Meet Jasmine Coleman of Eclectic Edibles by Jay.Cee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Coleman.

Jasmine, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Baking and cooking are forms of stress relief for me. I cooked for family and friends often growing up, and it didn’t take long to determine I was pretty good at it. I attended Prairie View A&M University where I majored in Social Work. I worked full time for a financial institution, but the goal was to complete my B.A. and start my social work career.

The week before the start of my Senior year a car accident brought my life to an abrupt to a halt. Due to injuries from the accident I was forced to withdraw from school and take some time off.  As you can imagine, I had an abundance of time on my hands. I couldn’t walk for months, so I actually started baking from an office rolling chair. It was somewhat of a step in the process of my healing.

Plus it helped me be somewhat active and still show creativity. I’m still amazed that I had to go through that pain to find my passion, but we know God works in mysterious ways! Surprisingly I am not a fan of sweets, so I depend on my peers to try my products and provide honest feedback. They’re the first to try everything that comes from my oven, and always coming to me with support and new ideas. Once friends, family and co-workers sampled the products, I started getting payment offers.

I have always had an entrepreneur mindset, so doing something I enjoy while making a profit is a dream come true. I was originally interested in the “side-hustle” aspect of baking, but it didn’t take long for things to expand. Once I had the vision and a name, I partnered up with a close friend who is also a business owner. We took time to discuss a full logical business plan; I went to the county clerks’ office and created social media pages the next day. The support has been amazing!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I am human, of course, I’ve run into bumps along the way, but that was definitely expected. I had to alter my expectations of others as well as my mindset and work ethic. It was extremely necessary for me to do a lot of self-reflection to keep growth in my business. I had a slight amount fear of investing in baking not only because of the popularity of the field but also due to a fear of failure. This caused me to doubt and undersell my products at a point in time as well.

It took time for me to realize the worth of my products and services. Knowing your worth is so essential in life. Every day is another lesson and step forward in my learning process. My hardest obstacle to date is trying to balance working full time, taking classes and seminars for my business, while also filling orders full time. I gave up my social life when I decided to take things seriously with my business, I and don’t regret it at all. I constantly brainstorm the amazing things that I will be able to accomplish with my brand, however, just thoughts alone aren’t enough.

I am extremely passionate about my craft, and I know that in due time all of my sacrifices and networking will definitely pay off. I will be able to step out on faith and just focus specifically on my baking business soon, but it’s not my time yet. I know it’s coming, and I will continue putting in the work necessary to get me to that point.

Eclectic Edibles by Jay.Cee – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Eclectic Edibles by JayCee is a “sweets shop” that provides Southern homemade sweets and scratch recipes with an eclectic flare. It started off as a “cupcakery” and has developed into a full homemade dessert shop.

The menu is constantly growing and so far includes yummy treats such as cupcakes, cheesecake, brownies, custom-made and novelty cakes, cake pops, flavorful bundt cakes, and other confections! I also offer alcohol infused sweets as well as fun treats for Bachelorette Parties! I am a self-taught Baker, and I always take the time to do research on my ingredients as well as baking procedures. I am extremely interested in the technicalities of baking.

For instance, I always wondered why we shouldn’t mix wet and dry ingredients together at one time while baking, or why cookie dough should be chilled before baking. As some may know, simple steps to baking make the biggest difference when they’re not done correctly. I am currently working towards continuing my education by successfully completing the Culinary Arts Program with Houston Community College specializing in Baking and Pastries. I would love to have a storefront in the future, but my short-term goal is to get a food truck that is baking accessible.

I love meeting new people, networking and traveling so the food truck will be extremely beneficial to me. I move to the beat of my own drum, and my brand reflects that. I have learned that in order to be successful and stand out, you have to be different and unique. I embrace that not only with my sweets but also with my packaging. By definition, eclectic is deriving ideas or tastes from a broad and diverse range of sources. Not only is it proving to be a complicated word to say lol, eclectic is the best description for the inspiration behind the company!

Every recipe has its own story. I use recipes that have been passed from family members, I put my own spin on popular recipes that can be found online, and I’m also not afraid to try new things with fillings, flavors and toppings. I have had numerous gorgeous cakes that were dry and bland. My focus is on making sure my cakes are moist and flavorful, my fudge brownies are mouth-watering and chewy, and making sure my icing is light and fluffy without being too sweet.

I am still new to the industry and I am constantly working hard on developing new skills and detail that goes into decorations. I am my only competition and I know success takes time. I am most proud of the growth so far. I am so grateful for the opportunities and partnerships that are being offered to me. My menu is growing. My customer base is growing. It’s only up from here!

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is one of those words that I view differently based on where I am in my life.

Before starting this business, I always felt success was simply accomplishing a goal I set for myself. If I tried a new recipe and got good reviews, I felt successful. As I continue to grow, I now feel most successful when I step out of my comfort zone. I had the option to continue specializing in cupcakes, and not expand into the world of pastries and other confections.

I was content knowing I was able to make money doing something I liked, but I wanted more. I get both nervous and excited when customers request orders that require me to use a new technique or product. Whether the outcome is good or bad, I still feel successful simply for trying something outside of my norm.

Contact Info:

• Email: eclecticediblesbyjaycee@gmail.com
• Instagram: @eclecticediblesbyjaycee
• Facebook: Eclectic Edibles by Jay.Cee
• Twitter: @ediblesbyjaycee

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