and daughter Rory are my biggest supporters. Of course, I cannot forget my dear friend Jordan at Capo & Co. Jewelry for recommending me for this opportunity.

Instagram: KaitsBakesDFW

Other: Email: kaitsbakesdfw@gmail.com

Image Credits
Paige Alexis Photography