Meet Von | Owner of Say Cheese Gourmet Cheesecakes

We had the good fortune of connecting with Von and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Von, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor on this journey to success for me is to take my time and do things correctly not necessarily quickly. Yes, we all want the end result to happen now but there are steps that must be taken in order to sustain longevity. A lot of people get caught up on what they see on social media and have a tendency to compare where “they think” someone else is in their journey to where they are and it makes them feel like they’re behind. I just try my absolute best to stay focused on what I’m building for the long run.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Say Cheese Gourmet Cheesecakes is a gourmet cheesecake experience. I’ve been baking cheesecakes for over 20 years but didn’t decide to turn it into a full-time business until 2018. We currently offer 25 flavors and continue to create new and exciting flavors.

Our bakery also doubles as an event space. We host small events of no more than 50 guests. We’ve had baby showers, gender reveals, bridal showers, birthday parties, networking events and even a wedding.

What sets us apart from others is our flavor profiles. We don’t just slap toppings onto cheesecakes we actually infuse different flavors into many of our items. Also, I think most cheesecakes (not all) stick to the traditional super thick super dense texture whereas we focus more on a lighter more creamy product.

Nothing about starting and running a small business (especially a black owed business) is easy. We have to stay focused and always be willing to keep learning. I just try to remember that building a business from the ground up takes time, patience and consistency.

Also, support your fellow business owner! We all know the struggles of trying to grow a business so support is very important even if they’re in the same industry as you. There is room for us all and we can benefit from the support of our peers.

I’m not afraid to fail I’m afraid to not try because what if it far exceeds my wildest dreams? I have to try because I can see the top so vividly in my head.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mom and my family deserve the biggest ShoutOut ever just for believing in me and never discouraging me from making such a drastic decision when others couldn’t understand. I walked away from a 17 year long Human Resources career to take a huge risk and step into the unknown. They never judged me and were always there to help, like literally in the trenches with me from the beginning.

I also want to ShoutOut my staff for helping me keep this thing going. I don’t know where Say Cheese would be right now if I was still a one woman show (burnt out is an understatement)!

Every great business, big or small, needs a strong team to succeed and I’m grateful for mine. We look forward to the opportunity to grow our team and expand our business in the near future.

On this journey, I had and still have to focus on my mental health and MY FAITH is what keeps my mind right. I thank God for every blessing that continues to pour in. Some days are very challenging but through my faith and hard work I’ve been able to keep going even on the days I want to give up.

Website: www.saycheesecakeco.com

Instagram: www.Instagram.com/saycheesecakeco