Today we’d like to introduce you to Rosa Reth.
Rosa, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Hi! My name is Rosa and I am honored to have the chance to share my story with you. I am first generation Cambodian-American as my parents had to flee their native country and sacrifice everything to start a new life here in the United States. I was born in Houston, TX, but raised here in Minnesota. Growing up, my parents worked many jobs in order to support our family. Over time, they were able to purchase a donut shop. At that time, it was Donut Connection located in Richfield. At the young age of 10, I was helping out at the donut shop after school, late nights and early mornings on weekends. I witnessed first hand the hard work and long hours my parents endured in ordered to make ends meet. Eventually, my parents sought different business opportunities, and sold the donut shop. My mom always encouraged me to get a good education so I could later on obtain a job where I would not have to work the way she and my father did. In the course of time, I went on to earn a BA in Communications and MBA in Business which led to my career within the federal government. I moved to Chicago for a few years then re-located back home to MN where I would commute frequently between MN and Chicago. Fast forward to March 2020, the Stay at Home order due to the COVID-19 pandemic went into effect. As a result, we were forced to keep busy and in turn, the time allowed everyone to get creative.
One day my daughter and niece asked me to make hot cocoa bombs. I had no idea what they were, but thanks to social media, I was able to figure it out and made some for them. The joy on their face as they saw the hot cocoa bombs “explode” was so fulfilling. I posted a video of the girls with their hot cocoa bombs, and family and friends started reaching out to see if I could make some for them.
As I began making hot cocoa bombs, I started to research and see what other types of confections I could try to make. I was blown away to see all the different treats and came across another fun treat trend – breakable chocolate hearts. They are edible heart-shaped gift boxes that are fun to smash and delicious to enjoy with loved ones. I made one for my best friend’s birthday, and shared it on my social media.
I started getting requests, and I realized how much I enjoyed creating these arrangements that entailed lots of personal details. As time went on, I began to get requests for dipped strawberries then chocolate caramel apples, and most recently, cakes.
Aside from the joy I get from creating personalized arrangements, I have loved the opportunities to build and connect with so many wonderful individuals.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
To be completely transparent, it has been a fairly smooth road for me due to the simple fact this is something I never expected to be doing. The only reason my journey has been what it has been in the overwhelming support I have received from the beginning. I do take pride that the majority of my business is referral-based because to me, that means a client that I worked with was happy enough to recommend me to someone they know.
On the flip side, the struggle is putting myself out there. With social media being heavily present in our lives, there is an immense pressure to have a presence but also that fine line to not overdo it. I occasionally deal with imposter syndrome, but I have to keep pushing through and believing in myself.
Another struggle is balancing the workload between Sweetlymadeforyou and my fulltime job along with being a mom so ensuring I have time to fulfill requests has been challenging at times. I have a hard time saying no so there are times I take on more than I should, but in the end, it’s all worth it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Sweetlymadeforyou specializes in custom confections to make any and all occasions memorable. In the beginning, I was known for “breakables” simply because it was a new trend and not many others were making them at the time. Over time, I began being known for dipped strawberries to chocolate caramel apples to letter/number cakes.
I also offer custom treats catering to each holiday and/or special occasions such as teacher appreciation week. I like to come up with fun and cute designs that you may not see anywhere else.
What sets me apart is how I work with clients. I do my best to accommodate their requests whether it’s a very specific design/theme or a short turnaround timeframe.
I’m most proud of the growth I have made and accomplishing goals and techniques that I didn’t think I was capable of doing.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Don’t be afraid of competition. Network with others that are in the same industry as you are. There is so much knowledge to go around and share with one another. Be open to constructive criticism, and continue to learn because every day is a new day for growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://
sweetlymadeforyou.com - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/ sweetlymadeforyou/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/sweetlymadeforyou
Image Credits
BennyAni Photography
