Today we’d like to introduce you to Sherene Phillips.
Hi Sherene , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always believed that what is created with love carries a different kind of sweetness. My journey began right here in Jacksonville, where I was raising four children, building a professional career, and quietly discovering that my creativity could become something much bigger than a hobby.
Before becoming a full-time entrepreneur, I spent more than 15 years working in corporate and government roles. That experience taught me discipline, professionalism, customer service, and how to keep moving even when the path ahead was not completely clear. Baking, however, gave me something different. It allowed me to create joy, celebrate people, and turn ordinary moments into memories.
I am a self-taught baker. I did not begin with formal culinary training, investors, or a perfectly written business plan. I began with faith, curiosity, and a willingness to keep learning. What started with cakes and treats for family and friends grew through word of mouth. Every order became an opportunity to improve my skills, build relationships, and prove that my gift could support a real business.
Over time, Honie Bee’s Boutique & Treats grew from a small pickup operation into an award-winning bakery and a 3,000-square-foot facility that also serves as an event space and home to several of my entrepreneurial ventures. I have expanded beyond traditional cakes and desserts to create interactive experiences such as The Sweet Bar, where guests can customize their own desserts and watch the experience come to life. I have also found ways to use the business to serve families, children, churches, companies, and the Jacksonville community.
The road has required me to pivot, rebuild, and believe in myself more than once. But I do not view those moments as the sad parts of my story. They are the places where I discovered my strength. Raising my children while building a business taught me how to be resourceful, brave, and intentional. It taught me that you do not have to wait until life is perfect to begin creating something meaningful.
Today, I am proud of how far Honie Bee’s has come, but I am even more excited about where we are going. My goal is bigger than selling desserts. I want to create experiences that bring people together, open doors for others, and remind people that life’s sweetest moments are worth celebrating. My story is still being written, and I am building every new chapter with faith, purpose, creativity, and a whole lot of love.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, but it has been a meaningful one.
One of my greatest challenges has been building a business while also raising four children and managing the responsibilities of everyday life. Entrepreneurship does not pause when your family needs you, when equipment breaks, when sales slow down, or when an unexpected expense appears. There were many seasons when I had to wear every hat—baker, decorator, marketer, bookkeeper, customer service representative, delivery driver, and mother—sometimes all in the same day.
Because I am self-taught, I also had to learn many lessons through experience. I learned how to price my work properly, manage growth, protect my time, and recognize that being talented at baking is only one part of running a successful bakery. Creativity may bring customers through the door, but strong systems, financial discipline, and consistency are what keep a business moving forward.
Access to capital has also been a challenge. Growing without unlimited funding meant that I had to be resourceful and make careful decisions about where to invest. I could not always do everything at once, so I learned to build one step at a time, use what I had wisely, and allow each stage of the business to prepare me for the next.
There have also been moments when I questioned whether I was doing enough or moving fast enough. Comparison can make an entrepreneur overlook their own progress. I had to learn that my journey did not need to look like anyone else’s. Some seasons were about expansion, while others were about rebuilding, refining, or simply remaining consistent.
The challenges have made me a stronger businesswoman. They taught me how to pivot without abandoning my vision, how to ask for help, and how to keep creating even when circumstances were not ideal. I no longer view obstacles as proof that I am on the wrong path. Many times, they have been the very things that prepared me for the next opportunity.
The road has not been easy, but every difficult season has added wisdom, courage, and purpose to the woman and entrepreneur I am today.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Honie Bee’s Boutique & Treats is an award-winning Jacksonville bakery built around one simple belief: love is sweet, and the moments that matter deserve to be celebrated beautifully.
We specialize in custom celebration and wedding cakes, cupcakes, dessert tables, gourmet treats, corporate catering, and memorable dessert experiences. Whether we are creating a child’s first birthday cake, the centerpiece for a wedding, or a branded dessert spread for a company, our goal is never to simply provide something sweet. We want our work to become part of the memory.
One of the things that sets Honie Bee’s apart is the experience we create around our desserts. Our signature mobile concept, The Sweet Bar, allows guests to choose their cake flavor and toppings while watching their dessert come together right in front of them. It combines great flavor, creativity, presentation, and interaction, making it ideal for weddings, employee appreciation events, church gatherings, and private celebrations. It represents where I see the brand going—beyond traditional baking and into unforgettable, guest-centered experiences.
We are also known for bold flavors, beautiful buttercream designs, generous portions, and a personal approach to customer service. I understand that people are trusting us with some of the most important moments of their lives, so I want every customer to feel heard and cared for. Our customers are not just purchasing cake; they are inviting us into their celebrations.
Brand-wise, I am most proud that Honie Bee’s has grown without losing its heart. What began as a self-taught baker creating desserts for family and friends has developed into a 3,000-square-foot bakery and event facility serving families, couples, churches, schools, and businesses throughout the Jacksonville area. We have been recognized for our work, but the greatest recognition is seeing customers return year after year and allowing us to become part of their family traditions.
I want readers to know that Honie Bee’s is more than a bakery. It is a creative brand, a gathering place, and a growing vision built on faith, excellence, and community. We create cakes and desserts, but what we are really serving is joy.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I define success as building something that is both meaningful and sustainable—something that serves people, supports my family, and does not require me to lose myself in the process.
Of course, revenue, growth, and recognition matter. A business must be profitable to survive. But success is bigger than being busy or appearing successful online. For me, it means creating a brand people trust, producing work I am proud to put my name on, and being invited back into my customers’ lives for one celebration after another.
Success is also freedom—the freedom to create, to make thoughtful decisions, and to build a life that reflects my values. It is being able to provide for my children while showing them what faith, discipline, and courage look like in action. I want them to understand that they do not have to wait for someone else to give them permission to pursue a vision.
I also measure success by impact. Did I make someone feel celebrated? Did I create an opportunity for another person? Did my business bring joy to a family, support a community event, or inspire someone to believe they could begin again?
Ultimately, success is not simply how much I can accomplish by working harder. It is creating a business that can stand, serve, and grow without depending on me being exhausted all the time. It is having peace about what I have built, gratitude for how far I have come, and excitement about what is still possible.
To me, success is a life and legacy built with purpose—one sweet moment at a time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.honieb.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honiebees/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/honie.bees.7
