This Small Business Saturday we’d like to introduce you to Delectable Decor, owned and managed by Yen Kieu of Sugar Land. This local mom combined her passion and talent to offer the most exquisite desserts and dessert displays for birthdays, baby showers and more. We had the opportunity to speak with Yen and she shared all about her journey as a business owner and mom.
Tell us about Delectable Decor!
We add the delectable decor to your special event! We design and style beautiful dessert tables for every occasion. What is unique about us is that we also create the cake and desserts that truly transform your dessert table.
What inspired you to open a business?
My one and only little six year old sidekick, Cooper, is the inspiration to all things Delectable Decor. I have always loved planning parties and making exquisite dessert displays even before he was born. But once he was here, that passion really evolved. I really found a niche, I thought. My main goal was to help other moms plan their parties and relieve their stress due to work or just the everyday life of being a mom. Let’s be honest, mom life never ends and it seems like there is never enough time.
What did you do before becoming a business owner?
I was working a fashion corporate job for many years. It involved a lot of traveling which was a great incentive and I was able to visit so many places around the world. After some time, the industry was no longer fun to be in and the passion dwindled. I found that it was perfect timing. When I became a mom, I wanted to be able to be present and watch my son grow and not miss any of his milestones. The universe works in mysterious ways and puts you where you are meant to be.
How do you balance being a mom and running a business?
I am a mom to one very active and curious six year old. I always get asked how I do it all? For me, it is all about time management. On Sundays, I write out my business to do list for the week (yes write! I am still old school and am at my best when I write out lists).
Besides replying to emails and making a few social media posts, the first half of my day is blocked out for the little man. I try my best to call it a day at decent hour every night and get 6-8 hours of sleep every night. It’s needed for my mental and physical health.
With that being said, life happens and as much and we plan sometimes we steer away from it and it’s perfectly ok. Haven’t we all experienced it within this past year?! But the perk of being your own boss, you can take a break when you know you need it! As moms alone, we all need a little break sometimes and there is definitely no guilt in that EVER!
How did your business fare during the pandemic?
Like most small businesses during the pandemic, we also had to pivot and find ways to keep the momentum going. All events were cancelled which meant all the dessert tables we had booked were also cancelled.
We found that people were still trying to find ways to celebrate safely and in smaller groups. They still needed custom cakes and desserts, so we transitioned and focused on the baking side of the business. As it turned out that grew our business even more. So for over a year now we’ve offered custom buttercream cakes, cookies and sweet treats to those who were not in need of full scale dessert tables. I truly feel so lucky that Delectable Decor survived the pandemic.
You are an incredible artist! When did you realize you had a talent for decorating?
Thank you for such a lovely compliment. I think I have always been right brain dominant; a visual learner at its best and always had a huge love for the arts. I didn’t have any experience or education in cake or dessert decorating. It was something that I stumbled upon.
I taught myself as I was planning each birthday party for my son, nieces and nephews. And as I received positive reactions and feedback and requests from friends, I realized that I had something special here. My sister simply put it plainly, “Why aren’t you offering cakes?” (light bulb!) Thank you to my family and friends that were my guinea pigs from the beginning! It was all of you that brought it to fruition.
What is your best advice to a mom who’d like to open her own business?
Being your own boss is definitely not an easy venture. Be ready to put in a lot of hours to nurse and care for it and do your research! There are a lot of resources out there. I look at it as my second child. But the one thing I know for sure is that I am truly passionate about what I do and I pour my whole heart into every creation.
Ask yourself if the business you want to open adds value to you as well as others. I am still learning how to juggle being a wife, mom, and business owner, and some days it’s smooth sailing and other days it’s like waves crashing. But doing what you love makes putting in the hours so much more rewarding.
If I’d like to place an order, what is the process?
The best way to reach me is by sending an inquiry by email to [email protected] with your event date, theme, and color scheme. The more information I have, the more helpful it is to provide an accurate quote. I require a notice of at least 2 weeks and that is if I have availability. I always recommend to book as soon as you decide on your event date. Leave the rest to Delectable Decor!
You can see more of Yen’s cakes and desserts on her social media accounts. Feel free to follow her and reach out for your next event!
Facebook: Delectable Decor
Instagram: Delectable Decor
Email: [email protected]
