Today we’d like to introduce you to Rhonda Hollon.
Hi Rhonda, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello! Well I am Rhonda Hollon, wife, mother and owner of Cakes Couture!
I have been fascinated by cakes all of my life. Once for my 4th birthday, my mom bought me a grocery store cake and let me redecorate it. Baking with my grandmother was my favorite thing to do as a little girl.
It wasn’t until I was at my daughter’s book fair that I came across this cute little cupcake book. It showed you how to use candy and turn it into something completely different. The first thing I made was cute little farmer’s cupcakes for my nephew’s first birthday. I took corn flake cereal and turned them into cabbage. Everyone loved it and at least five friends were asking me to make cupcakes for their parties.
While I enjoyed it so much and had plenty of customers, I wasn’t supported at home. Baking wasn’t a “practical” career choice.
That didn’t stop me from working on my craft and learning new techniques.
One day I found myself completely starting over. I was 32 and a single mom with two beautiful children. It was at that moment I knew that I was the only person in my life that was responsible for making me happy. I knew that if I wanted to do something, I’d have to be the one who makes it happen.
A couple of years later, I found the love of my life. My husband James supported my dreams and knew that I was going to make them happen with or without anyone.
James fresh out of the army moved down to Southeast Texas to be with me. While he was going through the police academy, I was working for an engineering company and making cakes in my free time.
He saw my passion first hand. One day in 2016 he asked if I would like to move to New Braunfels (where he is originally from) and start a business there.
I was so nervous because I didn’t know ANYONE. But I did recognize that the Hill Country is a wedding destination area. I knew with lots of hard work and hustle, I could really make it. Soooo that’s exactly what we did!
We moved to New Braunfels in the summer of 2016. I didn’t know anyone. I made sure to go to every event, meet as many people as I possibly could and would always bring the goodies. Three months into working for local vet office, I had to stop working and focus on cakes. Six months later, James had to leave his job and help with the cake orders.
At the end of 2019, we opened our first storefront.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
On March 15th, 2020 we had our ribbon cutting, and the next week the entire world shut down. For months I didn’t know if we would make it. I didn’t even know if my marriage would make it at that point. We had employees leaving in fear, some stealing, brides calling and crying daily because their weddings were canceled, and hundreds of dollars in our cases going to waste, no help from the government whatsoever.
We were forced to change our game or completely shut down. We saw the need for grocery items. So we would order products from our Sysco rep and provide them to the community. Our bakery at that moment turned completely into a grocery store. Eggs, meals, sugar for the honey bees, supplies for other bakers and food trucks, and even toilet paper.
My heart was breaking for the kids. Knowing they were stuck at home and unable to even go outside. So one day, I decided to take that same cute little cupcake book I started with and package items for the kids and I would teach them virtually how to make those same goodies. I provided the sweets, the tools and all of the details. I did this for the kids, but also myself. There was something about holding that cupcake book and going back to my roots, where I decided to start. It gave me strength to pull through.
As the world started to open back up, we didn’t want to just be done with teaching kids. It was around September that we started our Jr. Pastry Academy. We have four groups of kids that come in once a week and learn how to bake and decorate.
Now weddings are in full swing. Our Jr. Pastry classes are on a waiting list and celebrations are happening everywhere.
We made the decision two weeks ago to sign the lease on a new and much larger storefront! We will add a cafe with coffee and breakfast items. Our Jr. Pastry class will double in size. I’m now on the board of Advisors for a local baking and Pastry college and they will come by to teach our level 2 Academies.
We made it through! I learned a lot about myself, not just in life but during a worldwide shutdown as well. I’m thankful for my struggles. Without them, I would have just given up. My husband said to me once two months into covid “you know we can just close down and no one will blame us” my answer to him was “I don’t have a choice. My only option is to continue to move forward”. That’s the only choice I have in life.
My entire life has been a struggle. I grew up in a very abusive family. I lived on my own since I was 16 years old. From there, I moved right into an abusive marriage. I wasn’t allowed to have my own dreams or goals whatsoever.
I decided to be the change in my life. No one was going to change it so I had to.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
There is something therapeutic about baking and decorating cakes. Wedding cakes for me is my favorite thing to make. Cake decorating is an art. And I absolutely love art.
I love being pushed out of my comfort zone with new designs and challenges.
I’m most know for my wedding cake art.
I’m proud of every wedding cake I deliver. I don’t know that I am proud of just one cake I have made. Mostly I’m proud of myself.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My advice for anyone who is starting out would be to do as much research as possible. Watch alllll of the YouTube videos, go out and buy the tools, practice, practice, practice. And the most important thing DON’T QUIT!
Contact Info:
- Email: 1cakescouture@gmail.com
- Website: www.cakescouturenb.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/cakescouturenb
- Facebook: 1cakescouture
Image Credits
Jannetje Sparks Damian Williams
