Five Questions with Jera Stewart of Jera’s Heavenly Sweet Bakery, LLC

Jera’s Heavenly Sweet is a made-from-scratch bakery with traditional style customer service. They produce and sell cookies, cakes, pies, breads, brownies, cake balls, candy and a variety of pastries—always made the old-fashioned way. Heavenly Sweet also provides made to order desserts and custom-made cakes and cookies.

 

What inspired you to create your business?

My mom loved to bake and my dad loved to eat sweets. My mom was always buzzing around our kitchen, especially during the holidays, and it was fun to watch the dynamic between her and my dad as he loved to eat the sweets that she would make. It brought such pleasure to him and to other people, as well. I was able to get into the kitchen for the first time at 9 years old and I loved it.

What separates Jera’s Heavenly Sweet Bakery, LLC from the competition?

Everything we do is from scratch and we’re committed to that. People have told us that it’s not cost-efficient or energy-efficient, but we are committed to making our own crusts, fillings and whipped creams.

What has been your biggest takeaway from the Northwest Ohio Impact Program?

First of all, I enjoy working with the four other dynamic women who are all in business, too. They’ll all in different varieties of business and I love that part. The program itself is teaching me how to run my business day-to-day. I was so busy doing the baking that I don’t have the time, energy or knowledge to do the business part of it. They’re giving me so much information and so many tools in order to hone in on certain aspects, to sharpen some things and to learn how to run my business..

Has anything surprised you so far about the Impact Program?

I didn’t expect to have as much fun as I’m having. There is such a camaraderie among advisors and participants and I look forward to my time here. I enjoy the energy that’s in the room.

What are your future plans for your business?

In another year, I want to be in a larger location where people can come in and sit and eat my desserts and we can talk and sing songs, maybe some karaoke. I want it to be like somebody’s kitchen.

 

Learn more about Jera’s Heavenly Sweet Bakery, LLC at jheavenlysweet.com. Then, come watch Jera pitch her business live on December 3 for a chance to win up to $10,000 at the Northwest Ohio Entrepreneur Showcase.