Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Bucceri Tietjen.
Hi Jessica, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I went to a culinary academy in High School and learned a lot of skills. I planned on attending Johnson & Wales in Rhode Island for Pastry Arts. Right before my High School graduation my grandma passed away. She lived with me my whole life and helped to raise me. I started to develop severe anxiety and agoraphobia. I had to give up my college dreams and instead spend that time in intense therapy as I spent almost a year unable to leave the house. While I was recovering baking was my therapy. I worked on recipes, fondant work, business plans for my dreams of a cupcake shop, etc.. I started showing my work on social media and getting orders for custom cakes and cupcakes. The orders kept growing and gave me a reason to push myself. I was asked to share my story on our local news and got so much support. I started a campaign for donations towards my future shop. When I was just 18 I opened the doors to my first cupcake shop in Belmar New Jersey. I also held classes and taught baking to kids that had the same passion as me. In 2016 when I was 21 I was accepted to compete on Cake Wars on Food Network and it was a dream come true.
I was doing birthday parties, classes, camp, walk in retail, custom orders and so much more at my shop. Every year my skills developed and cakes became more professional. It was hard to manage the walk in retail with all of the custom orders I was getting. Right when covid hit I decided to just focus on my custom orders. I now just have a small area for customers to come in for tasting and pick up their orders, we do a lot of pop up events and bazaars around New Jersey as well delivery and set ups for all events.
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?
No, being a young woman business own has never been easy. Just recently I purchased a new oven for my shop and had such a bad experience with men thinking they can walk all over me and seeing men in the industry get treated so differently by the same sales people. But when I first opened surprisingly one of the hardest things to deal with was a jealous competitor that didn’t want me opening in the town. I would come to my shop with my flower planters dumped over at my door, harassment etc.. it even got to the point where they offered to pay people to pretend they found glass in my cupcakes. I think that was the hardest for me because I had to get over so much to get to the point of opening my shop and to have another business try to hurt me and take me down felt so violating. We should all be supporting each other as business owners who know how hard it is.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in custom cakes and dessert bars. I’m so proud of how much my work has come and how much I’ve learned and grown throughout the years. I also so proud of the amazing customers that have become like family to me. From doing their engagement parties, to bridal shower, wedding, gender reveal, baby shower, kids birthdays. I’m so grateful to be a part of their most special occasions throughout their life.
I think my devotion to my business shows in the way I get back to customers at all hours, try to accommodate last minute orders, go the extra mile to make everything super special for the customers etc.. and I think that sets me apart from a lot of businesses that operate like a factory now, freezing cakes, stretching things to make the most money by doing the least, cheap ingredients and more. Seeing peoples reaction when they taste my product shows the love and dedication that goes into it and it doesn’t change even after so many years. I won’t compromise the high end taste and look of my products and I strive to always stay ahead of trends and relevant with my clients.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I love collaborating with other business by doing pop up shops. I urge people to follow me on social media to see where I’ll be popping up next and come out and try my product. That’s usually how people get hooked and know they need us to cater their next event. We love to grow our JB Couture family in any way even if it’s just likes and interactions on instagram. We have a website where you can inquire about upcoming events. www.jbcouturecupcakes.com
Pricing:
- Pricing depends on design and quantities
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jbcouturecupcakes.com
- Instagram: @jbcouturecupcakes
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jbcouturecakes
