This Issue:
3X Cupcake Wars Winner
What inspires your cupcakes and flavors? Traveling inspires me, and has been the backbone of Sweet by Holly, which currently features 35 flavors. I love to deconstruct a classic dessert and try to figure out how to make that into a mini cupcake. Right now we are working on Pecan Pie cupcakes..
September 2012
Magazine
What are your plans for events and charities this year? I work closely with all local charities in the Jacksonville and Orlando areas. Sweet by Holly has been donating cupcakes to notable charities for over 6 years. (Girls on the Run helping to celebrate their 10 year anniversary in Jax with 1500 donated cupcakes. etc...) The JLG Brain Cancer Foundation in Jacksonville for their annual fundraiser is coming up. GTMO is a recent charity we are involved with, giving back to the women & men who serve our nation so bravely. We don’t just giveaway cupcakes, we work closely with these charities in other ways as well. While we get hundreds of requests, we try to fulfill as many and choose charities that closely resemble what Sweet by Holly stands for.
September 2012
What was it like winning Cupcake Wars 3 times? Cong<ats. Hey thank you! The first time was great, I saw an increase in traffic of 100%. Amazing things have happened since my past appearances on the show but for me it is about moving forward, using what I have to create something new and exciting. Making “Cupcake Wars” about Savory cupcakes has created much joy in my professional life.
September 2012
What are your plans for the store, TV shows, career? We are committed to growing the brand. Growth may come in the form of expansion of existing retail concept, development of a new one or movement into a wholesale realm. From my time on Food Network, I received a book deal (my new book that just released in April, “Savory Bites” available in local book stores and on Amazon.com), opened a new store in Jacksonville Florida and Cooking Channel approached me about another show. I proved that the cupcake pan isn't just for sweets anymore. I stated working back in Los Angeles as a celebrity chef while also traveling around the world to promote my book “Savory Bites” and the Sweet by Holly brand. I have partnered with Smart Balance, who featured my red velvet cupcake recipe on the Pyure sugar bag.
September 2012
Where do you see yourself this time nexB year? I have big dreams but I don’t write them down as they look grandiose in print. I can tell you the best things that have happened in my life have been surprises so I fully expect that whatever is in store for me will continue to exceed my expectations! I am not bound to any particular outcome, as long as I continue to be challenged.
September 2012
What do you think makes your cupcakes different/beFer than others? What sets yours aparB Gom the rest?
We stopped comparing our cupcakes to others because this can make you lazy when you have uninspired competition. We realized early on that we are our toughest critics and our job is to never stop looking for ways to improve the quality of our products. I surround myself with chefs, staff and managers who have pride of ownership and share my unrelenting need to create the absolute best cupcake possible. I have always bought the very best ingredients and not worried about cost of goods as my clients deserve the best ingredients. Even with the rising cost of food items, we have kept the same prices the past 5years. We have made this work by constantly improving on our productivity and reducing waste. Create the best product and sell at a great price. Simple statement, incredibly difficult to implement and a constant work in progress.
September 2012
How do you choose your ing<edients? We are always looking for something that will stand out and help us create a cupcake that has a grand impact. The goal is to find highest quality natural ingredients that perform in the context of a cupcake. By way of example we pay 1/10th of what the average person will pay for the best Madagascar bourbon vanilla extract because we buy cases of gallon size jugs not 4 oz bottles.
September 2012
Do you have organic and/or sugar Gee yet? If not do you plan to have those? We are committed to using very the very best all natural ingredients in our cupcakes. Sometimes that can mean organic but sometimes the best chocolates are not organic. Early on I pursued all natural sugar alternatives to help fulfill a need among my customer base. From that came my partnership with Pyure and now have my face on their bag!
September 2012
September 2012
Phone (407) 277-7746 Email feedback@sweetbyholly.com Website www.sweetbyholly.com