Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellie Ray.
Hi Ellie, 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?
My entrepreneurial journey started over a decade ago, long before Simply Fancii ever existed. For ten years I’ve been building brands, creating confections, and finding my voice as an artist in the dessert world.
I always thought I would run a traditional gourmet bakery until I realized something important about myself: I don’t actually like baking. There are too many rules, too much precision, and not enough room for my creativity to breathe. What I do love is creating edible art. I love transforming simple ingredients into experiences, into luxury, into conversation pieces that people remember.
That realization led me to launch Simply Fancii. It’s the brand that finally aligns with who I’m a creator, a curator, and a visionary who brings intention, beauty, and storytelling into every treat. Simply Fancii isn’t just desserts; it’s art you can taste, luxury you can see, and energy you can feel.
Over the years, my work has expanded into immersive dessert bars, curated brunch experiences, and a confection academy where I teach others how to build their own dessert empires. My journey has been one of trusting my intuition, honoring my creativity, and allowing myself to evolve without limits.
Today, I create with purpose. I build with intention. And I’m finally standing in the fullness of the woman, artist, and entrepreneur I was always meant to be.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road but I’m grateful for that. I started my first dessert business ten years ago with no plan, no blueprint, and no real understanding of what it meant to run a business. I was creating beautiful treats, but behind the scenes I was overwhelmed, underpriced, unsure of how to market myself, and constantly learning through trial and error.
I didn’t understand cost breakdowns. I didn’t know how to price properly. I didn’t know how to attract clients, position myself, or build a brand that could grow beyond me. I just knew I had talent and passion but passion alone doesn’t create profit.
Those years shaped me. They humbled me. And they forced me to become the businesswoman I am today. Every gap became a skill I had to master. Every mistake became a lesson I now teach.
That’s actually what inspired me to create Confection Academy. I realized so many treat makers were experiencing the same struggles I faced: running a business with heart but without structure, undercharging, burning out, and feeling stuck. I wanted to be the mentor I didn’t have, someone who could teach not just how to create beautiful confections, but how to build a profitable, sustainable business behind them.
So no, the road wasn’t smooth. But it was necessary. The challenges taught me business fundamentals, branding, pricing, marketing, and the power of knowing your worth. And now I get to turn that journey into guidance for others helping them build the kind of success it took me years to figure out.”**
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Simply Fancii is where luxury, storytelling, and edible art meet. I specialize in creating high-end dessert experiences from gourmet candied apples to fully styled dessert bars that feel more like curated installations than traditional catering. My work is intentional, detail-driven, and rooted in the belief that desserts should be both beautiful and memorable.
I’m known for transforming treats into art pieces: metallic finishes, custom textures, elevated packaging, and dessert displays that feel like fashion moments. People book me not just for desserts, but for the aesthetic, the ambiance, and the feeling my brand brings into a space.
I also run Confection Academy, where I teach treat makers how to do what took me years to learn, not just how to create, but how to run a business. My program blends pricing, branding, client experience, marketing, and the mindset required to build a profitable and sustainable confection brand. It’s education mixed with empowerment.
What I’m most proud of is that I built all of this from scratch the branding, the concepts, the systems, and the artistry and each piece reflects my creative identity. I’ve spent years perfecting how to make desserts feel luxurious, how to make an experience feel intentional, and how to help others build empires of their own.
What sets me apart is my eye for design, my commitment to elevation, and my ability to merge creativity with business strategy. I don’t just make treats, I create experiences. I don’t just teach skills, I teach structure, confidence, and the blueprint behind success.
Everything I do is crafted with purpose, beauty, and a deep belief that art even edible art should move people.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something most people don’t know about me is that I am completely self-taught. Every technique, every design style, every dessert bar layout, every piece of edible art I create, I learned through years of experimenting, failing, trying again, and following my intuition.
People see the luxury aesthetic, the polished branding, the elevated dessert bars, and they assume I went to culinary school or had formal training. But the truth is, I learned everything with my own hands, my own curiosity, and my own vision.
Being self-taught is actually one of my greatest strengths. It pushed me to think differently, create differently, and not be boxed into traditional rules or methods. That freedom is what helped me build Simply Fancii’s signature look, it’s unique because I wasn’t taught to follow a template. I created my own.
It’s also why I’m so passionate about teaching others. I’m proof that you don’t need a culinary degree or a perfect plan to build something beautiful. You just need intention, creativity, and the willingness to keep going.
Pricing:
- Basic confections package – $250
- Luxury Dessert Bar – $1200 and up
- Corporate Gift Boxes – $300 and up
- Hand on Classes – $150 and up
- 12 week business building curriculum, plus hands on class $1200
Contact Info:
- Website: https://simplyfanciieats.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplyfanciidessert?igsh=MTY2ZnpqMDd4NjA2cA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BMZieMr9b/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@confection_academy?si=KOr1-Q_I8NiI5K4D
- Other: https://linktr.ee/EllieRay888?utm_source=qr_code
