Meet Sierra Colton | Baker and Pharmacy Technician

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

Hi Sierra, how do you define success?
Success is measured by more than a dollar amount. My own success is defined by my determination to accomplish my goals and establish growth within myself. Did I challenge myself and overcome that challenge? Did I learn something, even if it was from failure? If I can walk away saying that I improved myself by 1%, I consider myself successful.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It’s no secret that there are many places you can order a cake from. Whether you decide to order from the grocery store, a bakery, or even your neighbor, cake artists are everywhere. But what about the quality? How many times have you said, “This is the BEST cake I’ve ever eaten!” What about the design? Is it an unforgettable show piece, or just another cake on a table? That’s where I differentiate myself from other bakers. I believe that the cake often times is the center piece of celebrations. Birthdays, gender reveals, and especially weddings all centralize around a big cake that we make a huge point to film as we cut into it. That’s why I put so much work and effort into every single cake that I bake. Others might see perfectionism as a hinderance, but I view it as the lowest standard for the work I produce. It brings me so much joy to know that I can help make celebrations truly a day to remember.
Although I have always had a passion for baking, I didn’t always know that I wanted to start my own business. I grew up in the kitchen with my mom, but it wasn’t until about three years ago that I realized I had a passion and a raw talent for decorating cakes. At the time, I didn’t have much confidence that I would be able to take my creativity anywhere, but with the encouragement of my family and friends, I decided I needed to take that chance in order to feel fulfilled. I researched cottage bakery laws in Texas, I obtained my food handling certificate, and I went to work creating. One thing was very clear: I had no idea what I was doing. As a self-taught baker, I’ve had to go through trial and error to figure out which recipes worked, which frostings were the best, and also how to package my orders. I also had to decide for myself when it was appropriate to stretch myself and when I needed to turn a client away if I felt like I couldn’t produce the absolute best version of what he/she was asking for. A large part of business is being able to be responsible with your client’s needs, and understanding that over-promising can be the difference between a good and bad review.
At the end of the day, I don’t value my client’s dollar; I value their happiness. And that’s where I hope I stand out from other bakers. My business isn’t a side hustle, it’s a way to share my passion with the world. I truly hope that anyone can see that my greatest asset as a business owner is my willingness to go the extra mile for my customers.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
One of my favorite places to visit in the area is located in Historic Downtown Mckinney. Arcade 92 has a wide variety of games from every decade. From classic pinball to PlayStation 5, everyone can find a game to love. Arcade 92 offers drinks and food, and it’s only $12 for unlimited game play. Downtown Mckinney also has quite a few restaurants to visit. I’ve always been a lover of Tex-Mex food, so my favorite spot is El Mejor. They have amazing staff and equally as amazing food and drinks. Every time I go, I am treated like family. For dessert, I like to walk next door to Savor Patisserie and pick up a box of their amazing macaron cookies.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It is important to understand that success cannot be achieved alone: Success is a team effort. I dedicate my success to my incredible family and friends who have supported me throughout the course of building my business. I thank my mom for always encouraging my creativity. I thank my husband for staying up late at night to help me finish projects and for wiping my tears when I feel like giving up. I thank my sister, my dad, my aunt, and my in-laws for constantly sharing my work and for bragging to others about what I can do with some flour and frosting. And I thank my customers for trusting me to help make birthdays, baby showers, and weddings so special and memorable. Without my team, my success would not be possible.

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