Meet Jay Brown | Baker

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

Hi Jay, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
For years I struggled with Alcohol Abuse. September of 2019 with the help of God I was able to kick that habit cold turkey. However I knew that I needed something to take the place of that habit. Ironically all within that week I had a taste for some cake. I made it and it was more than satisfying, then it dawned on me that I’ve spent so many years wasting money what better way then to make it back and started to bake and sale cakes baked from scratch.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve always been able to cook but baking was real foreign to me at first, it later became very natural. However when it came to wanting to ship cakes there was a lot of trial and error. Not originally being from Dallas really limited my customer base. So it was very important to me to get my cakes shipped in all 50 states. It was not easy at first, I’ve shipped to various states with different climates and it just seemed impossible. Eventually I was about to figure out how to properly wrap a cake so that it can be shippable.

Throughout this whole process I’ve learned that nothing happens over night, or when you want it to happen for that matter. You have to do your part and allow God to do the rest or you’ll lose it. Baking is still my happy place, it’s therapeutic, some of my best recipes came from personal trials and tribulations. Gladly each time I was fortunate enough to turn a negative into a positive.

Take away from starting this journey that I’m willing to share with anywho is reading would be to find something that you’re good at and capitalize on it. We are all blessed with God given talents. When you’re dead and gone do you want people to say that he/she had so much potential or do you want them to say ‘he/she did that’. You’re never too old to start something that brings you joy. Go for it, sky is the limit!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
first stop is going to Tupelo Honey at the Star in Frisco on a Friday… The food is Bomb later that night go check out some Live Jazz at Sandaga 813

Saturday- Breakfast at Benedict’s in Addison, a lil shopping at Grapevine Mills. Probably hit up the Art Museum downtown along with the Aquarium

Sunday… Church of course… then Soirée coffee bar for brunch… their food is so good and seasoned goodness gracious and then walk the food off at Trinity Grove.

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?
Honestly it takes a village, from my taste testers in the beginning letting me know when cakes were too sweet or missing something, to my Mother being my editor for all things ‘SweetzByJay’, to my Aunt Gail who not only inspired me but who to this day gives me baking advice. Last but not least to all of my repetitive customers who are considerate enough to keep coming back. I just want to say Thank you all so much.

Website: www.sweetzbyjay.biz

Instagram: _sweetzbyjay_dfw_

Facebook: Cakesbyjay_dfw