Today we’d like to introduce you to Rocio Gonzalez.
Rocio, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
In 2006, when cake decorating was all the crafting rage, I took a class at a local crafting store. I immediately fell in love with fondant, the versatility and almost endless possibilities hooked me.
Originally I decorated cakes but soon found my true passion and joy were the fondant details that adorned the cakes. I began to take classes, joined the Houston Cake Club and began entering competitions, anything that I felt would allow me to take my skills to the next level.
Even after 13 years, I’m still fascinated with all that can be done with fondant and similar mediums. Regularly taking advanced level classes on techniques, continuing to grow and expand my skills has been a wonderful experience that has kept the love for the sugar arts alive. Today I focus on custom cake toppers and custom embellishments for edible confections of all types.
I have also worked with a popular cupcake shop in Houston that has had the opportunity to create cakes for some very famous people in the Houston area and I have had the opportunity to create the toppers.
Has it been a smooth road?
As with any business I’ve faced multiple challenges, early in my cake decorating I recognized a lack of availability for quality supplies and equipment. Opening an online business, Rocio’s Cake Supplies in 2012 was a huge step for me, but I met the challenges. I opened Rocio’s Cake supplies and sold silicone molds and cutters online. Soon it had expanded to selling at some of the larger well-known cake competitions in the country. Getting to meet customers that I had only previously dealt with online was a fantastic opportunity and allowed me to form lasting friendships and contacts within the cake community that I still grateful for to this day.
Unfortunately, as cake decorating became more popular so did the overseas companies that copied and reproduce items, these flooded the market and in 2016 I closed the mold and cutter part of the business and just continued making custom cake toppers.
Personal challenges have also been a hurdle that had to be overcome. Always learning and advancing can be challenging in itself. I admire greatly the artist from other countries who, without molds or other aids, sculpt by hand realistic and detailed figures. I challenged myself to learn these techniques, in many cases it has taken years to master some of the skills I know that every hard fought lesson and technique has been worth it.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am known for Custom cake toppers. I love creating custom cake toppers and seeing my customer’s reactions to the customized creations made specially for them. Makes all the effort and time put into learning worthwhile. Having the support and trust of cake decorators around the country has been such a boost to not only the business but to my own drive to learn and expand my skills with each new piece of sugar art I create. I am most proud of my work. I found something that I love making and have made my business creating something I love to do. I get to create new things every week that challenges me and help me keep learning.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
My business is more focused on one part of the cake decoration so it’s a bit harder, to be able to create custom cake toppers it takes a lot of patience and practice. If anyone is willing to take the time to learn these techniques they would have no problem. Houston is a great city to start a business, people don’t realize how big the area is. There is room for everyone to open a business and reach customers.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 281-839-8021
- Email: rocio@rocioscakesupplies.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rocioscakesupplies/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rocioscakesupplies/
Image Credit:
Rocio Gonzalez
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