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

Hi Shaun, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have always had big dreams, since a very young age. From being a singer, dancer, songwriter, to a chef of multiple restaurant chains – I have always wanted better for myself, as well as my loved ones.

After working my way up the chain of command of multiple fields, I realized I was not investing energy into reaching MY life-changing goals. I was investing time & passion into the business of a corporation that could genuinely care less if it were myself or another individual doing my job – they just wanted it done. THATS when I knew it was time to be the change I had been praying for!

I had to weigh my options – my current income compared to the unknown hardships all entrepreneurs must endure, as well as an obscure place of freedom none of my family has reached or experienced versus a place of complacency and comfort. Once I knew I was ready to make the sacrifices, it was all up to the planning, execution and God – and still is!

What should our readers know about your business?
Qt’s Sweet Treats delivers rush order cupcakes and chocolate covered desserts across Georgia. We are based in the Peachtree Corners, GA area – serving Atlanta and surrounding cities.

What sets us apart is our owners’ and management team’s roots in hospitality. Nowadays, it’s not easy to come by great, even good customer service, even beyond the food industry. Both owners of Qt’s Sweet Treats are highly experienced in the restaurant and hotel industries, as well as a variety of sales avenues. When you have given and received, you have a more complex and well-rounded view and approach to solving societal issues, in your specialized field. We have noticed the lack of late-night dessert options available for delivery to your door, especially since the 2020 Pandemic. Also, there’s a lack of quality and design in rush order desserts. Our solution? We cater to the “night owls”, as well as the loving procrastinators looking to surprise a loved one or the last-minute office party with a special gift!

Building Qt’s to where it is & continuing to grow has not been and we do not expect it to be an easy road. Desserts are a highly saturated market, particularly in the South. Fighting through a crowded room of noise to let people know the quality, taste, and aesthetic you are providing is the hardest part of it all. I feel marketing can be the most difficult & expensive portion of all businesses. Our solution and what also makes me the proudest is that our quality speaks for itself. There is nothing better than simply providing a skeptic with a sample & watching their face as they contemplate which flavors they will be leaving with for the day.

When you are providing a quality product or service to the public, your market will come to you and pay you your worth. That’s for all new smaller businesses, specifically those in a highly saturated market. Let your work speak for itself, just ensure it is being seen, or tasted, by the correct crowd.

And finally, what do I want the world to know about our brand and story?

Qt’s Sweet Treats is not a storefront bakery and that is not the end goal. Keep an eye out for us in your local convenience and grocery stores over the next two years. Also, keep an eye out for our dessert-themed lounges across Georgia and the Floridian coasts over the next 5 years. This is the beginning of one of our country’s largest black-owned prepackaged dessert manufacturers ever and we would LOVE for you all to come along for the ride!

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?
Oouuu, great question! We would most likely be at Rosie’s Cafe, near the Mercedes Benz stadium, for breakfast each day lol. The Chicken and Red Velvet Waffles with some mimosas is everything!

Then we would explore Little Five Points, Ponce, and Buckhead for some lunch locations. The Hive, in Buckhead, is a definite must! For dinner, they have to try Osha, this amazing Thai restaurant with the cutest drinks and aesthetics.

A day or two later, we have to hit a Stone Mountain climb or one of my favorite trails along the Chattahoochee River. And after, there is this FINGER-LICKIN bbq spot near Stone Mountain’s entrance – Crazy Ron’s BBQ!! Almost to die for.

After a good shower and naps, we’d hit Downtown Atlanta for dinner at the Sun Dial – for the experience, of course; and enjoy a slight pregame at the Red Phone Booth. You do need a passcode or associate inside, but thankfully I met the best waitress during my previous visits.

And, of course, we have to get slightly ratchet before they head home, so we will be partying in Midtown at the beginning of the trip and finish on Edgewood for the last night!

IF we have time, I would love for us to explore the Alpharetta & Johns Creek hidden strips for some new hidden-gems!

And we have to do some shopping! So we’d be at a different mall each day of the trip after breakfast, which would most likely be brunch lol. My favorite being Cumberland Mall – the best shoes in Atlanta!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
SHOUTOUT to all of my family, but especially my mother, my mama, and Qt’s Sweet Treats LLC.’s Co-Owner – LaQuata Lynch!

She’s been there from the beginning. She is the one who has taught me ALMOST everything I know in the kitchen, but she has also kept me around a village that has educated me & assisted in making me the man I am today, in and out of the kitchen lol.

I have to SHOUTOUT God, too! When I look back over my short-lived life, so far, I realize he’s put me in positions and rooms that have groomed me to endure the challenges MY life’s journey consists of. He’s the patience I have never had & the leader all leaders should learn to follow.

Website: www.shopqtstreats.com

Instagram: @shopqtstreats

Facebook: Qt’s Sweet Treats Sbtp & Qt’s Sweets By The POUND

Other: DM, EMAIL, or CALL US: Follow Us @SHOPQTSTREATS E: ADMIN@SHOPQTSTREATS.COM P: (470) 610-3738

Image Credits
Shaun Johnson Lauren S

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