Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Francisco
Hi Victoria, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in the Philippines and moved to New Jersey after college graduation to attend culinary school. I earned my Baking and Pastry Arts program diploma from what is now called the Institute of Culinary Education in New York. From there I worked in hotel marketing, licensing and promotional products industry, catering and events, and even in the music industry, specifically for Britney Spears and Taylor Swift.
My husband and I moved around a lot for his job. Prior to Texas we lived in four other states and survived three transpacific moves, until he decided that Austin was the next city we should be at. We’ve been here for five years now and I hope to be staying for a while! Throughout all our life changes, the one constant was my love for baking. I baked cookies, breads, and cakes, and gave them out to family and friends. Now that our boys, who we nicknamed Bug and Bear, are in school full time, I decided to finally turn my hobby into a business. I feel fortunate that I’m able to do what I love to do, everyday!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I am lucky that I have my husband’s support every step of the way. In fact, he’s the one who pushes and encourages me to keep going, and gives me invaluable feedback and ideas for the business. It’s so important to have someone in your corner, especially for home bakers like me, who usually run a one-person operation. It can feel very isolating and overwhelming. What helps is finding my tribe, my community, who I can lean on, and this is always a work in progress.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a home baker specializing in custom handcrafted sugar cookies for both social and corporate clients. I create themed cookies for private gatherings such as birthdays and baby showers, and logo cookies for company events, including grand openings and festivals. I also teach cookie decorating classes, which I truly enjoy because I love sharing my knowledge and passion with others. I join local markets from time to time, and this gives me the opportunity to connect with people in my neighborhood. I do feel that I have a unique perspective because my background in events and promotions really come in handy in everything I do!
I put great care into making my cookies. More than a handful of customers mentioned that my cookies are both beautiful and delicious, something they rarely find, as it’s usually one or the other in their experience. It is the biggest compliment when clients keep coming back and become regulars!
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My advice to other home bakers is to not compare yourself to others, and to not think of them as competition. They have something unique to offer, but so do you. There is room for everyone!
When I first started my business, I wish someone told me that I will be wearing many hats…baker, decorator, accountant, photographer, social media director, sales and marketing guru, all while running a household at the same time. Being organized is a must!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bugandbearskitchen.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/bugandbearskitchen
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/bugandbearskitchen
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bug-and-bear-s-kitchen/
