Meet Deidre Williams | Edible Artist and Owner of Sweet De’Lites

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

Hi Deidre, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I think about risk as: Stepping into the unknown and out of your comfort zone. Having the courage to go after what’s been placed inside of you. Visions, dreams, the desires of your heart without being afraid of failure.

As an Army Veteran my military experience has taught me a lot about life. It’s taught me about teamwork and building relationships. That’s so important for a successful business. You can’t get there by yourself. The military has shaped me and pushed me into situations that I couldn’t imagine. But I’ve developed confidence and to not give up when the going got rough. It gave me the courage to go after the things I want to accomplish in life. Without taking risks you’ll never know what’s on the other side if you don’t step out and go for it you’ll never know what the end result will be. You’ll never know how many lives you will be able to touch with your gifts and talents. You will leave so many opportunities on the table. So many relationships undeveloped. Life is too short and there’s so much out there to see and experience. I have been around the world and have met some amazing people and have developed some lasting friendships who are a big part of who I am today and for that I’m truly blessed and thankful.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The main product of Sweet De’Lites is my Cake Pops. Cake Pops became popular between 2009 and 2011. It was a great way of using up leftover cake. People fell in love with these bite size treats because it was just enough to satisfy your sweet tooth. 9 out of 10 people love chocolate and cake..the 10th is a liar!! LOL!! Customers are looking for something different and unique for their special occasions. Starbucks started selling them in 2011. What sets me a part is my Cake Pops are made to order. I hand roll each and every Cake Pop. Also in addition to my Classic Cake Pops I also create Character Cake Pops. Kids love them and are a big hit at birthday parties. Although they can be a challenge because of all the details and it may take several days to complete an order, but once delivered and I watch the expression on their faces, it’s well worth it. My excitement and satisfaction comes from making someone smile, that’s what I love the most about my business. Of course it has taken me years of practice, experimenting, and creating to get where I am today. I keep a picture of my first attempt at making Cake Pops just to see how far I’ve come. My customers challenge me constantly but I will let them know if it’s too big of a challenge. Quality in any business is key. Since I provide edible art, presentation comes first, taste second. We eat with our eyes. If it looks good we’re going to try it. I’ve never been to culinary arts school but I’ve spent countless hours learning my craft through books, training videos, or social media groups. I’m constantly learning. Another challenge is operating out of my home through the Texas Cottage Food Act. The food act allows bakers to operate and sell homemade products from their homes. There are a lot of rules and you must stay current on your Food Handler training in order to run a home based business. I’ve hit some bumps in the road as I’ve relocated to several states and each state has it’s own rules. Some lessons I’ve learned along the way are: never give up when you come to a block in the road. If it was easy everyone would be doing it. There maybe others providing the same product, but it’s YOU! and how you treat your customers that’s what sets you a part. I heard somewhere that “Success is doing something that you are passionate about and then to share that passion with others”. That’s what Sweet De’Lites is all about making someone’s day a Bit Sweeter!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well you know what they say about the Lone Star State..” Everything is Big in Texas” and that’s the truth! I moved to Texas a few years ago and If my friends come to visit around September/October timeframe I would without a doubt take them to the Texas State Fair!! I’ve never experienced a state Fair like this in my life! A season pass is a must because it’s impossible to see everything in one day. Oh..and the Food!! Turkey Legs for miles!! and these vendors will Deep Fry anything!! Can’t wait to see what’s new on the menu this year.

Another cool place to visit is Legacy Food Hall in Plano, TX. This spacious food Hall is 3 levels of entertainment space, with 20 + restaurants to choose from, numerous bars, live music and a brewery. Check out their website for special events.

If you want your guest to have an authentic Texas experience, take them to the Ft Worth Stockyards!! Here you’ll get to see the true history of Texas famous livestock industry. If you time it right you can catch the cattle drive or even see a Texas gunfight show.

Texas of course is known for its BBQ and I can see why. Two of my favorite BBQ places are Good Union Urban BBQ in Richardson, TX and Hutchins BBQ in McKinney or Frisco. Both places have the best brisket in my opinion that won’t disappoint.

You can’t come through Texas without stopping at Buc-ees!! Buc-ees has the world’s largest gas station with over 60 fuel pumps and the cleanest public restrooms in America. Their convenience store is the biggest I’ve ever seen and you can find just about anything packaged with that cute little Beaver.

Need a place to get away and relax without hopping on a plane? Try Spa Castle in Carrollton, TX. This luxurious spa gets 5 stars with numerous spa and sauna systems Iike no other. Experience their Hydrotherapy Bade pools, Bath area & lounge, fitness center, O2 game zone, Aqua Bar, Spa treatments from body massages, hand & foot reflexology, lavender beauty spa and more. Your friends will truly thank you for this unforgettable experience.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My journey as a Sweet Treats maker began in 2012 when I stumbled upon a Pillsbury Cookbook waiting in the checkout line of my local grocery store. What caught my eye on the front cover were pictures of bite size Jack O’ lantern’s covered in chocolate on a popsicle stick. One was bitten displaying Cake inside!! I took a double take and grabbed the book. “How did they do that”? I ran home read the article about a woman name Angie aka “Bakerella”. I had to try making them. Such a great idea!! I believe I have all of her Cakepop books and have followed her for many years on social media. Through trial and error and years of perfecting my new found craft Sweet De’Lites was born.

Creativity is in my DNA. My father owned a florist and was an amazing designer. I’ve inherited that gene and also the gene of entrepreneurship. I’ve called myself a “Serial Entrepreneur”. I’ve been involved in several direct sales businesses and always had the support of my family and friends. Huge shoutout to my Mom for raising 3 strong independent women, my sisters, husband and girls who’ve supported every idea, business venture throughout the years. Without their encouragement none of this would be possible.

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Image Credits
Danielle Williams