Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Castro-Perez.
Hi Jessica, 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?
Hello! I’m Jessica Castro-Perez, the proud owner of SweetGem Cupcakes. We are a small family-owned cake shop which I run with my twin daughters. What started as baking sweet treats for family and friends quickly turned into something much bigger. With a love for desserts and a creative eye, I taught myself how to bake and decorate, never imagining it would grow into a full-time business.
On November 10, 2017, that dream became a reality with the opening of SweetGem Cupcakes in Miramar, Florida. Before cakes and cupcakes, I was a professional graphic designer, so creativity has always been at the heart of everything I do. At SweetGem, we believe desserts should look just as good as they taste, which is why we use only the finest ingredients and put care into every handcrafted creation.
Our sweet shop offers fresh gourmet espresso coffees, breakfast sandwiches, a wide variety of desserts, made-from-scratch gourmet cupcakes, and custom specialty cakes designed to match your vision for any occasion.
We’re honored to serve our community with love, creativity, and a whole lot of sweetness. SweetGem is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, and we’d love for you to stop by and taste the joy that started it all.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
SweetGem has faced many challenges over the past eight years. From being broken into, to surviving COVID, to days when foot traffic was so slow we ended up giving cupcakes away, it hasn’t always been easy. There have been countless sleepless nights baking, moments of exhaustion, and plenty of tears. Running a small business is incredibly rewarding, but it requires grit, resilience, and perseverance to keep showing up every day.
We are a three-woman operation, handling everything ourselves – baking, making invoices, attending the front, delivering cakes, taking photos/editing videos, running social media pages, answering emails, and navigating a constantly changing economy.
We’ve truly seen and done it all. Despite the obstacles, my love for SweetGem always brings me back. I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At SweetGem Cupcakes, we bake fresh daily in small batches using only the finest gourmet ingredients. We specialize in custom cakes and cupcakes for all occasions, including weddings, birthdays, baby showers, corporate events, and we proudly offer custom vegan options.
What sets us apart is that everything is made in-house, from our cakes to our custom acrylic keepsake toppers, allowing us to create truly unique, personalized designs. We also offer specialty coffees made with locally roasted Colombian beans and house-made flavors, creating a warm and welcoming experience.
We’re most proud of the long-lasting and meaningful relationships we build with our customers. Being trusted to be part of their most important celebrations, across multiple milestones in their lives is how we express our love, gratitude, and commitment to our customers.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
The Bible.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://sweetgemcupcakes.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetgemcupcakes?igsh=aGRsMWo2eGlmZmxq&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1C4MJcfGQT/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: https://sweetgemcupcakesorder.square.site/
