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

Hi Tracey, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

Black Diamond was not a planned business venture. When I started my business, I was an unemployed single mom with a son in high school. It’s started when I wanted to do something special for a few friends around the holidays, but I had very limited funds. So Instead of buying them gifts I gave them baked goods. One of my friends called to inquire about purchasing a few pans of banana pudding for church. Once I sold him the desserts a good friend of mine, Ronda Flynn suggested I start a business and 11 years later we are still growing.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

Black Diamond Edible Creations is a cottage food bakery that prides itself on offering amazing cakes that not only look amazing, but taste amazing. We believe in making sure that we exceed our customers expectations, one cake at a time.

The past 11 years have been a major learning experience. I knew how to bake, but nothing about the business of baking. I took classes from other bakers and found friends in the baking industry that helped me with the business side. It has not been easy, but it has been worth it.

Along the way I have learned that you have to know your worth and what you offer as a business. When starting the business, I designed cakes for free to get my name out and be recognized for my services. Once I had made a name for myself and my cakes and desserts were being used on tv shows I realized that I could really make this work.

One thing I want people to know about me is that I love what I do and can’t imagine doing anything else. I create edible memories that people talk about for years.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

When my best friend Felicia Reed was visiting from Illinois for a week, since we love good food I take her to Breakfast at Barney’s, The Breakfast Boys, Apt 4B, Slutty Vegan, Bad Gyal Vegan, Scotch Bonnett, Holman and Finch, Waffle House and desserts from myBlack Diamond of course.

To burn off all those calories we could go to Round 1, Puttshack and The Complex,

For a little culture and history, we would visit the High and Fernbank Museums and the National Center for Human and Civil Rights.

After all that, we would need a day of massages from Cleared by Crystal, a mobile massage company and mani/pedis from Jazmine Jones, owner of My J Nailz in Roswell.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

I have to give a major shout out to Shelia Thompson, an amazing cake designer for pushing me when I began designing cakes. Without her encouragement I would not have started designing cakes. I also want to thank Christal Jennings for giving me a chance to design a cake for the TLC movie wrap party. That cake put me on the map!!!

Website: Www.Blkdiamondec.com

Instagram: @Blkdiamondec

Facebook: Black Diamond Edible Creations

Yelp: Black Diamond Edible Creations

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.