Today we’d like to introduce you to Laiel McSwain-Jasper.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
When I first started, I was living in Denton, TX & going thru a bad divorce. I became homeless & needed a source of income so I started baking cakes from a borrowed kitchen. Word of mouth spread quickly & I eventually was able to get back on my feet.
From there, I met a friend at a Super Bowl party & started socializing with everyone & met a who is now very important person to me, my marketing agent who is a former NFL Cincinnati Bengals player. He invested in me & I moved back to Hattiesburg, MS. I went back to my roots & got recipes from my mom & grandmother & started adding an elegant twist to old fashioned desserts. I now contract with the NFL & National Guard Bureau & I travel across the country as a Pastry Chef/Personal Chef to accommodate the likes of a variety of people everywhere!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not at all. I struggled hard with finding resources to make my product look professional. I struggled most with having the drive to keep going when sales were extremely low. Sometimes I’d only get two sales in three months. I had depressing moments as well with all I had going on in my life at the time …. a divorce, losing my kids, trying to get on my feet. It was tough. And even after I got on my feet & got my kids back, I still had to make enough to take care of them. I had to work & bake. I became so exhausted from going days at a time without sleep just to practice my craft & become better. Some days I only fed my kids & I went without. Some days I cried because the competition was so tough, but I pushed thru. I’d take a break from time to time to get myself together & keep going.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Chop Chop’s Sweet Tooth – what should we know?
I’m a cake artist. I specialize in all kinds of cakes. I’m the only baker that offer 30 flavors of pound cakes so pound cake is my steeple. I’m most proud of overcoming the stigma of home bakers that don’t get real business. It’s hard for us out here because there are some big name bakeries that we have to compete with. I realized that I can’t compete with them; I can only compete with who I was yesterday as a baker. What sets me apart from others is I develop a personal relationship with my customers. They’re all like another family member to me. I want to keep the small business feel so my customers don’t become “just a number.”
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My late grandfather, Roy McSwain, 1st off, is the main motivator behind Chop Chop’s Sweet Tooth. He gave me the nickname Chop Chop because I loved food & I always looked like I had a cheeks full of food. He would always tell me “1 day, you’re gon do something with those cakes.” I wish he could see me now. My grandmother, Geneva McSwain, who taught me how to be tough in a tougher world. My parents, Edward & Angelia McSwain, who support all my endeavors & taught me how to cook/bake. My maternal grandparents, Aden & Zera Coleman who not only gave me recipes but have given me equipment & encouragement. My siblings who have been my biggest cheer squad & a host of cousins who share my products literally everywhere! And my husband, Kristopher Jasper who has been my anchor & my biggest supporter.
Pricing:
- Pound cakes $50
- Basic flavor cakes start at $100
- Sheet cakes start at $130
- Specialty cakes start at $150
- Tiered cakes start at $200
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Chopscakes.com
- Phone: 601-568-1734
- Email: chopchopssweettooth@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/chopchopssweettooth
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChopChop.sweettooth
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