Today we’d like to introduce you to Latounya Moore
Hi Latounya, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was raised in low-income housing, in a single parent home and is the eldest of my three siblings. I didn’t have much of a childhood, due to me having to take on the role to help care for my siblings while my mom worked the 3-11 shift. Therefore, outside play was limited for me. My after-school activities, consist of cooking, cleaning and watching my siblings at the age of 11. In season, I was able to participate in cheer and play soft ball through the community programs on the weekends, but otherwise I was to stay at home. Taking on such a big role groomed me to be the woman I am today. There were times when, I would experiment in the kitchen baking brownies and box cakes that my mom kept in the cabinet. It was something I enjoyed doing and it inspired me to take up a home economics course in junior high school. If I can remember, my first test was to bake a cake, and it turned out amazing. I was so proud of myself at the time. As I got older, I would bake a cake every week to go along with the meal I prepared for Sunday dinner for my family. Baking became to be a passion, but I didn’t realize that it meant more than just that, until I was in a dark place at a point in my life. As time went on, dealing with the reality of life,
memories of adverse childhood experience, it begin to take a toll on me, I then began to fall in a state of depression. Outside of work, I would sleep most of the time, more than doing anything else. I would still prepare meals for my family daily, but baking was rarely done during those times. Until, one day I decided to make my first red velvet cake, and it was delicious. I slowly started back baking and selling a cake, here and there, to close friends and family members. It was at that point; I realized that baking was therapeutic for me and became one of my coping mechanisms, when my mood was leading me to a negative space. I’d started baking more often, while working full-time as a case manager at a local shelter. I enjoyed the work I did, but after being there for 15 years, I felt the need to pursue a different path. At that point, I prayed about it and made the decision to step out on faith to do business for myself and to activate the gift GOD gave me. The name I Bake Cakes, came about in a dream, prior to me making a decision to leave my career. I launched my home-based bakery business in July 2021 and resigned from my job in December 2021 after 15 years of service. I must admit, entrepreneurship isn’t for the weak and it hasn’t been an easy road. Unfortunately, the easy road was never easy for me, I’ve always had to work hard at everything I do, to get to where I needed to be. You have to have some crazy faith on this journey. It requires patience, self-motivation, self-encouragement and self-determination etc., but it’s well worth the journey. I started off just baking those old-fashioned cakes like grandma use to make, such as, pound cakes, lemon cakes, and of course red velvet cakes. However, I decided to get out of my comfort zone and have now added gourmet cakes, custom cakes and cupcakes to the menu. I Bake Cakes have grown since I first launched my business but has more growing to do. Being an introvert person, it was difficult for me to get out in the community, but with the support of my family, I’ve been able to participate in local pop-up shops and events. I once read a quote that state “Success doesn’t live in a comfort zone”. This statement has empowered me to get uncomfortable, so I can elevate to the next level. Having the ability to create a delightful product, while utilizing the talent GOD gifted me, brings me so much joy.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I must say it hasn’t been a smooth road. I’ve always had to face obstacles in my life and starting from ground zero made it more difficult. I must say my biggest obstacle was fear. The fear of failure, lack of confidence, doubt, and over thinking. I struggled with not knowing exactly what to do and how to go about doing it. Undercharging my worth took a major toll on me, because I was giving away, more than I was bringing in. My business loss more than I gained and that was overwhelming for me.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I Bake Cakes is a home-based bakery business, that specialize in homemade cakes, such as, pound cakes, bundt cakes, sheet cakes, birthday cakes, custom cakes and cupcakes. I Bake Cakes is known for my most popular items, the Red Velvet Cake and Strawberry Crunch Cake. What set my business apart is the fact that I’m committed to making sure customers, not only taste, but delight in every bite, experiencing the texture and richness of flavor. My cakes not only taste good, but presentation plays a key role. I Bake Cakes takes pride in making sure our cakes are made with top quality ingredients, made with love and passion.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I would have to say I like the having access to the beach. What I like least about our city are the potholes in the roads.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: ibakecakes_jax
- Facebook: I Bake Cakes
