Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Jean Warnow.
Hi Sara Jean, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been baking with my mom since I was too young to even turn on the oven and then when I had kids of my own I loved creating delicious cakes for their birthday’s, though they were not very fancy or detailed. Once they all grew up and started adulting I suddenly had more free time on my hands and needed a hobby. I loved watching baking shows and videos and was mesmerized watching people decorate fancy, elaborate cakes. They made it look so easy!! Turns out it isn’t easy, but I discovered I had a natural talent for the artistic element and I loved the challenge of teaching myself new skills. After practicing a LOT and making my family and friends consume way more calories than the recommended daily intake, they urged me to start a business so I could spread (literally) my creations to the whole community. Four years later and over 15,200 followers later, I’m now known as the local cake artist who can turn any idea into a delicious work of art.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
For the most part it has been a smooth ride for me to get where I am today, but I believe that is in large part because I didn’t set any huge goal or expectations on starting this business. I still work full time at my day job where I get to be around other adults and work with public educators/administrators so my business isn’t a “job” to me, it’s an outlet where I get to play with food, literally. Since I don’t rely on it as my main source of income and I look at it as just getting to create edible art, I don’t put any undo pressure on myself to make a certain amount each week or stress if orders aren’t coming in. I feel like this laid back attitude helps me remain calm and stress free, even when juggling a business that was growing faster than I ever imagined. That did lead to the main challenge I have faced, and that is there is only one of me. I do everything myself, from marketing, scheduling, taking orders, communicating at least a dozen times with each client on every cake, ordering groceries/supplies, baking, prepping, decorating, taking pictures, using social media to share all my work, scheduling pick ups or deliveries, invoicing, taxes, insurance, oh, and then cleaning up after myself, which thankfully my husband loves this one business responsibility he has and he’s great at it! With all of the hats I wear, I realized quickly I can’t say yes to every single inquiry I get. I had to learn boundaries and making sure I leave time for myself and my family and friends. The last thing I want is to have burnout or come to regret my success. This is a very bittersweet problem to have, I know. In my first year of business, I was booking out two months in advance. Now, four years later, I’m fully booked a year ahead — so getting on my calendar takes some serious preplanning! The good news is, birthdays come around every year — so if it’s too late to snag a cake this time, there’s always next year to plan ahead.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I own OhMyGoodies LLC by Sara Jean, a custom cake home-based bakery. My specialty is creating cakes (and cupcakes) for all occasions that not only taste amazing, but also look almost too good to eat. My cakes are nothing average. They all tell a story, they tell YOUR story. I ask all the questions and do all the research to make sure that what you are getting is more than just a delicious dessert to share with your friends and family, it is a reflection of who you are or who the recipient is and makes them feel special. I pride myself in that no two cakes of mine are ever the same. I pour my heart into every detail — big and small — and design each cake myself. That means when someone picks up their order (or I deliver it), they never know exactly what’s waiting inside the box… and that’s my favorite part! It’s always the best kind of surprise. When you order from me, you’re trusting that I’ll create something even better than what you’ve seen on Google or Instagram — something one-of-a-kind, made just for you.
But what really sets me apart from others I believe is my sense of community and giving back as much as I can to those in need. Each year I do a huge cinnamon roll fundraiser right around Christmas time. Each year gets bigger and bigger and last year I made over 2,000 cinnamon rolls (they sold out in 7 minutes) and was able to donate over $6,000 to local organizations. While I only do those once a year, I am constantly looking for ways to share my love of baking with others the rest of the year. I donate desserts to several fundraising galas, donate gift certificates, cakes, etc, and I even started a program called “Buttercream Dreams” where people can nominate kids who are either sick or in a tough situation for a free birthday cake from me. This also circles around to one of the best parts about keeping my day job is that it gives me the freedom to bake purely out of love. Even though I’m always busy, not relying on cakes as my main income means I can share my talent and creativity with others — sometimes just because I want to — without worrying about the bottom line. It’s always been about more than just cake.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I will always remember making cinnamon rolls with my mom. At first I would just watch in awe how she just instinctively knew just when to add the eggs and potatoes, yes mashed potatoes, to the yeast that was perfectly activated, knew exactly how much flour to add to create the perfect dough without even touching a measuring cup, then watching her spread the butter and cinnamon/sugar mixture on that huge rectangle of dough that always seem to fit our entire countertop just perfectly. Then she would add the secret ingredient to make the most amazing, decadent cinnamon rolls that in all my 47 years, no one has yet to even come close to mimicking. Slowly she would let me lend a hand during each step until I was able to create them on my own many years later. By now, I’ve made what feels like hundreds of thousands of her cinnamon rolls — yet every single time I tuck one into a pan to proof, I’m transported right back to my childhood kitchen, with her by my side, and can smell that warm, sweet aroma drifting through the house. It’s incredible how something as simple as cinnamon and flour can make me feel five years old again.
Pricing:
- Not really, all my orders are so custom that I don’t have a set price for my cakes. I do have all my base prices on my website though.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ohmygoodies.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohmygoodiesks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OhMyGoodiesKS
